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Physical Geography > ✅3.1.3.3 - Coastal Landscape Development > Flashcards

✅3.1.3.3 - Coastal Landscape Development Flashcards

1
Q

How is a wave cut platform formed?

A

Waves breaking at foot of cliff form wave cut notch
Undercutting is result of erosion by waves
As undercutting continues, rock above collapses and cliff gradually retreats
A sloping rocky platform is left behind, the wave cut platform, covered at high tide

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2
Q

What effect do wave cut platforms have on the rate of erosion?

A

They affect the wave’s ability to erode the cliff because they have further to travel in shallow water
They break earlier and dissipate their energy, reducing rates of erosion

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3
Q

How does soil creep occur?

A

Slow form of movement of individual soil particles moving down a hill or slope, slow

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4
Q

How does mudflow occur?

A

Earth and mud flowing down a slope or hill

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5
Q

How does run off occur?

A

A type of flow from one store (rockface) to another (beach or sea)

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6
Q

How does landslide/slump occur?

A

Where material slides on a curved surface over weak and unconsolidated rock

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7
Q

How does rockfall occur?

A

Sudden form of collapse or breaking away of rocks from a cliff face

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8
Q

How is a stack formed?

A

Headland is attacked by waves along lines of weakness
The erosion exploits a weakness, forming a cave
If the weakness runs through the headland, two caves may form back to back
Eventually an arch is formed
Wave attack continues at the base of the arch until it collapses, leaving a stack

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9
Q

How is a stump formed?

A

When a stack is continually eroded until it collapses

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10
Q

In what conditions do sand dunes form?

A

When dry material from flat, open beaches is blown inland

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11
Q

When do beach cusps occur?

A

Where the coarser material at the top of the beach absorbs wave swash

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12
Q

Where do bay bars form?

A

Across estuaries, blocking off rivers

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13
Q

Where do barrier beaches form?

A

Where waves recycle offshore material

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14
Q

How do swash aligned beaches develop?

A

When waves break parallel with the coast, the movement of water an material is largely up and down the beach.

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15
Q

What are tombolos?

A

When spits extend from the coasts to an island

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16
Q

What are cuspate forelands?

A

Triangular shaped features which may have resulted from changes in the growth and direction of spits.

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17
Q

When does deposition occur?

A

When there is insufficient energy to move sediments further in low energy environments

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18
Q

Where do runnels form?

A

Close to low water marks, separating pools of standing water at low tide

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19
Q

Where do ripples form?

A

Small marks that appear where the slop of the beach increases and where the tide moves over the beach

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20
Q

How does pebble size change up the beach?

A

Bigger, heavier pebbles are found further up the beach because more energy is required to transport them. Smaller lighter ones are further up to the backshore.

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21
Q

What are the features of swash aligned beaches?

A

Beaches can be large, especially if facing into prevailing wind
Landforms are created by offshore sediment
Found right at the back of bays due to wave refraction

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22
Q

What are the features of drift aligned beaches?

A

Pebbles and sand drift along because in wind direction

Landforms created by material moved along beach by LSD

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23
Q

What is a spit?

A

A long, narrow feature that extends from the mainland at the end of a drift aligned beach

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24
Q

Why does a recurved end occur?

A

Wave refraction and a second dominant wind force material to move in a different direction

