Coastal Landscapes Flashcards
what is a constructive wave?
waves that are low energy and building up coastlines, depositing material
what is a destruction wave?
waves that have lots of energy, eroding and removing material from the coastline
what is the swash?
movement of the wave up the beach in the direction of the prevailing wind
what is the backwash?
Movement of the wave straight back down the beach due to gravity
what is the name of our coastal labdscape case study?
Dorset Coast
what is hydraulic action?
the sheer force of waves crashing against the shore and cliffs. The power of the waves forces air into cracks, compresses it and blows the rock apart as the pressure is released.
what is abrasion at the coast?
the process of rocks and pebbles carried by the waves wearing away rocks as they are thrown against cliffs.
what is attrition?
when rocks and pebbles carried by the waves smash into each other, wearing each other away and gradually becoming smaller, rounder and smoother.
what is solution?
when chemicals in the seawater dissolve minerals in the rocks, causing them to break up.
what is longshore drift?
- Material is carried by the swash up the beach, the angle determined by the wave and wind direction.
- It is then pulled down the beach by gravity and the wave’s backwash.
3.This process is repeated over and over again and the particle moves along the shoreline.
what is a cliff?
A cliff is a vertical rock face which meets the sea
what is a wave cut platform?
flat area of rock that is often found at the base of a cliff and represents the remnants of a headland eroded by waves
what is a wave cut notch?
a hollow formed by erosion at the base of a cliff
What occurs between high and low tide?
greatest amount of erosion
For headlands and bays to for you need alternating bands of…
hard and soft rock
In the formation of headlands and bays, what is differential erosion?
softer rock erodes much quicker than hard rock
name an example of a bay.
Swanage Bay
name an example of a headland.
Pervil Point
what is a headland?
high area of land that extends out into the sea
what is a bay?
low lying inlet of land on the coast
name an example of an arch.
Durdle Door
name an example of a stack.
Old Harry
what do hydraulic action and abrasion attack first on a headland?
lines of weakness such as cracks, joints, faults
what is a spit?
a long narrow ridge of beach material that extends out into the sea
where do spits form?
where the coastline changes direction
name an example of a spit.
Studland Spit
what often develops behind a spit?
salt marsh
what is a sandbar?
a narrow ridge of beach that extends all the way across a bay or gap in the coastline, e.g Chesil Beach
where do sandbars form?
where there is a gap (or bay) along the coast
Name an example of a sand bar
Chesil Beach
what forms behind a sandbar?
lagoon
what process transports material along a beach?
longshore drift
What direction is material transported along a beach?
in the direction of the prevailing wind
