3.4 - Coastal landscape development Flashcards
What is a swash aligned beach?
Wave crest approaches parallel to shore in a low-energy environment. Swash and backwash follow same path and no net lateral transportation. Fully attached to coastline
What is a drift-aligned beach?
Open, lowland coastline, dominant waves approach at an angle and generated long-shore movement. Detached beach
What is a simple spit?
Straight or recurved - no minor spits
What is a compound spit?
Number of hooks and happens when transport processes vary over time
Sand dune formation (6)
Sand is trapped Embry dune - colonised by grass Hummocky dune - marram grass Embryo dune rises in height until taller than highest tide Mobile dune Slack then blowout
Define saltmarsh
Coastal ecosystem formed on mudflats and comprising of halophytic plants
Name 3 distinctive features at the Holderness Coast
Spurn point
Flamborough Head
Retreating bay cliffs
Marine processes vs human factors that are important in landform formation
Marine - wave refraction, hydraulic action, subaerial (MM)
Human - People presence, interfere with natural processes, global warming
Define relic
No longer impacted by marine processes
Define isostatic change
Land rises and falls
Define eustatic change
Global sea levels changing
Sea level change case studies (2)
The Maldives and London
How are the Maldives impacted by sea level change? (4)
Highest point is 2.4m above sea level
Coral reefs are being eroded
Sea water infiltrates fresh water
Salt is contaminating the soil
How the Maldives reacting to sea level change? (4)
Land claim - mitigation
$60m sea wall around Male
Mangrove nurseries
Clean lagoons of rubbish
How WILL London impacted by sea level change? (4)
Houses of Parliament is on the estuary - cost £10m a day if flooded
Businesses - help economy by £250b per annum
Thames gateway - regeneration project by building
200,000 houses in flood plain areas
How is Kiribati impacted by sea level change?
In next 50 years, it could disappear
How are Kiribati acting to sea level change? (2)
President bought 20km2 of land in Fiji so plants can be grown there
Mitigation with dignity - move to Indonesia, NZ, Australia for jobs
How is a spit formed?
There is a change in coastline direction with constant LSD
The movement of sediment extends from the shore
Extends and curves due to change in prevailing wind direction
Break in direction of coast so a salt marsh is formed
What is a barrier island?
Depositional islands parallel to the shore. Has a limited tidal range so high rates of deposition
