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| Coasts |
| Coasts Glossary arch an opening that goes through a headland. attrition the process of pebbles being eroded by clashing together becoming more rounded and smaller. beach a gently sloping area of sand and shingle along the edge of the sea below and just above the high tide mark. cave an area, which has been hollowed out by the waves at the bottom of a cliff. cliff a rock face often vertical next to the sea. constructive wave a low wave, with a strong wash, which breaks gently encouraging deposition of beach materials. corrasion a process of erosion caused by waves throwing pebbles against the cliff face; this can be also called abrasion. corrosion a process of erosion by which some rocks dissolve by chemical action. destructive wave a high wave, with a strong backwash, which breaks frequently causing erosion. hydraulic power a process of erosion by the weight and force of the water. spit a long, narrow ridge of sand and shingle, which is attached to the land but ends in the open sea. stack a piece of rock, surrounded by the sea, and left standing away from the coastline due to the collapse of an arch. wave cut platform a gently sloping area of flat rocks, which is exposed at low tide. bay an area cut back between two headlands, often semi-circular in shape and lined by a beach. fetch the length of water over which the wind has blown before the wave breaks next to the coast. headland a rocky area which sticks out into the sea making it a prominent coastal feature. longshore drift the current which transports materials, such as mud, sand and pebbles along the coastline. notch an overhang at the bottom of a cliff caused by the undercutting of waves, (wave cut notch). |