Coastal Change and Conflict Flashcards
what is a concordant coastline?
a coastline made up of the same rock type, parallel to the sea
how do concordant coastlines erode?
usually at the same time due to the same rock type
what is a disconcordant coastline?
a coastline made up of altering rock type in layers perpendicular to the sea
how do disconcordant coastlines erode?
usually irregularly due to the different rock types
what is a destructive wave?
a wave with a weak swash and a strong backwash
what do destructive waves do to a beach?
erode it as materials are dragged from the beach into the sea
what is a constructive wave?
a wave with a strong swash and a weak backwash
what do constructive waves do to a beach?
build it up as materials are deposited from the sea onto the beach
how do cold temperatures erode a coastline?
freeze thaw weathering occurs- water enters the faults in a rock and freezes, expanding the rock
how does intense rainfall erode a coastline?
the soil becomes saturated leading the mass movement down slopes as it becomes so heavy
what is thermal expansion?
water from melted glaciers enters the sea so the sea level rises
how does thermal expansion erode the coastline?
more water means more processes such as abrasion, attrition, corrosion and hydraulic action can occur
how does the spring tide erode the coastline?
the moon’s gravity is more intense so the sea levels are higher
what is mass movement?
the downhill movement of material under the influence of gravity
what is slumping?
rock becomes saturated and slides down a slope
what is sliding?
loosened rocks suddenly tumble down a slope
what is coastal retreat?
when the coastline moves further inland
how are bays formed?
the rapid erosion of soft rock
how are headlands formed?
the parts of harder rock left sticking out after the soft rock underneath it has eroded
on what type of coastline would you find a bay or a headland?
disconcordant
how are caves formed?
the waves erode a fault in the rock
how are arches formed?
2 caves erode either side of the headland and meet in the middle
how are stacks formed?
when an arch erodes and collapses
how are stumps formed?
when a stack is further eroded
on what type of coastline would you find caves, arches, stacks and stumps?
concordant
what is a wave-cut notch?
the undercutting of a cliff due to the harder rock being above the softer rock
what is a wave-cut platform?
an area of flat rock at the base of a cliff due to a wave-cut notch eroding further
what is long shore drift?
the transport of sand and pebbles along a beach
how does long shore drift occur?
prevailing winds cause waves to approach the beach at an angle, carrying sediment along the beach in a zigzag fashion
what is a spit?
a platform that sticks out on a beach
how is a spit formed?
long shore drift carries sediment and deposits it at the end of a beach
what is a bar?
an area of sediment connecting one side of the beach to the other
how is a bar formed?
a spit grows due to long shore drift
what is traction?
the process by which large boulders are rolled along the sea bed by waves
what is saltation?
smaller stones bounce along the sea bed
what is suspension?
smaller particles carried along the sea bed by a flow
what is solution?
minerals are dissolved and carried along a sea bed
what is deposition?
the process by which sediment is carried long a sea bed by constructive waves
what is a beach?
a collection of sediment particles formed by transportation
how does human development impact the coast?
impermeable surfaces prevent infiltration so more flooding will occur
how does industry impact the coast?
can cause air, soil, water and noise pollution
how does agriculture impact the coast?
soil erosion is increased
how does coastal management impact the coast?
reduces risk of coastal flooding
how does tourism impact the coast?
increased desire to protect the coast
how do sea walls defend the coast?
they prevent water from eroding the cliffs
how do groynes defend the coast?
prevents the sea removing sand
how does beach replenishment defend the coast?
sand reduces wave energy and maintains tourism
how does slope stabilization defend the coast?
reduces slippage
