Coasts key terms

Recurved Tip

• The end of a spit that has curved round, as wave refraction carries material round into the more sheltered water behind the spit.

• A type of fishing hook designed to catch fish more effectively.

• A term used to describe the shape of a river bend.

• A geological formation created by volcanic activity.

swash-aligned beach

• A beach formed in a low-energy environment by waves roughly parallel to the shore.

• A beach characterized by high-energy waves and steep slopes.

• A beach that is formed by the accumulation of sand dunes.

• A beach that experiences strong tidal currents and erosion.

soil creep

• A rapid movement of soil and rock down a slope.

• An extremely slow form of movement of individual soil particles downhill.

• The process of soil being washed away by water.

• A sudden and fast movement of soil due to earthquakes.

Sediment Budget

• A method to measure water quality in rivers.

• An attempt to quantify the various stores and transfers associated with sediment movement.

• A technique for predicting weather patterns.

• A process for calculating the age of sedimentary rocks.

Raised Beach

• The result of volcanic activity that creates new landforms.

• The result of isostatic recovery which raises wave-cut platforms and their beaches above the present sea level.

• The process of erosion that lowers the land near the coast.

• The formation of coral reefs that rise above sea level.

Runnels

• The raised areas of a beach that collect water.

• The dips in the foreshore area of a beach between ridges. They are drained down the beach by channels that break the ridges.

• The flat areas of a beach that are always submerged.

• The rocky formations found at the base of cliffs.

submergent coastline

• A coastline created when a rise in sea level floods the coast.

• A coastline formed by the erosion of land due to wave action.

• A coastline that is characterized by steep cliffs and rocky shores.

• A coastline that is formed by the deposition of sand and sediment.

tombolo

• A type of ancient burial site.

• A ridge of beach material that has formed between an island and the mainland.

• A geological formation caused by volcanic activity.

• A shallow area of water between two land masses.

Pioneer Species

• The last plants to colonise an area, usually with no special adaptations.

• The first plants that colonise an area, usually with special adaptations.

• Plants that grow in waterlogged areas and have deep roots.

• Plants that are found only in urban environments.

slump (or landslip)

• When a block of land moves very rapidly downhill but its slide surface is flat, characterized by a gradual break of slope.

• When a block of land moves very slowly uphill, characterized by a smooth surface and no visible scar.

• When a block of land moves very rapidly downhill but its slide surface is curved rather than flat, characterized by a sharp break of slope and the formation of a scar.

• When a block of land remains stationary but experiences soil erosion over time.