A process of erosion whereby cliff faces are Abrasion worn away by particles carried by waves.
When salts and other acids in seawater slowly dissolve Corrosion a cliff (also known as solution)
Process by which the sheer Hydraulic force of waves loosens Action rocks and cliffs by forcing open cracks.
A coastal transport process Longshore by which sand and pebbles Drift are moved along a beach by waves.
The dropping of material carried by the waves Deposition (usually occurs due to a
drop in wave energy –
largest material is
deposited first)
Bay A curving indentation in the coastline
Cliff A steep rock face next to the sea.
An area of high land consisting of resistant rock, Headland jutting out into the sea.
Arch An opening through a headland cut by waves
A hollow in the side of a Cave cliff formed by erosion
A steep-sided rock pillar Stack surrounded by water
Stump An eroded stack only visible at low tide.
An indentation at the foot of Wave-cut a cliff caused by wave notch erosion
A gently sloping rocky Wave-cut platform at the base of a platform cliff.
A deposit of sand that has Bar grown across a bay or estuary.
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An accumulation of sand Beach and shingle between the high and low tide mark.
A ridge of sand and/or pebbles projecting away Spit from a bend in the coast into the sea and built up by longshore drift.
Tombolo A spit that has grown out to connect an island to the mainland
The return of water to the Backwash sea after the wave has broken on the beach.
Constructive These waves build up beaches (stronger swash) Waves
High energy waves that Destructive remove material from a beach (strong backwash) Waves
The distance over which Fetch the wind has blown to form a wave
Swash Water moving up the beach
An artificial wooden / steel Groynes structure that projects out in to the sea to reduce longshore drift
Steel mesh cages filled with rocks to absorb and Gabions dissipate wave energy.
Open structure consisting of wooden planks, absorbing wave energy but Revetments allowing water and sediment to build up beyond it.
A wall with a curved lip to Recurved Sea deflect the force of the wave and direct sediment Wall away from the sea front.
Large boulders on the Rip Rap beach which absorb wave energy (also known as
Rock Armour)