Coastal processes

Question 1

Describe the process of Longshore Drift

Answer 1

Prevailing wind direction causes the waves to approach the coast at an angle.

This causes the sediment to be moved along the beach in a zig-zag pattern rather than up an down

Question 2

What is hydraulic action in coasts

Answer 2

The force of the water hitting the cliff causes trapped air to be forced into the cracks in the cliff.

This air eventually expands the crack and causes the rock to break apart.

Question 3

What is Attrition

Answer 3

The force of rocks colliding with each other, causing them to become smaller and more rounded

Question 4

What is abrasion

Answer 4

The force of the rocks in the water colliding with the cliff, causing material to be dislodged and carried away.

Question 5

What is solution?

Answer 5

When alkaline rocks (e.g limestone) are dissolved by the slightly acidic water

Question 6

Name the coastal erosion processes

Answer 6

Hydraulic action
Abrasion
Attrition
Solution

Question 7

What is suspension

Answer 7

When sediment is held up in the sea water

Question 8

What is saltation

Answer 8

The ‘bouncing’ of rocks that are too heavy to be suspended

Question 9

What is traction

Answer 9

The rolling of large rocks along the sea bed

Question 10

Name the coastal transportation processes

Answer 10

Solution

Suspension

Saltation

Traction

Question 11

What are the four characteristics of constructive waves?

Answer 11

1. Formed by storms hundreds of kilometres away
   2.Low waves and wave crests far apart
   3.Strong swash which deposits sediment onto the beach and weak backwash
   4.Common in summer

Question 12

How are constructive waves formed?

Answer 12

They are formed by storms hundreds of kilometres away

Question 13

Do constructive waves have a strong or weak backwash?

Answer 13

Weak backwash

Question 14

Do constructive waves have a strong or weak swash?

Answer 14

Strong swash which deposits sediment onto the beach

Question 15

What time in the year are constructive waves usually formed?

Answer 15

Summer

Question 16

Describe the height and wave crests of a constructive wave

Answer 16

Low waves with wave crests far apart

Question 17

Name the four characteristics of a destructive wave

Answer 17

1. Formed by local stroms
2. Steep waves with wave crests close together
3. Strong backwash which erodes sediment which has been deposited on the beach, weak swash
4. Common in winter

Question 18

How are destructive waves formed?

Answer 18

Formed by local storms

Question 19

Describe the height and wave crests of destructive waves

Answer 19

Steep waves
Wave crests close together

Question 20

What time in the year are destructive waves more common

Answer 20

More common in winter

Question 21

Do destructive waves have a strong or weak backwash?

Answer 21

Strong backwash

Question 22

Do destructive waves have a strong or weak swash?

Answer 22

Weak swash

Question 23

Name the three types of weathering

Answer 23

1. Mechanical
2. Chemical
3. Biological

Question 24

Name an example of mechanical weathering

Answer 24

Freeze-thaw

Question 25

Describe the process of freeze-thaw weathering

Answer 25

1. Water seeps into cracks in the cliff
2. At night the temperature decreases and the water freezes and expands, the ice causes the cracks to become wider and deeper
3. In the day time the temperature increases, the water thaws and then it seeps further down into the cracks
4. The continuous freezing and thawing causes rock fragments to become dislodged and break off collecting as scree at the cliff foot

Question 26

Name an example of chemical weathering

Answer 26

Carbination (acid rain)

Question 27

Describe the process of carbonation

ACID RAIN

Answer 27

1. Rain water absorbs CO₂ and becomes acid rain
2. When the acid rain comes into contact with alkaline rocks e.g. limestone, this causes the rocks to dissolve

Question 28

Describe biological weathering

Answer 28

1. Plant (flora) roots grow in cracks in the rock
2. Animals (fauna) like rabbits burrow into weak rocks

Question 29

[blank] describes the natural process which breaks down rocks

fill in the blank

Answer 29

Weathering describes the natural process which breaks down rocks

Question 30

Name the four types of mass movement

Answer 30

1. Rotational SLIP
2. Land SLIDE
3. RockFALL
4. MudFLOW

slip n slide, fall n flow