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Coasts
Coasts Flashcards
32
Geography
Professional
05/06/2010

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Term
Abrasion
Definition
Frictional EROSION by material transported by wind and waves
Term
Accretion
Definition
The accumulation of (beach) sediment, deposited by natural fluid flow processes
Term
Bar
Definition
An offshore ridge or mound of sand, GRAVEL, or other unconsolidated material which is submerged (at least at high tide), especially at the mouth of a river or ESTUARY
Term
Bay
Definition
A recess or INLET in the shore of a sea or lake between two capes or headlands, not as large as a GULF but larger than a COVE
Term
Beach erosion
Definition
The carrying away of beach materials by wave action, tidal CURRENTS, LITTORAL CURRENTS or wind.
Term
Beach nourishment
Definition
The process of replenishing a BEACH by artificial means
Term
Beach width
Definition
The horizontal dimension of the BEACH measured normal to the shoreline
Term
Benefits
Definition
The economic value of a scheme, usually measured in terms of the cost of damages avoided by the scheme, or the valuation of perceived amenity or environmental improvements
Term
Breakwater
Definition
structure protecting a HARBOR, anchorage, or BASIN from waves
Term
Cliff
Definition
A high steep face of rock
Term
Coast
Definition
A strip of land of indefinite length and width (may be tens of kilometers) that extends from the SEASHORE inland to the first major change in terrain features
Term
Coastal currents
Definition
CURRENTS which flow roughly parallel to the shore and constitute a relatively uniform drift in the deeper water adjacent to the surf zone
Term
Coastal defense
Definition
General term used to encompass both coast protection against EROSION and sea defense against flooding.
Term
Coastal processes
Definition
Collective term covering the action of natural forces on the shoreline, and the nearshore seabed
Term
Coastline
Definition
Technically, the line that forms the boundary between the COAST and the SHORE.
Term
Conservation
Definition
The protection of an area, or particular element within an area, accepting the dynamic nature of the environment and therefore allowing change.
Term
Cove
Definition
A small sheltered recess in a shore or COAST, generally inside a larger EMBAYMENT
Term
Current
Definition
The flowing of water, or other liquid or gas
Term
Dam
Definition
Structure built in rivers or estuaries, basically to separate water at both sides and/or to retain water at one side.
Term
Dunes
Definition
Accumulations of windblown sand on the BACKSHORE, usually in the form of small hills or ridges, stabilized by vegetation or control structures. (2) A type of bed form indicating significant sediment transport over a sandy seabed.
Term
Dynamic equilibrium
Definition
Short term morphological changes that do not affect the morphology over a long period.
Term
Erosion
Definition
Wearing away of the land by natural forces. On a BEACH, the carrying away of beach material by wave action, tidal currents or by DEFLATION. (2) (SMP) The wearing away of land by the action of natural forces.
Term
Flood mark
Definition
Proof of any kind on the shoreline used to determine the highest level attained by the water surface during the flood
Term
Gabion
Definition
Steel wire-mesh basket to hold stones or crushed rock to protect a BANK or bottom from EROSION
Term
Gravel
Definition
Loose, rounded fragments of rock, larger than sand, but smaller than cobbles.
Term
Groin
Definition
A shore-protection structure (built usually to trap LITTORAL DRIFT or retard EROSION of the shore). It is narrow in width (measured parallel to the shore) and its length may vary from tens to hundreds of meters (extending from a point landward of the shoreline out into the water). GROINS may be classified as permeable (with openings through them) or impermeable (a solid or nearly solid structure).
Term
Ground water
Definition
Subsurface water occupying the zone of saturation. In a strict sense the term applied only to water below the WATER TABLE.
Term
Gulf
Definition
A relatively large portion of sea, partly enclosed by land.
Term
Headland
Definition
A land mass having a considerable ELEVATION
Term
Intertidal
Definition
The zone between the high and LOW WATER marks
Term
Knot
Definition
The unit of speed used in navigation. It is equal to one nautical mile (6076.115 feet or 1852 meters) per hour.
Term
Lagoon
Definition
A shallow body of water, as a pond or lake, which usually has a shallow restricted INLET from the sea.
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