coastal vocal check Flashcards
fetch
the distance a wave travels between two coastlines
onshore
Onshore wind is the one that blows from the sea towards the land.
offshore
situated or happening in the sea, near the coast
constructive wave
- shallow beach
- swash stronger than backwash
- more material is moved up the beach
- eliptical cycle
destructive wave
- weak swash strong backwash
- material is brought back into the sea
- circular motion
swash
water rushing up the beach, pushes material up the beach
backwash
when the waves return towards the ocean
longshore drift
movement of material along a coastline.
weathering (chemical, physical, biological)
the breakdown of rocks which is caused by freeze-thaw and the growth of salt crystals, by acid rain and by the growth of plant roots.
mass movement
Processes of erosion, transport and accumulation of material that occur on both gentle and steep slopes maily owing to gravitacional forces.
erosion (hydraulic action, attrition, abrasion, corrosion)
hydraulic action: when the force of water gets into the cracks of rocks and breaks them.
attrition: when rocks hit other rocks and make them smaller and smoother.
abrasion: when the waves pick up smaller pebbles and hurl them at the cliff.
corrosion: the dissolving of rocks due to the chemicals in the water
discordant coast
Coastlines where the geology alternates between strata (or bands) of hard rock. (The CONCORDANT has the SAME type of rocks along its length.
concordant coast
A concordant costline has the same type of rock along its lenght. Tend to have fewer bays and headlands.
transportation (traction, saltation, suspension, solution)
traction: when big rocks roll along the seabed.
saltation: when rocks are being picked up and they bounce along the seabed.
suspension: when the material floats in the water.
solution: when the material dissolves in the water due to corrosive processes.
deposition
when the sea loses energy, it drops the material it has been carrying
