Coastal processes refers to the action of natural forces (e.g. erosion, deposition, tectonic uplift) on the shoreline, and the nearshore seabed. Some examples of landforms resulting from these processes are wave-cut cliffs, beaches, and wave-cut benches.
Landforms created by the deposition of sediments along the coast by wind, water or ice.
Landscapes sculpted by the relentless power of waves, tides, currents, and weathering.
Geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea or lake. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, waves or cobblestones.
A deposition landform found off coasts. A spit is a type of bar or beach that develops where a re-entrant occurs, such as at a cove, bay, ria, or river mouth. Spits are formed by the movement of sediment (typically sand) along a shore by a process known as longshore drift. Where the direction of the shore turns inland (reenters) the longshore current spreads out or dissipates. No longer able to carry the full load, much of the sediment is dropped. This causes a bar to build out from the shore, eventually becoming a spit.
A deposition landform such as a spit or bar which forms a narrow piece of land between an island or offshore rock and a mainland shore, or between two islands or offshore rocks. They usually form because the island causes wave refraction, depositing sand and shingle moved by longshore drift in each direction around the island where the waves meet. Eustatic sea level rise may also contribute to accretion as material is pushed up with rising sea levels.
An elongated bank, ridge or mound of sediment (sand or gravel) a few meters wide, deposited and shaped by waves and currents, and submerged at least at high tide (i.e., can be partly or wholly exposed at low tide).
A landform is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high, breaking waves, rocky shores, intense erosion, and steep sea cliffs.
A general term for a wide (typically >1 km) coastal re-entrant between two headlands, its seaward boundary generally wider than the extent of landward penetration. A small bay is termed a cove, a large bay a gulf.
A steep coastal slope cut, usually >40m, often vertical and sometimes over- hanging into rock formations produced by basal marine erosion, but occasionally by faulting or earlier fluvial or glacial erosion.
A flat area in front of a cliff, just below the low tide mark. These were formed when the waves eroded the cliff, but left a flat platform behind.
A littoral cave, is a type of cave formed primarily by the wave action of the sea. The primary process involved is erosion. Sea caves are found throughout the world, actively forming along present coastlines and as relict sea caves on former coastlines.
Sea arches form by wave erosion of coastal headlands. Sea arches are very temporary landforms, in both geologic and human terms.
A tall piece of rock sticking out of the sea near the coast, formed by the action of the waves against the rock on the coast.
The eroded remains of a sea stack, often looking like a lump of rock sticking up from its surroundings.
A coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen.
The types of materials present and their proportions.
The deposition of marine plant debris, mostly represented by leaves, rhizomes and fibrous remains of Posidonia oceanica, is a widespread phenomenon along the Mediterranean coasts.
A substrate that is composed of more than one type of material.
Land built up by deposits of sand and silt at the mouth of some rivers.
The range of beach morphodynamic states within each beach type from the lower energy reflective, though intermediate states to the higher energy dissipative.
Wave-dominated beaches are those that are exposed to persistent ocean swell, waves and low tides (less than 2m).
Tide-modified beaches occur in areas of high tide range and usually lower waves. Tides usually range between 3 and 15 times the wave height and the wave height is less than 30 cm.
Tide-dominated beaches form in areas of high tide range and usually lower waves. They occur when the tide range is between 10 and 15 times the wave height and the wave height is very low.
Tide-dominated beach type. Small steep (3-10°), low-gradient, very low-energy high-tide beach composed of coarse sand, fronted by flat featureless sand flats up to several hundred meters wide composed of finer sand . No waves unless strong onshore winds.
Tide-dominated beach type. Steep (3-10°), narrow high-tide beach composed of coarse sand, fronted by an abrupt break in slope and a wide (several hundred metres) low gradient, usually finer sand intertidal zone containing shore parallel, numerous low amplitude sand ridges and runnels. At high tide there are no waves unless strong onshore winds, and relatively deep water off high tide beach.
Tide-dominated system with narrow reflective high-tide beach composed of coarse sediments, fronted by wide (100's to several 1000's of metres), low gradient (<1°) mud flats with tidal draining channels. Mangroves or other vegetation may grow in the higher intertidal zone. Usually calm, only low wind chop during strong onshore winds. Occur where there is a source of mud nearby and where waves are insufficient to remove muds.
