Littoral Zone and Coastal Processes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to the littoral zone and coastal processes.

Littoral Zone

The coastal region between high tide and low tide marks, affected by wave action.

Foreshore

The part of the littoral zone that lies between the high tide and low tide marks.

Backshore

The area of shoreline that is only affected by waves during major storm events.

Offshore Zone

The deepest part of the littoral zone, located beyond where waves begin to break.

Nearshore Zone

The area of the littoral zone where waves break due to seabed friction.

Breaker Zone

The area where waves break against the shore, typically found in the Nearshore.

Rocky Coastline

Characterized by resistant geology, subjected to high energy and destructive waves.

Sandy Coastline

Features less resistant geology, low energy, and is shaped by constructive waves.

Estuarine Coastline

Dominated by marshes and mudflats, with deposition greater than erosion.

Dynamic Environment

An environment that constantly changes due to inputs and outputs of energy and material.

Mass Movement

The downslope movement of material under the influence of gravity.

Sediment Inputs

Material brought to the coast by wind, tides, currents, and mass movement.

Tides

The regular rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.

Flocculation

The process where fresh and saltwater mix, causing fine particles to clump together.

Pioneer Plants

The first plants to colonize an area, playing a crucial role in environmental modification.

Seral Stage

A step in ecological succession where different plant communities transition through stages.

Tidal Marsh

Wetland found along coasts, characterized by saltwater or freshwater, influenced by tides.

Haff Coastline

A coastline characterized by long sand ridges trapping lagoons behind them.

Dalmatian Coast

A coastline with long, narrow islands formed by sea-level rise flooding valleys.

Discordant Coast

A coastline where rock strata are aligned at a perpendicular angle to the shore.

Concordant Coast

A coastline where rock strata run parallel to the coast.

Erosion

The breakdown and transport of rock material by environmental forces, such as water or wind.

Deposition

The accumulation of sediment transported by wind, water, or ice.

Wave Energy

The energy carried by waves, impacting coastal processes such as erosion and deposition.

Cementation

The process through which sedimentary rocks are formed by the binding of sediment particles.