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25
What are examples of tombolos?
Isle of Purbeck, UK | Angel Road, Shodo Island
26
In what conditions do tombolos form?
``` Island close to mainland Area of shallow water Preferential supply of sediment (cliff erosion) Small, low energy waves Sheltered area Consistent prevailing wind ```
27
When is an offshore bar formed?
When material is built up parallel to the coast
28
When is a barrier beach formed?
If a bar reaches a headland and the body of water behind it is cut off.
29
What are examples of barrier beaches?
Slapton Sands, Devon, UK | Cies Islands Bar, Spain
30
What are barrier islands?
Islands formed parallel to the coastline but not touching it, a lagoon may form behind
31
What are some examples of barrier islands?
Scolt Head Island, Norfolk, UK | Padre Island, Texas
32
How are sand dunes formed?
Sand accumulates on beach from longshore drift At low tide, sand dries out, allowing prevailing wind to move it up beach Larger intertidal range for sand to dry Sand transported by saltation Debris on beach traps it Grasses grow and stabilise dunes
33
What is the strand line?
Where debris traps the sand to begin forming a dune
34
What is fluid threshold velocity?
The amount of energy the wind must have to move the sand on a beach
35
What are the stages of dune formation?
``` Embryo dune Fore dune Yellow dune Grey/Fixed dune Dune slack Mature dune/heath ```
36
What are the features of embryo dunes?
Sand continually moving - needs obstruction to break force of wind High pH and wind sped Lots of salt spray, less the 1m tall, exposed
37
What are the features of fore dunes?
Drought resistant plants colonise eg Lyme grass, Marram grass As they grown, more sand trapped, building height Pioneer species Height increases to 5m, 20% of sand exposed
38
What are the features of yellow dunes?
Greater diversity of plants, humus exposed, alkaline pH, more shelter and less spray Marram grass dominates, moss, heather etc 5-10m high, 80% sand vegetated
39
What are the features of grey dunes?
Stable, 100% marram grass and small shrubs Sheltered from winds, humus darkens allowing soil to form Grey because sand mixes with soil More acidic pH
40
What are the features of dune slacks?
Found between mature dunes Where water table reaches surface Plants adapt to damp and shelter, cotton grass, rushes etc
41
What are the features of dune heath/mature dunes?
Found 100m from shore If undisturbed, can support shrubs and trees such as ash and birch Fast growing conifers may be planted
42
What are the features of climax vegetation?
May have pine/birch in acidic conditions or beech in alkaline Increased depth of soil and distance from the sea reduces salt
43
What type of feature are salt marshes and mudflats?
Estuarine
44
What are mudflats?
Created by deposition of fine silts and clays in sheltered low energy coastal environments such as estuaries
45
What are salt marshes?
An area of coastal grassland regularly flooded by seawater
46
What are the factors affecting salt marsh development?
``` Weather River regime Sediment supply Human action Sea level Climate Wave type Tidal regime ```
47
How does weather impact salt marsh development?
Storms can erode the marsh
48
How does river regime impact salt marsh development?
Changes in currents and volume can effect erosion
49
How does sediment supply impact salt marsh development?
Supply changes can enhance or diminish the available silt
50
How does human action impact salt marsh development?
Commercial, industrial and recreational activity can damage marsh
51
How does sea level impact salt marsh development?
Rises can upset equilibrium and destroy marshes
52
How does climate impact salt marsh development?
Affects species type, growth rates and sea levels
53
How does wave type impact salt marsh development?
Changes in direction, nature and size can affect salt marsh stability
54
How does tidal regime impact salt marsh development?
Changes in tidal currents can increase erosion and alter species
55
What is key to salt marsh development?
A low energy environment
56
What are the required features for mudflat formation?
``` Supply of sediment, coastal or fluvial Low energy, sheltered area In an area where deposition will occur Where salt and freshwater meet Where there are no strong tides or currents to wash sediment away ```
57
What is a pioneer species?
Hardy plants tolerant to flooding which first colonise an area
58
What is flocculation?
Tiny particles of mud sticking together to enable them to sink
59
What are halophytes?
Plants tolerant to the salt and frequent flooding caused by tides
60
What is the process of succession on a salt marsh?
As tidal currents are slowed, material deposited. Eel grass may begin to grow, slows tides more Mudflats begin to develop and halophytes colonise Glasswort develops close vegetation over mud Plants trap more sediment and leaves and stalks help to to build up Mud rises, creek system forms Eventually rises above sea level and new species grow Upper levels of marsh are rarely flooded and slat marsh succession is complete
