Coasts Flashcards
How can a cliff be broken up?
Through hydraulic action, solution,
corrosion,
attrition
How does Hydraulic action erode a cliff?
Sheer force of the waves weakens the rock by causing mini explosions in cracks through the compression and decompression of air and this breaks the cliff up.
How does solution erode a cliff?
Chemicals in seawater dissolves the rock and chemically wears it down, eventually eroding it.
Limestone is very susceptible.
How does corrosion erode a cliff?
Waves are attacking the cliff but also carry sediments like rocks and pebbles which break up the cliff and erode it very quickly.
How does attrition erode a cliff?
As waves churn and move, the rocks that they carry bash and collide with each other causing them to break down into smaller fragments overtime.
How does a headland and bay form?
A coastline has alternative parts of hard rock and soft rock.
Destructive waves hit these rocks and while the hard rock resists erosion the soft rock crumbles away.
The soft rock leaves behind a sandy beach, forming a bay.
The hard rock remains prominent extended out towards the sea, forming a headland.
What is Long shore drift?
Long shore drift is when prevailing wind transports sand and sediment along a coast line.
It is then pulled back into the ocean creating a cycle.
It is the key to creating sand spits, sand bars and tombolos.
What is a sand spit?
A long skinny beach that stretches into the water.
How is a sand spit formed?
Long shore drift carries sand along the shore line and deposits it depending on the direction of wind.
What is a tombolo?
A sand spit that extends from the mainland to an island creating a natural pathway.
What is a sand bar?
Formations that stretch across a bay, connecting on shore to another
How is a sand bar formed?
How is a tombolo formed?
What is a sea cave?
Hollow opening in a cliff.
How are sea caves formed?
