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Physical Geography > Coastal Landscapes And Change > Flashcards

Coastal Landscapes And Change Flashcards

1
Q

Describe igneous rock.

A

Rock formed when molten rock solidifies.

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2
Q

Give an example of igneous rock.

A

Granite

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3
Q

Describe metamorphic rock.

A

Rock that has been CHANGED with heat and pressure. Forms deep within the Earth.

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4
Q

Give an example of metamorphic rock.

A

Slate

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5
Q

Describe sedimentary rock.

A

Forms when sediment is deposited and pressed together. As the deposited sediment builds up, layers are compressed. Often forms at the bottom of the sea.

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6
Q

Give an example of sedimentary rock.

A

Limestone

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7
Q

What is a high energy coastline?

A

Rocky
Erosion > deposition
Destructive waves

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8
Q

What is a low energy coastline?

A

Sandy
Deposition > Erosion
Constructive waves

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9
Q

Is a sediment cell an open or closed system?

A

Open - sediment can still be transported in and out

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10
Q

What is it called when the inputs and outputs of a coastal system are equal?

A

They’re in dynamic equilibrium.

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11
Q

What is a sediment budget?

A

Amount of sediment available in a sediment cell.

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12
Q

What is the littoral zone?

A

Area of shoreline from sea to land that is subject to wave action.

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13
Q

What are the 4 subzones of the littoral zone?

A

Backshore
Foreshore
Nearshore
Offshore

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14
Q

Which subzone of the littoral zone experiences the most human activity?

A

Nearshore

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15
Q

Which subzone of the littoral zone is above the influence of the waves?

A

Backshore

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16
Q

Which subzone of the littoral zone is below the influence of the waves?

A

Offshore

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17
Q

What coastal landforms would you find at a high energy coastline?

A

Headlands, cliffs, wave-cut platforms

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18
Q

What coastal landforms would you find at a low energy coastline?

A

Beaches, spits, bars, coastal plains

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19
Q

Why is the littoral zone constantly changing?

A

Storms and the tide

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20
Q

What rock type is the most resistant?

A

Igneous

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21
Q

What rock type is the least resistant?

A

Sedimentary

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22
Q

What are estuaries?

A

Partially enclosed bodies of brackish water that connect to the sea.

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23
Q

What coastline is the fastest eroding in Europe?

A

Holderness

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24
Q

Why is climate change causing more high energy coastlines?

A

Rising sea levels and increased storm events

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25
Q

How is sediment transferred between sediment cells?

A

Longshore drift
Offshore winds
Sediment deposition

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26
Q

Name some sediment sinks (where sediment ends up after transportation).

A

Dunes
Spits
Offshore bars
Beaches

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27
Q

Name some sources of sediment.

A

Estuaries
Rivers
Sea cliff erosion
Beach nourishment

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28
Q

What is positive feedback?

A

Change is created. Snowball effect that accelerates original change.

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29
Q

What is negative feedback?

A

Trying to reverse and lessen the original change.

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30
Q

Describe a summer beach profile.

A

Steeper beaches due to deposition from constructive waves. This also creates berms. Backwash is weaker (increases deposition).

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31
Q

Describe a winter beach profile.

A

More storm events creating high frequency waves. Strong backwash erodes away berm.

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32
Q

What is a fetch?

A

Distance the wave travels, over which the wind blows.

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33
Q

Where is the crest of a wave?

A

The top of the wave.

34
Q

Where is the trough of a wave?

A

Lowest point of the wave.

35
Q

What is the swash?

A

Water that travels up the beach.
Deposition.

36
Q

What is the backwash?

A

Water that travels backwards off the beach after wave breaks.
Erosion.

37
Q

What is a constructive wave?

A

Swash > backwash
Surges up the beach

38
Q

What is a destructive wave?

A

Backwash > swash.
Wave formed by local storm.
Crashed down on beach.

39
Q

Explain how waves break.

