The sea

• What is the main focus of the study material?

  The sea shapes our coastline
• How are waves formed?

  By wind
• What is the relationship between fetch and wave strength?

  Greater fetch results in stronger waves
• What happens when waves reach shallow water?

  They break as they contact the seabed
• What is the term for water rushing up the beach?

  Swash
• What is the term for water running back down the beach?

  Backwash
• What are the processes involved in coastal erosion?

  • Hydraulic action
  • Abrasion
  • Compression
  • Solution
  • Attrition
• What is a bay?

  A curved area eroded into the coastline
• What is a headland?

  An area of hard rock jutting into the sea
• How is a bay formed?

  Soft rock erodes faster than hard rock
• What happens to the harder rock during bay formation?

  It stands out to form a headland
• Give an example of a bay.

  Donegal Bay
• Give an example of a headland.

  Bray Head
• What is a sea cliff?

  A vertical or steep slope on the coastline
• How is a sea cliff formed?

  Waves erode a notch at a line of weakness
• What is undercutting in the context of sea cliffs?

  Waves cut into the rock base
• What is an overhang?

  The rock above the notch left unsupported
• What is a wave-cut platform?

  The rock left at the former base of the cliff
• Give an example of cliffs.

  Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare
• How are sea caves formed?

  By hydraulic action eroding a weak spot
• Give an example of sea caves.

  The caves at Ballybunion
• What is a sea arch?

  An arch-shaped tunnel through a headland
• How is a sea arch formed?

  When two caves develop back to back
• Give examples of sea arches.

  The Bridges of Ross and Bull Rock
• What is a sea stack?

  A pillar of rock cut off from a cliff
• How is a sea stack formed?

  When a sea arch collapses
• Give examples of sea stacks.

  Don Briste and Cnoc na Mara
• What is a blowhole?

  A passage linking the cliff top to a sea cave
• How is a blowhole formed?

  By air trapped in a sea cave collapsing
• Give examples of blowholes.

  The Two Pitch and McSweeneys Gun
• What are the learning intentions regarding coastal transportation and deposition?

  • Explore energy sources for coastal processes
  • Describe formation of beaches, spits, and bars
  • Describe types of coastal deposition and erosional features
  • Learn about longshore drift
• What is longshore drift?

  The movement of sediment along the coast
• What are sand dunes?

  A build-up of sand above the high tide mark
• How are sand dunes formed?

  When sand is trapped by vegetation
• What is a storm beach?

  A beach formed by heavy storm waves
• How is a storm beach formed?

  By waves carrying heavier materials during storms
• Give an example of a storm beach.

  Kilkee in Co Clare
• What are the types of coastal deposition landforms?

  • Beaches
  • Storm beaches
  • Sand dunes
• What is the significance of the prevailing winds?

  They influence wave direction and coastal processes
• What is the most common wind direction in Ireland?

  South-easterly