Coast Flashcards
what are the two types of waves?
Destructive
constructive
factors influencing wave strength
fetch
wind duration
wind speed
What is the wave height?
difference between a peak and trough
what is a fetch?
how far the wave has travelled
What is the wave length?
Difference between 2 peaks or 2 troughs.
CONSTRUCTIVE WAVE
height, length, break,
low
long
spill
CONSTRUCTIVE WAVE
swash, backwash, sediment
powerful swash
weak backwash
gains sediment - extend beach
DESTRUCTIVE WAVE
height, length, break
high
close
destroy/plunge
DESTRUCTIVE WAVE
swash, backwash, sediment
Weak swash
strong backwash
loose sediment - destroy beach
What is weathering?
weakening of material, while it remains in its og location.
What is mechanical weathering?
explain the process
freeze thaw weathering
a crack in a rock fills up with water
water freezes expands and cracks the rock a bit more
process continues until the rocks splits in half
what are the 3 types of weathering?
mechanical weathering
biological weathering
chemical weathering
What is chemical weathering?
the breakdown of rocks because of the interaction with air, water or acid
What is mass movement?
downhill movement of weathered material under the force of gravity.
What is biological weathering?
plants and animals weaken cliffs.
by burrowing
plant roots
4 types of mass movement
rock fall
landslide
mudflow
slumping (rotational slip)
What is a rockfall?
a type of weathering causing a section of rock to fall of a 90° cliff
What is a landslide?
what is it caused by..
section of rock that break away and slides down a slope.
caused by heavy rain or earthquakes
What is a mudflow?
what is it caused by..
Saturated soil that breaks away and slides down a slope.
caused by heavy rain and earthquakes
What is slumping/ rotational slip?
Saturated soil slumps down a curved surface