Sea wall – A concrete wall which aims to prevent erosion of the coast by providing a barrier which reflects a wave

To remember the meaning of the term Sea Wall, use the following mnemonic:

See that wall? (sea wall) It's going to stop us.

Typical re-curved sea wall which turns the wave energy back on itself.

There are many types of sea walls. All are hard engineered, shore-based structures used to protect the coast from erosion.

The curved concrete sea wall, as in the diagram above, is designed to deflect the energy, reduce undercutting and prevent the wall from being undermined.

Sea walls are usually made of concrete but can also be made from boulders, steel or gabions.

Sea walls are expensive to build and may need costly repairs at some stage as erosion can occur.