Tide-dominated system with steep reflective high tide beach fronted by rock extending seaward as an intertidal rock platform and/or rock flat. Bedrock control in the form of reefs and headlands means the beaches are short and waves average only 0.5 m height.
Tide-modified beach type. Lowest energy of the tide-modified beaches with the coarsest sand. Steep cusped high-tide beach composed of medium to coarse sand, which changes at an abrupt break in slope into a low-gradient wide (av.120 m but can range 20-1000 m) low tide terrace composed of finer sand. Breakers 0.5-1 m high. At high tide waves surge at base of steep beach and there is no surf zone. At low tide there is a flat sand bar exposed, waves of > 0.5 m height plunge on outer end of bar, and waves >1 m height may cut rip channels across the terrace.
Tide-modified system with relatively straight, moderately steep, narrow, usually coarser and cusped reflective high-tide beach, fronted by a lower gradient, relatively featureless intertidal zone and wave dominated low-tide surf zone usually characterised by bar and rip morphology. Breakers 0.5 to 1.5 m high (height increases with onshore winds). At high tide waves break across a narrow continuous surf zone. At low tide a wider surf zone has rips (spacing 100-150 m).
Tide-modified beach type. Relatively straight, steeper, cusped high tide beach, with a low gradient concave, featureless, wide (averages 400-500 m) intertidal zone. Occur on the higher energy, tide modified coasts with waves averaging 0.5 m, and favoured by higher tide ranges and fine sand. Spilling breakers of 0.5-1.5 m height (height increases with onshore wind velocity). At high tide there is a wide zone of spilling breakers. At low tide there is a very wide zone of spilling breakers.
It occurs when the low tide terrace moves up onto the beach forming a steeper beach face that will have a step at its low tide base where mixed sediments occur, and grade abruptly into a relative deep nearshore. Waves averaging 0.5–1 m cross the nearshore unbroken, breaking by collapsing or surging up the beach face to form the series of well-developed accretionary beach cusps and ultimately a straight berm.
Beach consists of a single prominent shore parallel bar separated by a deep (2–3 m) ∼50–100 m channel from the straight beach.
Beach occurs as wave height drops to ∼1.5–2 m and is characterised by the pronounced rhythmic bar and cellular circulation , with rhythms and rip currents spaced 250–400 m on swell coasts.
Beach associated with moderate waves and forms as the shoreward migrating bars section join with the protruding megacusp horns, forming a series of attached or transverse bars separated by deeper shore transverse rip channels.
the lowest energy of the intermediate beach states, with waves averaging ∼1 m.
Highest wave energy (breakers 2-3 m high) of the wave-dominated beaches. Wide surf zone (up to 300-500 m) with 2 or 3 shore-parallel (straight) bars separated by subdued troughs. Waves dissipate their energy as they break passing over bars in the surf zone. Wide, low gradient intertidal beach composed of firm fine sand.
A beach profile is a cross section diagram showing changes in elevation versus distance along a transect drawn at right angles to the shoreline, from the low water line to the landward limit of the beach.
The total horizontal distance of the entire beach profile, encompassing everything from the backshore (dunes or vegetation line) all the way out to the low-tide line.
The direction the beach profile is measured in.
The horizontal distance of the backshore zone, measured from the front of the dunes or vegetation line to the seaward edge where the foreshore begins.
Length of the part of the land next to the sea that is between the limits reached by high and low tide, or any part of this land that does not have grass or buildings on it.
A comparison of the lengths of two specific zones of the beach profile.
The diameter of individual particles in sedimentology and size distribution analysis of granular material.
The largest category, representing very large, rounded rocks, with size between 256mm and 4096mm, or between -8phi and -12phi.
from 1024mm to 2048mm or from -10phi to -11phi.
from 512mm to 1024mm or from -9phi to -10phi.
from 256mm to 512mm or from -8phi to -9phi.
Particles that are in the size range between 63 microns and 2 millimetres or between 4phi to -1phi.
from 1mm to 2mm or from 0phi to -1phi.
from 125µm to 250µm or from 3phi to 2phi.
from 250µm to 500µm or from 2phi to 1phi.
from 63µm to 125µm or from 4phi to 3phi.
