Coastal processes

Question 1

Littoral zone

Answer 1

the wider coastal zone including adjacent land areas and shallow parts of the sea just offshore

Question 2

Cliff profile

Answer 2

the height and angle of a cliff face as well as its features, wave-cut notch or changes in slope angle

Question 3

Coastal accretion

Answer 3

the deposition of sediment at the coast and seaward growth of the coastland, creating new land, often involves deposition being stabilised by vegetation

Question 4

Dynamic equilibrium

Answer 4

the balanced state of a system when inputs and oututs balance over time, if one element of the system changes because of outside influence, internal equilibrium is upset and other components change, by process of feedback, system adjusts to change and equilibrium regained

Question 5

Holocene

Answer 5

Geological epoch, started about 12,000 years ago, early stages marked by large SLR of about 35mm and warming interglacial climate

Question 6

Faults

Answer 6

Major fracture in rocks, produced by tectonic forces, displacement of rocks either side of fault line

Question 7

Unconsolidated sediment

Answer 7

material that has not been compacted and cemented (sedimentary), not undergone lithification, loose and easily eroded

Question 8

Pore water pressure

Answer 8

pressure water experiences at a particular point below water table due to weight of water above it