2b.1 The coast, and wider littoral zone, has distinctive features and landscapes Flashcards

1
Q
A
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2
Q

What are the subdivisions of the littoral zone?

A

Offshore, nearshore, foreshore, backshore.

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3
Q

Define the offshore zone.

A

The area of deeper water beyond the point at which waves begin to break.

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4
Q

What characterizes the nearshore zone?

A

The area of shallow water beyond the low tide mark where waves break.

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5
Q

What is the foreshore?

A

The area between the high tide and the low tide mark.

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6
Q

Describe the backshore zone.

A

The area above the high tide mark, affected by wave action only during major storm events.

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7
Q

What are the three types of coastal landscapes formed in the littoral zone?

A
  • Rocky, cliffed coastline
  • Sandy coastline
  • Estuarine coastline
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8
Q

What is a characteristic of rocky coastlines?

A

Areas of high relief with resistant geology in a high-energy environment.

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9
Q

Define sandy coastline.

A

Areas of low relief with sand dunes and beaches, forming in a low energy environment.

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10
Q

What are estuarine coastlines characterized by?

A

Low relief with salt marshes and mudflats, forming in river mouths.

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11
Q

True or False: The littoral zone is static and does not change.

A

False.

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12
Q

What are short-term changes affecting the littoral zone?

A
  • High and low tide variation
  • Wave energy variation due to weather conditions
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13
Q

What long-term criteria can classify coasts?

A
  • Geology
  • Sea Level Change
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14
Q

What is geology in the context of coastal classification?

A

Characteristics of land, including lithology and structure.

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15
Q

How can sea level change classify coasts?

A

As emergent or submergent.

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16
Q

What causes local sea level rise and fall?

A
  • Tectonic processes
  • Climate change
17
Q

What is the main energy input for coasts?

18
Q

What happens where erosion is greater than deposition?

A

There is a net loss of sediment and the coastline retreats.

19
Q

Fill in the blank: Coastal plains are usually found in _______ environments.

A

[low-energy]

20
Q

What do rocky coasts result from?

A

Resistant geology in high-energy environments.

21
Q

What is coastal accretion?

A

A continuous net deposition of sediment that causes the coastline to extend seawards.

22
Q

What processes attack coasts?

A
  • Marine processes (e.g. wave erosion)
  • Terrestrial processes (e.g. weathering, mass movement)
23
Q

What is mass movement?

A

The downslope movement of material due to the force of gravity.

24
Q

What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

A
  • Weathering: Breakdown of rock in situ
  • Erosion: Breakdown and immediate transport of rock
25
What coastal features may be formed from sediment inputs?
* Sand dunes * Beaches * Mud flats * Salt marshes
26
What defines a dynamic equilibrium in coastal systems?
Where erosion equals deposition, maintaining the size of stores.