Coastal physical landscapes

Question 1

Erosion definition

Answer 1

The break down and transport of rocks - smooth, round and sorted.

Question 2

Attrition (erosion)

Answer 2

Rocks that bash together to become smooth/smaller.

Question 3

Solution (erosion)

Answer 3

A chemical reaction that dissolves rocks.

Question 4

Abrasion (erosion)

Answer 4

Rocks hurled at the base of a cliff to break pieces apart.

Question 5

Hydraulic Action (erosion)

Answer 5

Water enters cracks in the cliff, air compresses, causing the crack to expand.

Question 6

Types of weathering

Answer 6

Carbonation - breakdown of rock by
changing its chemical
composition.
Mechanical - Breakdown of rock without
changing its chemical
composition.

Question 7

Transportation definition

Answer 7

A natural process by which eroded material is carried/transported.

Question 8

Solution (transportation)

Answer 8

Minerals dissolve in water and are carried along.

Question 9

Suspension (transportation)

Answer 9

Sediment is carried along in the flow of the water.

Question 10

Saltation (transportation)

Answer 10

Pebbles that bounce along the sea/river bed

Question 11

Traction (transportation)

Answer 11

Boulders that rool along a river/sea bed by the force of flowing water.

Question 12

Mass movement definition

Answer 12

A large movement of soil and rock debris that moves down slopes in response to the pull of gravity in a vertical direction.

Question 13

Steps of Mass Movement

Answer 13

1. Rain saturates the permeable rock above the impermeable rock making it heavy.
2. Waves or a river will erode the base of the slope making it unstable.
3. Eventually the weight of the permeable rock above the impermeable rock weakens and collapses
4. The debris at the base of the cliff is then removed and transported by the waves or river.

Question 14

Formation of coastal spits (deposition)

Answer 14

1) Swash moves up the beach at the
angle of the prevailing wind.
2) Backwash moves down the beach at
90 degrees to coastline, due to
gravity.
3) Zigzag movement (longshore drift)
transports material along beach.
4) Deposition causes beach to extend,
until reaching a river estuary.
5) Change in prevailing wind direction
forms a hook.
6) Sheltered area behind spit
encourages deposition, salt marsh
forms

Question 15

What is deposition?

Answer 15

When the sea or river loses energy, it drops the sand, rock particles and pebbles it has been carrying.

Question 16

Formation of bays and headlands

Answer 16

1. Waves attack the coastline
2. softer rocks are eroded, by hydraulic action,
   forming a bay
3. more resistant rocks are left jutting out into
   the sea forming a headland. this is more
   vulnerable to erosion

Question 17

Formation of coastal stack

Answer 17

1. Hydraulic action widens crack in cliff face
   overtime
2. Abrasion forms a wave cut notch
3. Further abrasion widens the wave cut notch
   forming a cave
4. caves from both sides of the headland break
   through to form an arch
5. arch collapse by erosion to then form a stack
6. further weathering and erosion leaves a
   stump