Geography - Waves & Tides

Uprush

Water rushing up the sand

Backwash

Water rolling back into the sea

Erosion

Wearing away of rockand soil caused by natural forces such as water, wind, or ice.

Hydraulic Action

The force of moving water erodes rock and sediment by entering cracks and crevices, causing them to break apart.

Solution

The process by which minerals are dissolved in water, contributing to the erosion of rocks and transport of sediments.

Abrasion

The process of wearing away rocks and sediments through friction caused by the movement of waves

Attrition

The process by which rocks and sediments collide and break apart into smaller pieces as they are transported by waves.

Longshore Drift

The process of sediment transport along the coastline, driven by wave action and prevailing currents.

Deposition

The process by which sediments are dropped or settled in a different location, often forming beaches

Headland

A coastal landform that extends into a body of water, typically characterized by steep cliffs and erosion.

Wave-Cut Platform

A flat area of rock left behind when waves erode the base of a cliff, often seen at low tide.

Bay

A body of water partially enclosed by land, typically smaller than a gulf and often providing shelter for boats.

A Cave an Arch and a Stack

are coastal features formed by the erosion of rock by waves, where caves may develop into arches that eventually collapse to form stacks.

Spit

A narrow landform extending from the mainland into the sea, formed by the deposition of sediment carried by prevailing currents and waves.

Salt marsh

A coastal ecosystem characterized by salt-tolerant plants, typically found in the intertidal zone and influenced by tidal waters.