61
How could sea level rise threaten salt marshes and mud flats?
As sea levels rise, storms will increase in frequency, leading to more frequent flooding so succession becomes impossible. The low energy environment will also be disrupted
62
Why are salt marshes and mud flats much rarer than other depositional landforms?
Because the conditions they require are so specific
63
What is isostatic sea level change?
Local changes in sea level resulting from the land rising or falling, relative
64
What is eustatic sea level change?
A global change in sea level, resulting from a fall or rise in the level of the sea itself, actual
65
What are the two major factors causing eustatic change?
Thermal expansion and ice melt
66
How have sea levels changed in the last 10,000 years?
They have generally risen, with some times of fluctuation due to warming and cooling of the oceans
67
How can tectonics alter sea level?
As they change the volume of the oceans, making them larger or smaller and affecting the water capacity they can hold
68
How would glaciation affect isostatic and eustatic change?
Global temperatures cool, ice accumulates on land to form glaciers and ice sheets Accumulation of ice reduces water available to fill oceans, eustatic fall Relative fall in sea level partly moderated by ice forcing land mass down by isostatic change When climate warms, ice melts and eustatic rise Rising seas flood some coastlines and create submergent features Once ice is fully melted, isostatic rebound occurs Prolonged rebound allows emergent features
69
What are the differences between isostatic and eustatic change?
Eustatic is global, isostatic local Eustatic is actual, isostatic is relative Eustatic is change to sea, isostatic is changes to land Eustatic is much quicker Eustatic can be human induced, isostatic cannot
70
How are raised beaches formed?
As land rises in isostatic change, former wave cut platforms and beaches raised above current sea level
71
Where is an example of a raised beach?
The Isle of Arran, Scotland
72
How are fjords formed?
When deep glacial troughs are flooded by a rise in sea level.
73
What are the features of fjords?
Long and steep sided with a U shape valley cross section and hanging valleys. Much deeper inland than at coast
74
Where is an example of a fjord?
Milford Sound, New Zealand
75
How are relict/fossil cliffs formed?
Coast undergoes isostatic change and land rises. Sea can no longer reach the cliff face, so erosion stops. Leaves relict cliff set way back from the coast and now beach formed in front.
76
Where is an example of a relict cliff?
Isle of Arran, Scotland
77
How are rias formed?
Sheltered winding inlets with irregular shorelines are formed when valleys in upland areas are flooded due to eustatic rise
78
Where are rias often found?
Lower parts of rivers and tributaries which were drowned, such as in South West England where sea levels rose after last ice age
79
Where is an example of a ria?
Kingsbridge Estuary, Devon
80
How are marine platforms/terraces formed?
Wave cut platforms lifted out of the wave activity zone by isostatic change as sea levels fall relative to the land
81
Where is an example of a marine terrace?
Isle of Arran, Scotland
82
How are Dalmation coasts formed?
When a landscape of ridges and valleys running parallel to the coast is flooded. As sea levels rise, tops of ridges remain exposed while valleys are submerged, leaving a series of offshore islands
83
Where is an example of a dalmation coast?
The Dalmation Coast, Croatia
84
Which landforms are submergent?
Fjords, Rias, Dalmation Coasts
85
Which landforms are emergent?
Raised beaches, relict cliffs, marine platforms
86
What is subsistence?
Coastal areas sinking often due to excess groundwater abstraction. Has the effect of making sea level relatively higher.
87
What is water volume change?
Due to thermal expansion or addition of extra water from land stores (ice melt)
88
What takes in most of the heat from global warming?
The oceans, at 90%
89
How could underground water resources be affected by sea level rise?
The zone where seawater mixes with fresh water in rivers is dynamic and a rise in sea levels can casue it to move upstream
90
What are some of the effects of climate change on the coasts?
Villages can be lost to flooding Groundwater can become salt contaminated High value agricultural land lost Higher rates of erosion with sea level rise
91
Where is the case study for coastlines
Dalmation coast lines - Croatia
92
Explain the formation of the dalmatian coastline
Pre sea level rise - Before they were island and valley system post sea level rise - flooded valleys and turned into islands, just peaks are visible

Physical Geography (22 decks)

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