A sedimentary material consisting of very fine particles intermediate in size between sand and clay. The size range between 3.9µm and 63µm or between 8phi and 4phi.
from 31µm to 63µm or from 5phi to 4phi.
from 15µm to 31µm or from 6phi to 5 phi.
from 8µm to 15µm or from 7phi to 6phi.
An environmental factor that, under some definite conditions, can exert appreciable influence on organisms or their communities, causing the increase or decrease in the number of organisms and/or changes in the communities.
The various elements that influence the movement and behavior of fluids, particularly in natural bodies of water such as oceans, rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
Measurements and predictions of the displacement of the water column surface from a fixed, stable reference.
Nonliving factors of the environment that affect the survival, behavior, physiology, and reproduction of organisms.
Parameters quantifying the degree of hotness of the atmosphere. Specifically excludes indirect measurements of other parameters such as wet bulb temperatures.
A measurable quantity of the moisture content found in the earth's atmosphere.
The in situ temperature of the sea water. To specify the depth at which the temperature applies use a vertical coordinate variable or scalar coordinate variable.
The time it takes for two successive wave crests (the highest point of a wave) to pass a fixed point.
The tide type respect to occurence number and relative heights of tidal cycles per day.
In fluid dynamics, wave height is the vertical distance between a wave's crest (highest point) and trough (lowest point) relative to the still water level.
The horizontal distance traveled by the uprush (onshore movement) of a wave on a beach before it starts to recede back down the slope (backwash).
The influence upon the environment of organisms owing to the presence and activities of other organisms, as distinct from a physical, abiotic, environmental factor.
The total mass of plant life that occupies a given area.
Environmental change caused or influenced by people, either directly or indirectly.
The presence of unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive artificial light in the night environment.
The permission or freedom to use, enter, approach or pass to and from a tract of land, which often consists of real estate property.
Land Uses Simplified Index LUSI=(urban score+agricultural score+industrial score+riverine score)×coastline correction factor.
The collection of data from natural environments to understand its patterns and processes.
Approach that define how to select samples from a population. It determines the overall plan for gathering data.
A subset of a statistical population in which each member of the subset has an equal probability of being chosen.
The area is divided into a grid and samples has collected at specific points within random grid cells.
The area is divided into a grid and samples has collected at specific points within each grid cell, ensuring coverage across the entire area.
Stratified random sampling involves dividing a field area (e.g., beaches by exposure) into subgroups and taking random samples from each to ensure representative data.
A line (line transect q.v.), strip (belt transect q.v.), or proﬁle (proﬁle transect q.v.), chosen to sample the organ­isms present within a particular habitat and to gain an idea of their distribution.
Utilizing two or more different sampling techniques within a single study to gather data from a population or field.
The researcher deliberately chooses samples that meet specific criteria relevant to their research question. This prioritizes specific information over randomness.
Method used to obtain the samples used for the analysis.
The recording of types, numbers or percentage of organisms using a frame.
The recording the type, abundance, or percentage of organisms within a fixed area defined by its diametre.
Recording the type, abundance, or percentage of organisms within a fixed area defined by its sides.Such as 50X50 centimeters, 1x1 metre
Physically picking individual organisms or samples from their substrate.
Flow of water over land surfaces (including paved surfaces), typically from precipitation.
The shape of sloping area of the beach where waves break and wash up.
The measurement of the angle of the beach face profile.
Sediment porosity (water content by volume) and water content by weight parameters.
from 128mm to 256mm or from -7phi to -8phi.
from 64mm to 128mm or from -6phi to -7phi.
from 32mm to 64mm or from -5phi to -6 phi.
from 16mm to 32mm or from -4phi to -5phi.
from 8mm to 16mm or from -3phi to- 4phi.
from 4mm to 8mm or from -2phi to -3phi.
from 2mm to 4mm or from -1phi to -2phi.
from 500µm to 1mm or from 1phi to 0phi.
Large, rounded rocks smaller than boulders. ranging between 64mm and 256mm or between -6phi and -8phi.
Smaller, rounded rocks commonly found on beaches and riverbeds. ranging between 4mm and 64mm or between -3phi and -6phi.
less than 4µm or less than 8phi.
