2b.1 The coast, and wider littoral zone, has distinctive features and landscapes Flashcards
What are the subdivisions of the littoral zone?
Offshore, nearshore, foreshore, backshore.
Define the offshore zone.
The area of deeper water beyond the point at which waves begin to break.
What characterizes the nearshore zone?
The area of shallow water beyond the low tide mark where waves break.
What is the foreshore?
The area between the high tide and the low tide mark.
Describe the backshore zone.
The area above the high tide mark, affected by wave action only during major storm events.
What are the three types of coastal landscapes formed in the littoral zone?
- Rocky, cliffed coastline
- Sandy coastline
- Estuarine coastline
What is a characteristic of rocky coastlines?
Areas of high relief with resistant geology in a high-energy environment.
Define sandy coastline.
Areas of low relief with sand dunes and beaches, forming in a low energy environment.
What are estuarine coastlines characterized by?
Low relief with salt marshes and mudflats, forming in river mouths.
True or False: The littoral zone is static and does not change.
False.
What are short-term changes affecting the littoral zone?
- High and low tide variation
- Wave energy variation due to weather conditions
What long-term criteria can classify coasts?
- Geology
- Sea Level Change
What is geology in the context of coastal classification?
Characteristics of land, including lithology and structure.
How can sea level change classify coasts?
As emergent or submergent.
What causes local sea level rise and fall?
- Tectonic processes
- Climate change
What is the main energy input for coasts?
Waves.
What happens where erosion is greater than deposition?
There is a net loss of sediment and the coastline retreats.
Fill in the blank: Coastal plains are usually found in _______ environments.
[low-energy]
What do rocky coasts result from?
Resistant geology in high-energy environments.
What is coastal accretion?
A continuous net deposition of sediment that causes the coastline to extend seawards.
What processes attack coasts?
- Marine processes (e.g. wave erosion)
- Terrestrial processes (e.g. weathering, mass movement)
What is mass movement?
The downslope movement of material due to the force of gravity.
What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
- Weathering: Breakdown of rock in situ
- Erosion: Breakdown and immediate transport of rock