Coastal Processes in the UK

Constructive wave

A wave that creates beaches

Destructive wave

A wave that destroys beaches

Erosion

Wearing away and erosion of material by a moving force such as a wave

Weathering

The wearing away of rock in its original place

Solution

The dissolving of rocks into the water which are then carried along

Abrasion

When rocks are thrown against the cliff causing them to become smaller

Attrition

Sediment hitting together causing it to become smaller and more rounded

Hydraulic Action

The power of the waves as smashing against the cliff causing air to get trapped into rocks. The pressure builds and is released causing the rocks to split apart.

Suspension

Small sediment is carried along in the water

Traction

Large sediment is rolled along the seabed

Mass Movement

The downward movement of rock under the influence of gravity

Slumping

When a mass of sediment moves down a slope progressively

Mudslide

Mudslides occur when saturated soil and weak rock flows down a slope. These typically occur where cliffs are made up of boulder clay.

Rockfall

A rockfall involves fragments of rock breaking away from the cliff face

Longshore Drift

The movement of sediment across a coastline

Spit

An extended stretch of sediment which projects out to see with a hooked end

Bar

A stretch of sediment that connects two headlands together

Tombolo

A stretch of sediment that connects the mainland to the island

Sand Dunes

Masses of wind-blown sand found towards the back of the beach

Soft Engineering

Natural methods to protect coastlines

Hard Engineering

Man-made methods to protect coastlines

Hard Cut Notch

A dent in a cliff formed by erosional processes

Wave Cut Platform

A flag area of sediment found at the base of a cliff