A substrate that is primarily composed of organic material, derived from living organisms or their remains.
The substrate is primarily made up of non-living, mineral materials.
Biogenic substratum that is constructed from cemented/self-adhered non-living shells and shell fragments. These are typically (but not exclusively) molluscs. Clam, mussel, oyster etc.
A hill of sand built by aeolian processes. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind.
A method of selecting a sample from a population in such a way that every sample that could be selected has an equal chance of being selected.
Systematic sampling is where sources of data are chosen in a completely non-random way.The interval size between sampling points is chosen by the researcher.
Recreation and tourism are often accompanied by extensive damage to the environment. Aquatic ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the effects of an increased tourist trade and the resultant building of hotel accommodations, sewage disposal works, roads, car parks and landing jetties on banks and coastlines; and the increased angling, swimming, water skiing, shooting or use of motor-boats in the water body. These all produce direct deleterious effects when conducted on a massive scale, including shore damage, chemical changes in the water, and sediments and biological changes in the plant and animal communities.
A flat area, typically lying between a desert and an ocean or salt lake, whose surface is characterized by efflorescences of salt, gypsum, and calcium carbonate as well as windblown sediments and often tidal deposits.
Tide consists of only one high tide and one low tide in a daily occurrence, so a situation where there is only one complete tidal cycle per day.
There are two complete wave cycles per day composed by two high and two low tides each day, with both highs and both lows of toughly equal height.
Occurs two high tides and two low tides per day, but the heights of each tide differs; the two high tides are of different heights, as are the two low tides.
Trapping pit for small animals, such as insects, amphibians and reptiles. They are mainly used for ecology studies and ecologic pest control.
Nine-level a qualitative scale based on naked-eye observation used to quantify the darkness of the night sky at a specific location. It essentially measures the level of light pollution by considering how many stars and celestial objects are visible with the naked eye.
A device used to measure the illuminance of a surface, specifically the visible light intensity. Illuminance is measured in units called lux (lx).
The tool meseasure the night sky's luminance in units of magnitudes per square arcsecond (mpsa). This unit reflects the astronomical concept of apparent brightness, where lower mpsa values indicate darker skies.
The amount of water held within the spaces (pores) between sediment particles, specifically sand grains on a beach.
A specific, measurable property that describes a particular aspect of sediment.
Passing the sediment through a sieve, which is a mesh with specific pore openings. Particles and organisms larger than the pores will be retained on the sieve, while smaller ones will pass through.
The process of collecting samples from soft sediment regions and mudflats by removing a cylindrical piece of subsurface material using a special drill.
Directly gathering information on the type, abundance, or presence of organisms through sight within a designated area.
Specialized cameras designed for capturing wildlife in their natural habitat.
The visual appearance of sediment, determined by the wavelengths of light it reflects. It is influenced by the minerals, organic matter, and chemical conditions present in the sediment.
from 2048mm to 4096mm or from -11phi to -12phi.
from 4µm to 8µm or from 8phi to 7phi.
Qualitative and quantitative parameters related to the sampling activity; includes terms related to sampling effort, sample processing.
The period of time during which a sample was collected or an observation was made, such as a the time a net was towed through the water or duration of a visual census.
Text describing the method used to preserve the sample after collection and prior to the analysis.
Sampling parameter referring to the temporal frequency of the sampling, e.g. every 10 seconds, daily, yearly, etc.
Physical, chemical and other non-living environmental factors. They are essential for living plants and animals of an ecosystem, providing the essential elements and nutrients that are necessary for growth. The abiotic elements also include the climatic and pedologic components of the ecosystem.
The direction of the air (absolute) in the atmosphere (from direction).
Speed of wind {wind speed} in the atmosphere.
The ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor in the air–water mixture to the saturated vapor pressure of water at those conditions. The relative humidity of air is a function of both its water content and temperature. It is normally expressed as a percentage.
A measure of the actual amount of water vapor (moisture) in the air, regardless of the air's temperature. It expressed as grams of water vapor per cubic meter volume of air.
The weight (amount) of water vapor contained in a unit weight (amount) of air (expressed as grams of water vapor per kilogram of air).
