Coasts

• Constructive wave

  A wave that brings and deposits large materials, such as sand and pebbles, at the top of the beach, contributing to beach formation and growth.
• Backwash

  The weak flow of water that carries sediment and materials down the beach, returning them back to the sea.
• Destructive wave

  A wave that removes and erodes material from the base of the beach, causing beach erosion and retreat.
• Ridges

  Areas of the foreshore that are raised above the adjacent shore, often formed by the accumulation of sand and shingle.
• Runnels

  Channels or small-scale valleys on the beach that help drain water down the beach, formed by tides and currents.
• Deposition

  The process of material being laid down on the beach, leading to the formation of landforms of deposition.
• Sub-Aerial Processes

  Processes that occur above the water surface, such as wind erosion and deposition, shaping coastal landforms.
• River Processes

  The erosional, transportation, and depositional activities of rivers that contribute to the formation of coastal landforms.
• Hjulström Curve

  A graph illustrating the relationship between water velocity and sediment transport, helping to understand coastal processes.
• Storm Desmond

  A case study of a severe storm that impacted coastal areas, providing insights into the effects of storms on coastal landforms.
• Carbon Cycle

  The natural movement of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, and land, influencing coastal ecosystems and processes.
• Landforms of deposition

  Coastal features formed by the accumulation of sand and shingle, including beaches, berms, spits, tombolos, and dunes.
• Beaches

  Dynamic environments that act as a buffer between land and sea, constantly shaped by waves, tides, and sediment movement.
• Berms

  Raised areas on the beach formed by the deposition of sediment, providing a natural barrier against high tides and storm surges.
• Foreshore

  The area of the beach located between the high and low tide marks, experiencing regular exposure to waves and tides.
• Backshore

  The upper part of the beach, above the high tide mark, typically featuring deposits left by storm waves and wind.
• Wave zones

  Different areas of the beach that are affected by wave action, including the swash zone, surf zone, and backwash zone.
• Beach morphology

  The shape and profile of a beach, influenced by factors such as wave energy, sediment supply, and coastal processes.
• Destructive plate margin

  A tectonic boundary where one lithospheric plate is forced beneath another, leading to subduction and the formation of volcanic arcs and trenches.
• Constructive plate margin

  A tectonic boundary where two lithospheric plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and form new crust, creating oceanic ridges and rift valleys.
• Conservative plate margin

  A tectonic boundary where two lithospheric plates slide past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes and the formation of transform faults.
• Drainage Basin

  An area of land drained by a river and its tributaries, influencing the sediment supply and water flow to coastal areas.
• Hydrological System

  The cycle of water movement on Earth, including precipitation, evaporation, and runoff, affecting coastal processes and landforms.
• Ridges and Runnels

  Small-scale hills and valleys on the beach formed by the action of tides and currents, contributing to beach morphology.
• Spits

  Long banks of sand and shingle that extend across a river mouth or bay, formed by longshore drift and deposition.
• Tombolo

  A sandy or shingle bar that connects an island to the mainland or another island, formed by sediment deposition and wave action.
• Dunes

  Landforms formed from the accumulation of wind-blown sand, often found behind the beach and shaped by wind processes.
• Salt marshes

  Vegetated areas in intertidal mudflats found in sheltered estuaries, characterized by the presence of salt-tolerant plants and influenced by tidal processes.
• littoral zone


  the coast, the barrier between sea and land
• high energy vs low energy coasts


  high energy:

  -destructive waves

  -storm conditions

  -long fetches

  -erosion and transport

  -cliffs

  -wave cut platforms

  -Atlantic coasts e.g. Scotland coast

  
  

  low energy:

  -constructive waves

  -deposition and transport

  -beaches

  -spits

  -lowland coasts

  -East Anglian coast
• where do salt marshes develop?


  -sheltered areas where deposition occurs

  -where salt and fresh water meet

  -no strong tides or currents that would prevent sediment, deposition or accumulation
• how do salt marshes develop?


  -as mud flats develop, salt tolerant plants begin to colonise and stabilize them

  -these species (halophytes) help slow tidal flow and trap more mud and silt

  -as sediment accumulates, the surface dries and different plants begin to colonise

  -creeks divide up the marsh from water flowing across the estuary at low tide
• sand dune order


  embryo dune -> fore dune -> yellow dune -> grey dune -> dune slacks -> mature dune
• formation of a dune


  -embryo dunes first to develop

  -embryo-> grow-> fore dunes-> yellow-> grey

  - depressions in the dune can develop into dune slacks (damp areas)
• why do sand dunes need management?

  sand dunes are natural sea defences
• how are sand dunes managed?


  -marram grass stabilises dune

  -sea buckthorn stabilises but is invasive

  -boardwalks to stop footfall erosion

  -fencing slows flow and sand and helps create new dunes
• Transfer zone


  places where sediment moves along the shore through long-short drift and offshore currents
• how do tides and currents affect longshore drift?


  -tides change the water levels

  -tidal current carriers sediment

  -wind direction
• Sediment cells in England and Wales.

  
• how are sediment cells formed?


  -processes of weathering and erosion produce output in the form of sediment

  -cliff erosion

  -tidal currents carrying sediment

  -sand from nearby beaches

  -rivers that discharge into the sea bring fine sediment