washload

fine particles (silt, clay, and colloidal size material) carried within the moving fluid of a stream, usu taken as the suspended fines (silt and clay).

washover deposits

deposits on landward side of beach-dune system deposited by the overwash of waves.

wave base

the depth at which wave action no longer stirs sediments. Cf: closure depth.

wave climate

the prevailing seasonal wave conditions incident to a particular coastal segment averaged over a period of time, preferably several years, within each decadal climate regime.

wave-cut platform

see platform (wave-cut).

wave-cut terrace

a wave erosion feature at the coastline consisting of a sea cliff and a seaward sloping wave-cut platform. Syn: shore platform. Cf: platform, sea cliff, notch, abrasion limit.