Coasts Flashcards
What is geology?
The type of bedrock in an area
How can geology impact erosion?
Different rock types have different resistances to erosion
What are the 4 sections of the littoral zone
Backshore
Foreshore
Nearshore
Offshore
What is Coastal morphology?
The shape and physical characteristics of a coastline
What is Lithology?
The physical characteristics of a type of rock
e.g , Strata, joints, folds, faults, dip, permeability
What are the 5 main cliff profiles?
Horizontal dip (steep cliff)
low-angle Seaward dip (overhang cliff)
high-angle seaward dip (slabs slide down cliff face)
Low-angle landward dip (very stable cliff)
high-angle landward dip (same shape as high-angle seaward dip)
How does a concordant coat form?
Rock strata run parallel to the coast
More resistant rock gets a weakness exploited creating a hole to less resistant rock behind
Less resistant rock is eroded quicker forming a cove
How does a discordant coast form?
Rock strata run perpendicular to coast
Less resistant rock erode quicker than more resistant rock
Forms headlands and bays
Which rock type is most and least resistant to erosion?
Igneous (most)
Sedimentary (least)
Metamorphic (middle)
What allows beaches to form in bays?
Waves hit the headland first (more resistant)
Causes wave refraction where the energy is decreased
Not enough energy remains to erode sediment allowing it to build up
What effects wave energy at a coast?
Strength of prevailing winds
Fetch
Compare the features of Constructive and Destructive waves
Constructive has strong swash and weak backwash, found at low energy coasts
Destructive has weak swash and a strong backwash, found at high energy coasts
How do summer and winter beach profiles vary?
Steeper in the summer, swash of low energy waves builds a berm
In winter the berm is eroded by destructive waves and strong backwash forms offshore bars
What are the 4 types of erosion?
Abrasion
Attrition
Hydraulic Action
Solution
What are the main erosional landforms?
Wave cut platforms/ notches
Cliffs
Caves, Arches, Stacks and Stumps
Describe the process of longshore drift?
Waves approach at an angle due to prevailing winds
Swash deposits sediment on an angle
Backwash removes sediment straight out to sea
Cycle continues moving sediment along the shoreline
What are the 4 types of marine transport?
Traction
Saltation
Suspension
Solution
What impact can tides have on longshore drift?
The relative difference between high and low tides is called tidal range
A high tidal range produces strong tidal currents which transport more sediment
How does a spit form?
Longshore drift transports sediment along the coast
The direction of the coast changes suddenly (e.g river estuary)
Longshore drift caries on depositing sediment forming a protrusion called a spit
What is a barrier bar?
A spit that joins at both sides forming a lagoon behind it
What is a tombolo?
A narrow beach that forms between a small island and the coast
What are cuspate forelands?
Triangular headland formed by longshore drift in opposite directions
vegetation stabilises the sediment making it more resistant to erosion