Coastal systems and landscapes Glossary

Flashcards for specialist geographical vocabulary related to coastal systems and landscapes.

What is abrasion?

Erosion that involves a 'sandpapering effect' as sediment is dragged up and down or across the shoreline, eroding and smoothing rocky surfaces.

What is accretion?

Coastal sediment being deposited on a beach making it wider - the build up of land through deposition.

What is an arch?

An arch-shaped rock formation created when two caves join up, or a single cave is eroded through a headland.

What is attrition?

The gradual wearing down of rock particles by impact and abrasion, as the pieces of rock are moved by waves, tides and currents.

What is a barrier beach (or bar)?

Where a beach or spit extends across a bay to join two headlands.

What is a barrier island?

Where a beach becomes separated from the mainland (aka: offshore bar).

What is a berm?

A ridge or plateau on the beach formed by the deposition of beach material by wave action.

What is biological weathering?

The breakdown of rocks by organic activity eg. tree roots.

What is a cave?

A chamber in the rock formed when joints and faults are eroded by hydraulic action and abrasion.

What is cavitation?

When a wave advances and air becomes trapped and compressed in joints in the rock or between a breaking wave and a cliff.

What is a climatic climax community?

The final community of species which is adjusted to the climatic conditions of an area eg. woodland on mature sand dunes.

What is coastal morphology?

The origin and evolution of a coast changing shape due to processes.

What is a compound spit?

A spit which has a series of 'barbs' along it, formed where the transport processes are variable over time.