Coastal processes Flashcards
What is the coastline?
The boundary between terrestrial processes and marine processes (between land and sea)
What is the difference between destructive waves and constructive waves?
Destructive waves have a stronger backwash than swash, therefore the beach is eroded. But, constructive waves have a stronger swash than backwash, so the beach is build up with sediment by the process of decomposition.
What is swash?
The movement of sediment up the beach by waves
What is backwash?
The movement of sediment down the beach by waves
What effects the wave direction?
Wind direction
What is hydraulic action?
When the waves hit the cliff face, air in the holes in the cliff is compressed, which expands the gaps in the cliff face.
What is corrosion?
When acid dissolves the cliff face. The acid comes from the rain water and therefore is a type of weathering.
What is attrition?
The wearing away of particles of debris by the action of other particles, such as beach pebbles. (Washing machine effect) Resultantly, sediment becomes rounded.
What is longshore drift?
Transportation of sediment along a beach. The direction of longshore drift id determined by the direction of the wind. It consists of swash and backwash, to form a zig-zag pattern.
What are the three types of weathering?
- Mechanic weathering
- Chemical weathering
- Biological weathering
What is mass movement?
When weathered rock is moved by gravity.
How do pebbles slow waves as they move up the beach?
Pebbles dissipate wave energy
What is abrasion?
erosion by pebbles scraping against the rocks
