CH 20 shorelines

Backshore

in landward of the high tide shore line

Beach drift

aka longshore drift, is the movement of sediment along a beach parallel to the shoreline.

Breakwater

a barrier built out into a body of water to protect a coast or harbor from the force of waves.

Ebb current

the flow of water that moves away from the shore as the tide recedes.

Groin

a long, narrow structure built out into the water from a beach in order to prevent beach erosion or to trap and accumulate sand

Neap Tide

lowest tides; when the Sun and Moon are at right angles

Sea Stack

remnants of offshore erosion

Spit

is a ridge of sand that projects land into the mouth of an adjacent bay

Tidal Current

horizontal movement of water that occurs as a result of the changing tides

Tombolo

is a ridge of sand that connects an island to the mainland

Wavelength

the horizontal distance between a trough and a crest

Barrier Island

long sandbars NOT connected to onshore beaches (Ex: Galveston)

Beach Face

the sloping part of the beach that extends from the high water mark (where the waves reach during high tide) down to the low water mark (where the waves reach during low tide).

Breakers

swells become higher as they approach the shoreline close to shore, and the waves evolve into sharp crested features

Emergent Coast

is caused by uplift or sea level fall and is characterized by exposed wave-cut cliffs and platforms

Jetty

constructed at entrances to rivers and harbors

Nearshore

lies between low tide shoreline and the point where waves break at low tide

Seawall

coastal defense structure designed to protect shorelines from the impact of waves, storm surges, and coastal erosion.

Spring Tide

Highest tides, when Earth, Moon and Sun are aligned

Tidal Delta

created by currents that flow through inlets in response to tidal cycles and or wind patterns

Wave-cut cliff

surf cuts into cliffs

Wave period

the time interval between the passage of two successive crests

Baymouth Bar

completely crosses the bay, closing it from the ocean

Coast

the broader region where land meets the ocean, sea, or another large body of water

Estuary

constitute drowned river valleys characteristic of a submergent coastline

Longshore Current

horizontal water currents that move parallel to the shoreline.

Offshore Zone

occurs seaward of the coast

Shore

strip of land that lies along the edge of an ocean, sea, lake, or river

Submergent Coast

A submergent coastline results from coastal subsidence or sea level rise; Characterized by irregular shorelines and drowned river mouths (estuaries)

Tidal Flats

Are the muddy and sandy areas that lie above, and are exposed, at low tide but are flooded at high tide

Wave-cut platform

is a flat or gently sloping area found at the base of a coastal cliff or headland, formed by the erosive action of waves

Wave refraction

As waves approach the beach, the rows of waves bend in a direction more parallel to the shore. Causes the waves to align almost parallel to beach

Beach

a landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake, or river that consists of loose particles such as sand, gravel, pebbles, or cobbles

Berm

 are relatively flat platforms that mark the change in slope of beach

Coastline

is the boundary or interface between land and the ocean or sea

Foreshore

is the area exposed at low tide and flooded at high tide

Marine Terrace

a flat or gently sloping area along the coast that was once submerged under the sea but has since been uplifted or exposed due to changes in sea level or tectonic activity

Sea Arch

is a natural rock formation that occurs when waves erode through a headland or coastal cliff, creating a tunnel-like opening.

Shoreline

Land meets the sea along broad regions known as coasts; line where the water surface intersects the shore; shapes and sculptured through the actions of waves and tides

Surf Zone

the area of the shoreline where waves break and interact with the beach.

Tide

The sea rises and falls twice daily along many coastlines: high tide and low tide

Wave Height

 the vertical distance between a trough and a crest

Beach nourishment

adding sand