coastal landscapes Flashcards
What are the inputs to coastal systems?
Sediment and wave energy.
What processes occur in coastal systems?
Erosion (e.g., hydraulic action), transportation (e.g., longshore drift), deposition (low-energy environments).
What are the outputs of coastal systems?
Sediment loss and landforms like spits or dunes.
What are constructive waves?
Waves that build beaches, characterized by low energy, strong swash, and weak backwash.
What are destructive waves?
Waves that erode coastlines, characterized by high energy, weak swash, and strong backwash.
How are cliffs and wave-cut platforms formed?
They are formed by cliff retreat and undercutting.
What are caves, arches, stacks, and stumps?
Sequential developments from faults in headlands.
What are beaches?
Accumulations of sediment.
What are spits?
Extended deposition due to longshore drift.
What are bars?
Spits that connect across bays.
What are tombolos?
Bars that connect islands to the mainland.
What is eustatic sea level change?
Global water level changes (e.g., ice melting).
What is isostatic sea level change?
Local land rise or fall (e.g., post-glacial rebound).
What landforms are associated with sea level change?
Raised beaches (emergent), rias and fjords (submergent).
How does geology influence coasts?
Hard rocks form headlands; soft rocks form bays.
What types of weathering affect coasts?
Mechanical (freeze-thaw), chemical (solution), biological (plants/animals).
What are hard engineering coastal management strategies?
Sea walls, groynes, rock armour (effective but expensive).
What are soft engineering coastal management strategies?
Beach nourishment, dune regeneration (sustainable but temporary).
What is managed retreat in coastal management?
Allowing erosion in low-value areas.
What is Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)?
A sustainable approach balancing environmental, social, and economic needs.
What is the case study of the Holderness Coast?
Rapid erosion due to soft boulder clay. Management includes groynes, revetments, rock armour (protect towns but increase erosion elsewhere).
What is the case study of the Maldives?
Threatened by rising sea levels. Management includes sea walls, artificial islands, and ICZM to adapt and protect.
