Key Terms: Coastal Landscapes in the UK (AQA GCSE Geography): Revision Note

Coastal process - key terms glossary

Abrasion – A type of erosion where rocks and pebbles carried by waves grind down cliffs like sandpaper.

Attrition – A process where rocks and pebbles collide and break into smaller, smoother pieces.

Backwash – The water that flows back down the beach after a wave breaks.

Chemical weathering – The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions, often involving slightly acidic rainwater.

Constructive waves – Waves with strong swash and weak backwash that build up beaches.

Destructive waves – Waves with weak swash and strong backwash that erode the coastline.

Fetch – The distance over water that the wind blows, affecting wave size and strength.

Freeze-thaw weathering – A mechanical process where water enters cracks, freezes, expands, and breaks the rock apart over time.

Hydraulic action – Erosion caused by the force of water hitting the coast and trapping air in cracks.

Longshore drift – The movement of sediment along the coastline in a zigzag pattern caused by the angle of wave approach.

Mass movement – The downward movement of rock and soil due to gravity, including slides, slumps, and falls.

Saltation – A type of transportation where small pebbles bounce along the sea bed.

Solution (erosion) – When acidic water dissolves soluble materials in rocks like limestone.

Solution (transportation) – Minerals dissolved in seawater and carried in solution.

Soil creep – A slow mass movement where soil moves gradually downhill.

Suspension – Fine, light material carried in water.

Swash – The movement of water up the beach after a wave breaks.

Traction – Large pebbles rolled along the sea bed by waves.

Weathering – The breaking down of rocks in place by physical, chemical or biological processes.

Coastal landforms - key terms glossary

Arch – A natural opening formed in a headland when caves break through.

Bar – A landform formed when a spit grows across a bay, joining two headlands.

Bay – A curved, sheltered area between two headlands, often with a beach.

Beach – A depositional landform of sand or pebbles, formed by constructive waves.

Berm – A ridge formed at the top of the beach from large material deposited by strong waves.

Cave – A hollow area at the base of a cliff formed by erosion.

Cliff – A steep face of rock and earth formed by erosion and weathering.

Embryo dune – The first stage of sand dune formation where sand accumulates against an obstacle.

Fore dune – A more developed sand dune behind the embryo dune, stabilised by plants like marram grass.

Grey dune – Older, more stable sand dune with rich biodiversity and low exposed sand.

Headland – A point of land jutting into the sea, made of more resistant rock.

Mature dune – The oldest dunes furthest inland, supporting shrubs and trees.

Sand dune – A mound of sand formed by wind and stabilised by vegetation.

Spit – A narrow stretch of sand or shingle extending from the coast into the sea due to longshore drift.

Stack – An isolated column of rock formed when an arch collapses.

Stump – The eroded remains of a collapsed stack.

Tombolo – A spit that connects an island to the mainland.

Wave-cut notch – A small indentation at the base of a cliff formed by wave erosion.

Wave-cut platform – A flat area left behind as a cliff retreats from repeated erosion.

Yellow dune – A developing dune with organic matter beginning to darken the sand.

Coastal management - key terms glossary

Advance the line – A strategy involving building new defences to push the coastline seaward.

Beach nourishment – A soft engineering technique where sand is added to a beach to absorb wave energy.

Beach reprofiling – Moving sediment from the lower beach to the upper beach to reduce erosion.

Gabions – Wire cages filled with rocks placed at the base of cliffs to absorb wave energy.

Groynes – Wooden or rock barriers built at right angles to the beach to trap sediment.

Hard engineering – Man-made structures used to control natural processes, like sea walls and groynes.

Hold the line – A strategy where existing defences are maintained to keep the shoreline position.

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) – A strategy using a mix of approaches to protect coastal areas sustainably.

Managed retreat – Allowing the sea to flood inland in a controlled way to reduce pressure on other areas.

Offshore barrier – Structures placed in the sea to reduce wave energy before it reaches the coast.

Revetment – A sloped barrier placed on banks or cliffs made of wood or concrete to absorb wave energy.

Rip-rap (rock armour) – Large boulders placed along the shore to absorb wave energy.

Sea wall – A concrete or stone wall built along the coast to reflect wave energy.

Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) – A long-term plan that sets out how a stretch of coastline will be managed.

Soft engineering – Coastal management techniques that work with natural processes, such as dune regeneration.