The difference in height between the high tide and the low tide.
The point in the tidal cycle when the water level reaches its minimum height at a particular location. It is the lowest level the water will reach before it begins to rise again.
The point in the tidal cycle when the water level reaches its maximum height at a particular location. It is the highest level the water will reach before it begins to recede.
The attributes that define chemical environments.
The tendency of sediment pore water to either gain or lose electrons when it is subject to change by introduction of a new species.
The scientific detection, recognition, inventory and analysis of land and water area by the use of distant sensors or recording devices such as photography, thermal scanners, radar, etc. or complex of techniques for the remote measure of electromagnetic energy emitted by objects.
Satellite imagery consists of images of Earth or other planets collected by artificial satellites.
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or triggered automatically. Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, multirotor Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), balloons, blimps and dirigibles, rockets, kites, parachutes, drones, stand-alone telescoping and vehicle mounted poles.
The sensor uses one or more global navigation satellite systems to determine location.
The use of microwave radiation to create images of the Earth's surface.
A technique and method used to detect infrared energy emitted from an object, convert into temperature, and display an image of temperature distribution.
Placement of sand on or near a beach for the purpose of augmenting the local sediment budget and in many cases widening the beach or providing a greater buffer against erosion.
A community of plants or plant life that share distinguishable characteristics.
A very large and widespread family of Monocotyledoneae, with more than 10.000 species, most of which are herbaceous, but a few are woody. The stems are jointed, the long, narrow leaves originating at the nodes. The flowers are inconspicuous, with a much reduced perianth, and are wind-pollinated or cleistogamous. The fruit in single-seeded, usually a caryopsis. Grasses are the most important of all plants for food.
A woody perennial plant, smaller than a tree, with several major branches arising from near the base of the main stem.
The number of individuals per unit area (for example plants/m2). The term also consequently refers to the closeness of individual plants to one another.
The seaward extent of vegetation.
Foredunes are ridges of sand built up at the back of a beach or on the crest of a sand or shingle berm, where dune grasses have colonised, and are trapping blown sand.
Local relative topographic maximum (i.e. topographic high within the predefined computational window size) landward of the shoreline and dune toe, marked by a significant decrease in slope gradient (i.e. local maximum in profile convexity) and is often associated with a change in slope azimuth.
Landward of the shoreline, marked by an increase in slope moving landward from the shoreline (i.e. a significant local maximum in profile concavity).
A crescent-shaped or ring-like dune formation that encloses a depression or deflation hollow.
Crescentic shoreline features having a pseudoregular longshore wavelength ranging from a few centimeters to as musc ad several hundreed metres.
The first plants to colonize bare sand, often occurs on the foredunes.
Predominantly clay minerals and quartz particles, with minor amounts of Feldspars, micas, and heavy minerals.
Substrate include various volcanic products, such as lava flows, ash deposits, and pyroclastic materials.
The quantity of water, expressed as a depth (most commonly in inches or centimeters), precipitated as rain, snow, hail, or sleet in a specified area and time interval.
The variation in precipitation received by a specific location over the course of a specific time period ( montly, seasonally ,yearly etc.).
The rate at which rain falls, typically expressed in millimeters per hour (mm/hr) or inches per hour (in/hr).
The occurrence of rain event in a specified area and time interval.
The degree of heat present within the unconsolidated material that forms a beach.
Small pieces of dead and decomposing plants and animals. or detached and broken down fragments of a structure.
Mechanical cleaning activites on organic or inorganic materials. While litter cleaning can be considered as positive effect wrack or debris cleaning can have negative effects.
The process of dealing with or controlling activities, processes, or activities.
The legal or designated level of protection afforded to a specific location, area, or ecosystem, indicating the degree to which human activities are regulated or restricted to conserve natural resources and biodiversity. It encompasses a range of designations, from fully protected areas with strict regulations to areas with no legal protection.
The IUCN conservation status records whether animal or plant species is threatened with extinction in their native home.These include 'least concern', 'near threatened', 'vulnerable', 'endangered', 'critically endangered', 'extinct in the wild', and 'extinct'.
Any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment.
The lowest level of the supralittoral, just above the normal tide limit, where drift material accumulates and the sand may be rich in nitrogenous organic matter. Vegetation, if present at all, is very open and composed of annuals .
