Edexcel A-Level Geography Coasts EQ1 Key terms

Cliff profile

The height and angle of a cliff which can be affected by lithology, tilting and faulting.

Discordant geology

Coasts which cut across the rock structure. E.g. Dorset North of Swanage Bay

Concordant geology

The alignment of geological outcrops which are parallel to the coastline. E.g. Dorset coast Lulworth

Landscape

A larger area which may include many different landforms such as headlands and bays.

Backshore

The part of the beach lying between foreshore and the coastline. The backshore is dry under normal conditions, it is often characterised by berms and is without vegetation.

Halophytes

Pioneer plants that can tolerate salty conditions which are submerged at high tide e.g. glasswort

Inshore

The area of sea that moves towards or closer to the shore.

Littoral Zone

The wider coastal zone, including coastal land areas and shallow parts of the sea offshore.

Berm

Low hill of sand or gravel that forms at the upper limit of the swash. They are short-term features and are removed by successive tides and storms.

Runnel

Breaks in beach ridges result from rip currents which form in the strong backwash. Inland of these, runnels form, separating pools of standing water at low tide

Cusp

Crescent-shaped embayments developed on beaches of mixed sediments particularly on and around the high tide line

Geological Structure

Relates to the layering, dipping and faulting of rocks caused by different processes. Can also relate to concordant or discordant coastlines.

Near Shore

Relating to or denoting the region of the sea or seabed relatively close to a shore.

Dunes

Concentrations of mound like landforms composed of sand that has been blown off the beach by onshore wind. Embryo dunes first, followed by foredunes (yellow) grey dunes, then wasting dunes.

High energy coast

Coasts in which wave power is strong for a significant part of the year. e.g. Alaska to Iceland and Chile

Spring tide

These are particularly high or low tides caused when Sun, Moon and Earth all lie in a straight line. Opposite of a neap tide.

Saltmarsh

Often formed in the shelter of a spit as fine river sediment is deposited in layers assisted by vegetation succession.

Emergent Coasts

Where the coastline increases in height due to isostatic rebound, tectonic processes or deposition.

Landform

A specific coastal feature such as headland, stack, beach or spit.

Psammosere

Succession of stages of plant growth forming colonisation of bare sand to climax vegetation

Tidal Range

The variation from mean water level, high ranges on the North Sea and Channel coasts cause a broad zone of wave attack on the cliffs

Low energy coast

Coasts in which wave power is weaker, low fetch, few gales enclosed and therefore sheltered. e.g. Mediterranean and Baltic Seas

Dynamic Equilibrium

A state of balance between continuing processes.

Lithology

The rock's features such as its permeability, solubility, relative hardness and texture. Can relate to igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary or unconsolidated (boulder clay).