A

Waves start out at sea and have circular orbit. As waves approach shore, friction slows base of wave. Orbit becomes elliptical. Top of wave breaks over.

40
Q

What is a concordant coastline?

A

Bands of differing rock types run parallel to the coast.

41
Q

What is a disconcordant coastline?

A

Bands of differing rock types run perpendicular to the coast.

42
Q

What is wave refraction?

A

Change in direction of waves as they move to shallower water.

43
Q

What are currents?

A

Flow of water in a particular direction.

44
Q

What is weathering?

A

Natural processes by which rocks undergo changes in their appearance and composition.

45
Q

What are the 3 types of chemical weathering?

A

Carbonation
Oxidation
Hydrolysis

46
Q

Describe carbonation weathering.

A

CO2 in atmosphere dissolves in rainwater forming carbonic acid. This reacts with some rock types. E.g chalk

47
Q

Describe oxidation weathering.

A

Rocks with metallic elements react with oxygen. They ‘rust’.

48
Q

Describe hydrolysis weathering.

A

Water reacting with minerals in rock.

49
Q

What are the 3 types of mechanical/physical weathering?

A

Freeze thaw/frost wedging
Exfoliation/pressure release
Aeolian

50
Q

What are the 2 types of biological weathering?

A

Growing plants
Burrowing animals

51
Q

What is lithology?

A

Physical characteristics of rocks.

52
Q

What is coastal morphology?

A

Shape and form of coastal landscapes.

53
Q

What are storm surges?

A

Abnormal rise of water generated by a storm.

54
Q

What rock type is crystalline?

55
Q

Are igneous rocks impermeable or permeable?

A

Impermeable

56
Q

Are sedimentary rocks impermeable or permeable?

A

Either/both (depending on the rock).

57
Q

Are metamorphic rocks impermeable or permeable?

A

Impermeable

58
Q

What are unconsolidated materials?

A

Loose and easily eroded material. Not compacted/cemented.

59
Q

What are the 4 types of erosion?

A

Hydraulic action
Abrasion
Attrition
Solution/corrosion

60
Q

What is hydraulic action?

A

Force of water crashing against coastline. Material breaks off.

61
Q

What is abrasion?

A

When sediment carried by the water is knocked against the coastline, breaking off material.

62
Q

What is attrition?

A

Sediment carried by water knock against one another, they become rounder and smaller.

63
Q

What is solution?

A

Chemicals in the water dissolve certain rock types.

64
Q

What 2 types of erosion are more destructive?

A

Hydraulic action and abrasion.

65
Q

What are joints?

A

Fractures in cliff caused by drying out sediment or earth movement during uplift.

66
Q

What is strata?

A

Layers of rock

67
Q

What is a dip?

A

Angle at which rock strata lie.

68
Q

What are bedding planes?

A

Natural breaks in strata. Caused by gaps in time during periods of rock formation.

69
Q

What are folds?

A

Formed by pressure during tectonic activity. Rocks buckle and crumble.

70
Q

What are faults?

A

Stress/pressure to which a rock is subjected. Faults slip along fault planes.

71
Q

What is a topple?

A

Rock strata have steep seaward dip. Erosion undercutting leads to instability and material collapses.

72
Q

What is rock fall?

A

Strong rock is exposed to weathering. Material falls away and forms scree.

73
Q

What is a slump?

A

Softer materials in saturated conditions slump.

74
Q

What is a flow?

A

Increase in water content causes mud to flow over underlying bedrock.

75
Q

What is a rock slide?

A

Increase in water content reduces friction, material slides down.

76
Q

What are 4 types of transportation?

A

Traction
Saltation
Suspension
Solution

77
Q

What is traction?

A

Rolling/dragging of large sediment along shore.

78
Q

What is saltation?

A

Smaller sediment bounces along ocean floor.

79
Q

What is suspension?

A

Finer material is carried by the water.

80
Q

What is solution?

A

Dissolved minerals carried by ocean floor.

Physical Geography (1 decks)

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