A low-lying depression or hollow located between dune ridges within a coastal dune system, characterized by a fluctuating water table, often resulting in seasonally damp or waterlogged conditions and supporting specialized vegetation adapted to these varying moisture levels.
The area between dune ridges within a dune system.
The horizontal distance alongshore between the points of highest relief on two cusp horns.
The vertical difference in elevation between the lowest point in a beach cusp bay and the highest point on a beach cusp horn.
Highest point on the cusp, the protruding ridge.
Lowest point in the cusp, the indentation area.
The degree to which a beach is exposed to wave energy, wind, and open ocean conditions.
The proportion of larger grain sizes within the sand fraction of beach sediment.
Stabilized dunes usually exist between the shrub zone and the newer, usually higher, less stable primary dunes.
Vertical height of specific points along the beach profile measured relative to mean sea level, used to describe coastal morphology and change.
Beach face profile where at least 90% of its constituent horizontal segments are classified as concave, with less than 10% exhibiting other shapes (linear or convex).
A beach face profile where at least 90% of its constituent horizontal segments are classified as convex, with less than 10% exhibiting other shapes (linear or concave).
A beach face profile where at least 90% of its constituent horizontal segments are classified as linear, with less than 10% exhibiting other shapes (concave or convex).
A beach face profile characterized by the presence of a distinct, abrupt change in slope or a "beach step," typically located within the intertidal zone or near the low tide line
Result of a function calculated by numerically segmenting the profile and analyzing the sign of the second derivative (or changes in slope) of each segment to determine its local curvature, which are then averaged to yield the index. A dimensionless index quantifying the overall shape and curvature of a beach profile, ranging from -1.0 (concave) to +1.0 (convex).
A beach face profile where 60% to 89% of its constituent horizontal segments are classified as concave, and 11% to 40% are linear or convex.
A beach face profile where 41% to 59% of its constituent horizontal segments are classified as concave (primarily in the first/seaward segment) and 41% to 59% are classified as convex.
A beach face profile where 41% to 59% of its constituent horizontal segments are classified as linear and 41% to 59% are classified as concave.
A beach face profile where 60% to 89% of its constituent horizontal segments are classified as linear, and 11% to 40% are concave or convex.
A beach face profile where 41% to 59% of its constituent horizontal segments are classified as linear and 41% to 59% are classified as convex.
A beach face profile where 41% to 59% of its constituent horizontal segments are classified as convex (primarily in the first/seaward segment) and 41% to 59% are classified as concave.
A beach face profile where 60% to 89% of its constituent horizontal segments are classified as convex, and 11% to 40% are linear or concave.
An estimate of the elevation where the ocean will meet the coast and can provide guidance on potential coastal erosion and flooding hazards.
A digital elevation model is a digital model or 3D representation of a terrain's surface — commonly for a planet (including Earth), moon, or asteroid — created from terrain elevation data.
Instrument used to measure the vertical extent of wave uprush on the beach face.
Maximum onshore elevation reached by waves relative to still water level at the shoreline.
A container deployed in the water column with the aim of providing a representative sample of the material settling through that water column before it passes to a greater depth and ultimately to the seabed or lake
Easy, Moderate, Difficult , No access
Royal Geographical Society https://www.rgs.org/schools/resources-for-schools/a-student-guide-to-the-a-level-independent-investigation-non-examined-assessment-nea
Grass, Shrub, Ammophila arenaria, Elymus sp. etc.
None, Sparse, Moderate, Dense, Very Dense or specific measurement
litter, debris, wrack, ghost crab burrows etc
Marine Protected Area, National Park ,Special poreotected area , No Protection , etc. as the values.
Highly Exposed, Moderately Exposed, Sheltered etc.
