Coastal Geography

Front

Coasts

Back

Where the land meets the sea

Front

Waves

Back

The movement of water on the sea caused by wind. Water that breaks onto the coastline.

Front

Backwash

Back

The water that goes back down the beach into the sea after a wave breaks.

Front

Swash

Back

The water that moves up the beach when a wave breaks.

Front

Fetch

Back

The distance of open water over which the wind can blow.

Front

Erosion

Back

Wearing away and removal of material by a moving force e.g., a wave.

Front

Deposition

Back

Material is dropped due to the loss of energy by the waves.

Front

Constructive waves

Back

Waves that are gentle and bring sand or pebbles onto the beach. Strong swash- weak backwash. More deposition than erosion.

Front

Destructive waves

Back

Waves that are strong and take sand or rocks away from the beach. Strong backwash- weak swash. More erosion than deposition.

Front

Hydraulic action

Back

Process where breaking waves compress pockets of air in cracks in a cliff, leading to the cracks widening and breaking.