Classifying Coastlines Flashcards
name the 4 categories of classifying coastlines
geology
energy
balance
sea level
what types of coastlines fall under geology?
discordant vs concordant coastlines
rocky vs sandy coastlines
discordant coastlines
alternate bands of different rock types are perpendicular to the direction of the coastline
e.g. Swanage Bay
concordant coastlines
alternate bands of different rock types are parallel to the direction of coastline
e.g. Lulworth Cove, Dorset
rocky coastlines
cliffs vary in height
-variable hardness and resistance
-there is a clear distinction between and and sea
sandy coastlines
sedimentary rocks
-soft and grainy
-shallow gradient, almost flat.
-constructive waves are dominant.
-long wide beach (stretches a long way back)
what types of coastlines fall under energy?
high energy vs low energy coastlines
high energy coastlines
areas of powerful waves
-rates of erosion exceed the rate of deposition
destructive waves
long fetch
erosional landforms
low energy coastlines
areas of less powerful waves
-less erosion, more deposition
-coast is sheltered
-beaches and spits form
what types of coastlines fall under balance?
erosional dominant vs depositional dominant
erosional dominant coastlines
-high relief (vertical cliffs)
-large material and rocks at base of cliff
-can lead to wave cut notches and platforms
depositional dominant coastline
-wider beaches, more deposition
-constructive waves
-sandy coastline
what types of coastlines fall under sea level?
emergent vs submergent coastlines
emergent coastlines
created when there has been a relative fall in sea level.
-tectonic uplift
submergent coastlines
created when there has been a rise in the relative sea level.
-flooded by the sea
-rising sea levels / subsiding land