Coastal landforms
Depositional coastal landforms
Erosional coastal landforms
Beach
Spit
Tombolo
Bar
Headland
Bay
Cliff
Wave cut platform
Sea cave
Sea arch
Sea stack
Stump
Barrier island
Substrate composition
Banquette
Mixed
Delta
Morphodynamic beach state
Wave-dominated
Tide-modified
Tide-dominated
Reflective + sand flats
Reflective + sand ridges
Reflective + tidal mud flats
Reflective + rock flats
Reflective low tide terrace
Reflective + bars and rips
Ultradissipative
Reflective
Intermediate - Longshore bar and trough
Intermediate - Rhythmic bar and beach
Intermediate - Transverse bar and rip
Intermediate - Low tide terrace
Dissipative
Beach profile
Total profile length
Profile orientation
Backshore length
Foreshore length
Backshore / Foreshore ratio
Grain-size
Boulders
Large boulders
Medium boulders
Small boulders
Sand
Very coarse sand
Fine Sand
Medium sand
Very fine sand
Silt
Coarse silt
Medium silt
Fine silt
Environmental factors
Hydrodynamics
Sea level
Physical factors
Air temperature
Air humidity
Sea water temperature
Wave period
Tide
Wave height
Swash width
Biotic factors
Vegetation
Anthropogenic factor
Light pollution
Land access
LUSI
Sampling
Sampling strategy
Simple random sampling
Random sampling with grids
Systematic sampling with grids
Stratified sampling
Transects
Combined sampling
Purposive selection
Sampling method
Frame method
Circolar frame
Quadrangular frame
Hand collection
Runoff
Beach face profile
Beach face slope
Sediment porosity
Large cobbles
Small cobbles
Very coarse pebbles
Coarse pebbles
Medium pebbles
Fine pebbles
Very fine pebbles
Coarse sand
Cobbles
Pebbles
Clay
Organogenic
Non organogenic
Shell
Dune
Random sampling
Systematic sampling
Environmental impact of recreation
Sabkha
Diurnal tide
Semidiurnal tide
Mixed semidiurnal tides
Pitfall trap
Bortle scale
Lux meter
Sky brightness meter
Sand moisture
Sediment characteristics
Sieving
Core
Visual observations
Photographic survey
Camera traps
Sandy beach
Sediment color
Very large boulders
Very fine silt
Sampling parameters
Sample duration
Sample preservation method
Sampling frequency
Abiotic factors
Wind direction
Wind force
Air relative humidity
Air absolute humidity
Air specific humidity
Tidal range
Low tide
High tide
Chemical factors
Redox potential
Remote sensing
Satellite imagery
Aerial imagery
GNSS Receptors
Radar imagery
Thermal Imagery
Beach nourishment
Vegetation type
Grass
Shrub
Vegetation density
Vegetation line
Foredune
Dune crest
Dune toe
Dune ridge
Beach cusps
Pioneer Species
Clastic
Volcanic
Rainfall
Rainfall distribution
Rainfall intensity
Rainfall frequency
Sediment temperature
Detritus
Beach cleaning
Management
Protection status
Conservation status
Marine debris
Driftline detritus
Dune slack
Interdune area
Cusp spacing
Cusp amplitude
Cusp horn
Cusp bay
Beach Exposure
Fraction percentage
Secondary dune
Cross shore distance
Elevation
Concave
Convex
Linear
Stepped Profile
Profile Morphotype Index
Mostly Concave
Concave Convex
Linear Concave
Mostly Linear
Linear Convex
Convex Concave
Mostly Convex
Total water level
LIDAR
Digital Elevation Model
Wave run-up sensor
Wave run-up height
Sediment trap
Tombolos
Peninsula
Stack
Beach type
Sandflat
Sand ridge
Mud flat
mudflat
Rock platform
rip current
Beach width
B/F
Course boulders
Environmental variable
Sea level position
Atmospheric humidity
sea_water_temperature
Anthropogenic impact
Human impact
Human pressure
Proportional random sampling
Quota random sampling
Lines
Mixed sampling
Opportunistic sampling
Quadrat method
Hand picking
Manual collection
Overland flow
Granules
Gravel
Biogenic
Sand dunes
Sky quality meter
SQM
Sediment colour
SamplingParams
Lowest astronomical tide
Highest astronomical tide
Orbital imagery
Drone imaginary
GNSS reciver
Infrared thermography
Primary dune
Frontal dune
Pioneer plants
Marine litter
Sand beach driftlines
Back dune
Rear dune
Planar
Light Detection and Ranging coastal topography and elevation mapping using laser pulses
DEM
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