Coastal erosion and landforms Flashcards
what is the main difference between weathering and erosion?
weathering is when rocks are broken down where they are and erosion is where rocks are broken down and carried away by something
what is the name for the waves that carry out erosional processes?
destructive waves
what are the three features of a destructive wave?
- high frequency
- their backwash is stronger than their swash
- they’re high and steep
what is the effect of a wave having a stronger backwash than swash?
material is removed from the coast
what are the two factors that affect the size and power of a wave?
the force of the wind and the fetch
what is the ‘fetch’?
the fetch is the distance of water the wind has blown over to produce a wave
what is a wave cut platform?
a wave cut platform is a platform of rock which is left behind when the cliff retreats
how does the material move in a “slide”?
the material moves in a straight line
how does the material move in a “slump”?
the material moves with a rotation
how does the material move in a “rockfall”?
the material moves vertically
how are headlands and bays created?
bands of less resistant and more resistant rock are both eroded, however the less resistant rock erodes at a faster speed creating a bay and leaving behind a headland of more resistant rock
Is boulder clay a resistant or less resistant rock?
a less resistant
Is chalk a resistant or less resistant rock?
resistant
describe the journey that creates a; cracks, cave, arch, stack, stump formation
The cracks are extremely weak and continuos erosion causes the cracks to widen and become a cave.
erosion deepens the cave until it breaks through and produces an arch, the arch can no longer support itself and so collapses; therefore a stack is formed.
The bottom of the stack is then eroded and the stack collapses and forms a stump.
what is a cove?
a cove is a wide, circular bay with a narrow entrance
under what condition do coves form?
when there’s a band of harder rock with a band of softer rock behind it
what is long shore drift?
The movement of material along the coast
what are constructive waves?
constructive waves are waves that deposit more than they erode, therefore building up the coastline
what two factors create constructive waves?
weaker winds and a shorter fetch
how are beaches formed?
beaches are formed by deposition
what are the characteristics of a sand beach?
sand beaches are flat and wide with a long gentle slope
what are the characteristics of a shingle beach?
shingle beaches are steep and narrow with a steep slope
which coastal transport creates spits and bars?
long shore drift
where do spits form?
at sharp bends at the coastline
what is a bar?
A bar is where two headlands join
what is a tombolo?
A tombolo is a bar that connects the shore to an island
