Coasts Flashcards
Anticlines and Synclines
Geological folds caused by compression. Anticlines form crests and synclines form troughs.
Beach morphology
Beach profile and type of sediment
Concordant coast
Where bands of more resistant and less resistant rock run parallel to the coast
Emergent coast
Coastline that has been exposed by receding sea levels or isostatic uplift/rebound
Eustatic change
when the sea level itself rises or falls which has an effect globally
Isostatic change
when the land rises or falls and has an effect in that local area
Rotational slump
Where the slope fails and slides down due to undercutting or weathering of unconsolidated material
Thermal expansion
The main cause of sea level rise; the volume of ocean water increases as temperatures rise
Flocculation
Small particles like clay join together and get larger until they are deposited.
Sub-aerial processes
Land based processes which alter the shape of the coastline. Includes mass movement and weathering.
Mechanical weathering
Frost cracking where water gets into cracks and expands or salt cracking.
Biological weathering
Where roots or plants get into cracks and expand
Chemical weathering
Acidic rainwater and sea spray react with calcium carbonate in some rocks.
Mass movement
Slumping or Block/rock fall
Slumping
On unconsolidated cliffs which are eroded at the base rainwater enters the cliff and makes sediment more heavy, material slides down a slip plane. Rotational scars are left at the top of the cliff.
