Coastal landform - explain Flashcards
How are coastal landforms created?
Coastal landforms are created through the movement of waves and other forces. Waves pound the coastline bringing sediment such as sand onto the beach and at other times striking the coast with so much force that they erode its landforms. .
How are erosional coasts formed?
Erosional coasts are formed by the powerful action of waves and other forces that weather (wear away) and erode (move) rock e.g. South Australia’s coastline and landforms such as arches.
What are depositional coasts made up of?
Depositional coasts are made up of eroded materials transported and added to the coast eg. The Queensland Coast and sand spits
How is sediment moved along the beach?
Longshore drift
What are the steps of longshore drift.
- The swash acts in the same directions as the prevailing wind
- Backswash 90 to shore due to gravity
- the process is repeated until the beach material is carried to the end of the beach.
Why do waves break?
In the open sea, far away from land, waves move as ocean swell in a circular motion. As the wave approaches the shallow shoreline it begins to interact with the seabed. The seabed disrupts the circular motion of the wave, causing it to rise up, and then gravity causes it to break.