Coasts Flashcards
COASTAL LANDFORMS:
What is the formation of ‘cliffs’ and ‘wave-cut platforms’?
1.) • During high tide
➡ the cliff is eroded as the water is in contact with the cliff 🌊
2.) • A line of weakness
➡ is eroded by
↳ • ‘Hydraulic action’ (waves force air into cracks, increasing air pressure, causing the rock to break) 🌊
• ‘Abrasion’ (where rocks act like sandpaper, wearing away at the cliff) 🪨
• ‘Solution’ (salt in the sea water dissolves the rocks) 🧂
➜ forming a ‘wave-cut notch’
3.) • Overtime,
➡ the notch is enlarged
↳ forming an ‘overhang’
• Eventually
➡ the overhang will collapse due to
↳ gravity and its own weight as it's unsupported 🪨🍃
4.) • The resulting debris
➡ increases abrasion
5.) • Each collapse
➡ causes the cliff to retreat inland
↳ creating the ‘wave-cut platform’ and a ‘cliff’ ⛰️
6.) • The wave-cut platform
➡ is a gentle slope
↳ because as you move up the platform, the waves lose energy
➜ less energy = less erosion
7.) • This continues
➡ until the waves cannot reach the cliff 🧗♂️
What is the formation of ‘headlands’ and ‘bays’?
1.) • Bays and headlands form
➡ where there are alternating bands of hard and soft rock
↳ at right angles to the coast 🏖️
➜ (e.g. limestone and clay)
2.) • This causes
➡ ‘DIFFERENTIAL EROSION’
↳ where soft rock (clay) is weaker so is eroded faster
➜ It is eroded by:
• ‘Hydraulic action’ (waves force air into cracks, increasing air pressure, causing the rock to break) 🌊
• ‘Abrasion’ (where rocks act like sandpaper, wearing away other rocks) 🪨
• ‘Solution’ (salt in the sea water dissolves the rocks) 🧂
3.) • The soft rock is eroded
➡ to form a sheltered bay
↳ while the hard rock forms a more exposed headland jutting out into the sea ⛵
4.) • In the bays
➡ ‘deposition’ occurs as waves lose energy
↳ forming a ‘beach’ 🏖️
What is the formation of ‘arches’ and ‘stacks’?
1.) • Waves erode a ‘line of weakness’ in a headland
➡ through:
↳ • ‘Hydraulic action’ (waves force air into cracks, increasing air pressure, causing the rock to break) 🌊
• ‘Abrasion’ (where rocks are acting like sandpaper, wearing away the cliff) 🪨
• ‘Solution’ (salt in the sea water dissolves the rocks, making cliff chemically eroded) 🧂
2.) • Over time a crack is formed
➡ and this enlarges into a ‘sea cave’ 🏕️
3.) • If a cave has been eroded at the other side of the headland
➡ through continued erosion, the back walls are eroded away 🌊🧱
↳ forming an ‘arch’
4.) • The roof of an arch is further eroded by waves 💦🪨
➡ and since it is unsupported
↳ it will eventually collapse due to its own weight and gravity
➜ this then forms a free standing pillar - a stack
What is the formation of a ‘spit’?
1.) • Sand spits (long narrow ridges of sand or shingle)
➡ form where the coastline changes direction ↗️
2.) • Longshore drift
➡ transports sand and deposits it in a sheltered area 🏖️
3.) • Transport
➡ occurs as prevailing wind makes waves push material up the beach at an angle 🌬️🏖️
↳ (swash)
➡ and then material is brought straight down the beach due to gravity ✨⬇️
↳ (backwash)
4.) • Deposited sand builds up over time
➡ until it is above sea level 🎚️🌊
↳ this deposition continues until the beach extends into the sea
➜ to form a ‘spit’
5.) • A hooked end develops
➡ due to a change in prevailing wind & wave direction 🌬️↗️
6.) • Mud flats or salt marsh
➡ can develop in an area of clam water behind the spit 💦
What is the formation of a ‘sand bar’?
1.) • Sand spits (long narrow ridges of sand or shingle)
➡ form where the coastline changes direction ↗️
2.) • Longshore drift
➡ transports sand and deposits
↳ as river flow is too weak to erode it 🏖️
3.) • Transport
➡ occurs as prevailing wind makes waves push material up the beach at an angle 🌬️🏖️
↳ (swash)
➡ and then material is brought straight down the beach due to gravity ✨⬇️
↳ (backwash)
4.) • Deposited sand builds up over time
➡ until it is above sea level 🎚️🌊
↳ This deposition continues until the beach extends into the river mouth
➜ to form a ‘spit’
5.) • A sand bar
➡ is formed when a spit grows across a river mouth or two headlands 🏖️
↳ creating a ‘lagoon’
6.) • Overtime, the lagoon will be filled in by deposition.
COASTAL LAND USE:
What are some coastal land uses for TOURISTS?
1.) • Stacks for TOURISM
➡ as they can be used for sightseeing/rock climbing 👀🧗♂️
2.) • Cliffs for TOURISM
➡ as they can be used for sightseeing/rock climbing 👀🧗♂️
3.) • Beach for TOURISM
➡ as can be used for walking, swimming and building sand castles 🚶♂️🏊♀️🏖️
4.) • Wave-cut platforms for TOURISM
➡ as can be used for sightseeing/exploring 👀🗺️
5.) • Forts for TOURISM
➡ as a visit for people interested in history 🏰
6.) • Footpaths for TOURISM
➡ as can be used for walking (active tourists) 🚶♂️
7.) • Open sea/pier for TOURISM
➡ as can be used for water sports 🚤
8.) • On road cycle route for TOURISM
➡ for active visitors who enjoy cycling 🚴♂️💨
9.) • Caravan/camp sites for TOURISM
➡ as this provides accommodation for tourists staying longer 🏕️
10.) • Car park for TOURISM
➡ to park people’s cars 🅿️🚗
What are some coastal land uses for FORESTRY?
1.) • High and steep slopes for FORESTRY
➡ low temperatures and high rainfall ❄️🌧️
↳ conifer trees grow well in the thin soils and climate
➜ (cold and wet)
2.) • Roads and tracks for FORESTRY
➡ to transport timber out and bring in workers & machinery 👷♀️🛻
What are some coastal landforms for HEP & WATER SUPPLY?
1.) • Steep valleys for HEP
➡ as water will flow faster 💨🌊
↳ creating more electricity ⚡
2.) • Deep narrow valleys for WATER SUPPLY
➡ as valleys can be dammed to create reservoirs
↳ (Narrow and deep = more water storage 💦)
What are some coastal landforms for WIND FARMS?
1.) • Roads and tracks for WIND FARMS
➡ to transport materials & maintenance
↳ and to bring in workers & machinery 👷♀️🛻
2.) • High ground for WIND FARMS
➡ as less obstacles blocking wind
↳ and is far from settlements, preventing complaints of noise and eyesore 🔥👀
3.) • Open sea for OFF SHORE WIND FARMS
➡ as less obstacles for wind flow
↳ and sea winds are often stronger 🌬️🌊
