2.3 Coasts Vocabulary 1

True or False? The coastline is the edge of the land marked by the low-water mark on a low-lying coast.

• True

• False

Define the term fetch.

• The distance the wind travels over water

• The height of the waves

• The speed of the wind

• The depth of the water

What does swash mean?

• The movement of water up the beach

• The movement of water down the beach

• The breaking of waves

• The formation of tides

State the meaning of backwash.

• The movement of water up the beach

• The return movement of water down the beach

• The breaking of waves

• The formation of tides

What is a constructive wave?

• A wave that erodes the beach

• A beach-building wave with a long wavelength, a low frequency rate, and a shallow wave gradient

• A wave with a high frequency and steep gradient

• A wave that causes coastal flooding

What is the definition of hydraulic action?

• The process of rocks and pebbles colliding with each other

• The erosive force of water as it hits the coastline, compressing air in cracks

• The movement of sediment along the coast

• The deposition of sand on the beach

Define attrition.

• The process where rocks and pebbles carried by waves collide with each other and the shoreline

• The wearing away of the coastline by wind

• The deposition of sediment on the beach

• The movement of water up the beach

Which of the following best describes the term "fetch"?

• The height of the waves

• The distance the wind travels over water

• The speed of the wind

• The depth of the water

What is the primary effect of a constructive wave on a beach?

• Erosion of the beach

• Building up the beach

• Causing coastal flooding

• Increasing wave height

Which process involves the erosive force of water compressing air in cracks?

• Attrition

• Hydraulic action

• Swash

• Backwash