Geography Edexcel Coasts EQ1 Key Words

Littoral Zone

The area between low and high tide marks where the land meets the sea

What are the subdivisions of the Littoral Zone?

offshore, nearshore and backshore

Backshore Zone

The area of the beach above the high tide line, often only affected by waves during storms and high tides

Nearshore Zone

The area between the low tide mark where waves begin to break, including the zone of longshore drift and wave action

Offshore Zone

The deep-water area beyond the point where waves start to break, largely unaffected by wave action

Dynamic

Processes or systems which are constantly changing or evolving overtime due to forces

Geology

The study of the Earth’s physical structure and substance, including rocks, minerals etc

Rocky Coasts

Coastal areas dominated by rock formations, cliffs, steep topography

What are the characteristics of rocky coats?

high energy environment, formed by resistant rock, attacked by weathering/ mass movements

Coastal Plain

Flat, low-lying area adjacent to a coastline, often formed from sediment deposits and usually characterised by beaches and estuaries

What are the characteristics of a coastal plain?

low energy environment, dominated by processes of accretion (coastline advances seaward)

Geological Structure

The arrangement and organisation of the Earth’s crust, including aspects such as bedding planes, joints and folds

Concordant Coasts

A coastline where rock layers (strata) run parallel to the shore, often resulting in fewer bays and headlands

Discordant Coasts

A coastline when rock layers (strata) run perpendicular to the shore, typically resulting in a series of alternating bays and headlands

Coastal Morphology

The study of shapes, features and structures of coastlines, including how they are formed and altered by physical processes

Dalmatian Coast

A type of CONCORDANT coastline where parallel mountain ranges have been partially submerged by rising sea levels, creating a series of elongated islands and peninsulas

Haff Coasts

A type of CONCORDANT coastline featuring long, shallow lagoons (haffs) separated from the sea by narrow sandbars or spits

Headland

A protruding area of land jutting out into the sea, usually composed by resistant rock that erodes more slowly than the surrounding material

Bays

A broad coastal inlet with a wide opening to the sea, often formed in areas of softer rock that erodes more quickly

Bedding Planes

The horizontal layers of rock that forms as sediments accumulate over time, which can influence the erosion and stability of coastlines

Jointing

Natural fractures and cracks in rock layers that can influence the rate of erosion, particularly along coastlines

Dip

The angle at which rock layers are inclined from the horizontal, which can affect how a coastline erodes

Faulting

The displacement of rock layers due to tectonic forces, which can create features like cliffs and valleys

Folding

The bending of rock layers due to tectonic forces, which can influence the formation of coastal features

Cliff Profiles

The cross-sectional shape of a cliff, which can vary depending on the type of rock, wave action, and erosion processes

Micro - Features

Small-scale features of the coastal landscapes, including caves, arches and stumps, formed by localised erosion processes

Coastal Recession

The process of coastlines retreating inland over time due to erosion, sea level rise, or human activities

Bedrock Lithology

The study of physical features of bedrock, including its composition, structure and, resistance to erosion

Igneous

Rocks formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava, typically resistant to erosion (e.g: granite)

Sedimentary

Rocks formed from the accumulation and compaction of sediment, often less resistant to erosion (e.g: sandstone)

Metamorphic

Rocks that have undergone transformation due to intense heat and pressure, becoming more harder and resistant (e.g: marble)

Unconsolidated Material

Loose, uncemented sediment or soil that is more prone to erosion and movement compared to solid rock

Boulder Clay

A type of unconsolidated material, also known as till, deposited by glaciers, often poorly sorted and prone to erosion

Strata

Layers of rock or sediment that have accumulated over time, often visible in cliffs and other exposed landforms

Permeable

Rocks or soil that allow water to pass through them, often leading to increased weathering or erosion

Impermeable

Rocks or soil that do not allow water to pass through them, often leading to surface run-off and less erosion

Resistant

Refers to rocks and materials that are less likely to erode due to hardness or composition

Less Resistant

Refers to rocks and materials which are more prone to erosion due to their softness and or composition

Vegetation

Plant life that can stabilise coastal environments, reducing erosion through root systems and the trapping of sediment

Dune Successional Development

The process by which sand dunes evolve over time, often starting with pioneer species and leading to more complex vegetation structures

Salt Marsh Successional Development

The gradual change in plant species composition in a salt marsh, typically progressing from pioneer species to a more stable community