coasts Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

coastal systems: define open system

A

system where there are inputs and outputs of both matter and energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

coastal systems: define inputs

A

addition to a system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

coastal systems: define stores

A

a sink - where material is retained for a period of time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

coastal systems: define flows

A

movement of material and energy between stores

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

coastal systems: define outputs

A

loses from a system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

coastal systems: define dynamic equilibrium

A

systems where inputs and outputs are balanced

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

coastal systems: define positive feedback

A

cycle where the effect grows stronger, moving the system further from equilibrium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

coastal systems: define negative feedback

A

cycle where the effect weakens, bringing the system back to the equilibrium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

coastal systems: define sediment cells

A

a self-contained section of coastline where material cycles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

coastal systems: define sediment budget

A

the difference between the inputs and outputs of material in a coastal environment - a determination of erosion and deposition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

coastal systems: define closed system

A

system with inputs and outputs of energy, but not material.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

coastal processes: define fetch

A

distance over the water that the wind blows

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

coastal processes: define prevailing winds

A

the most common direction the wind blows

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

coastal processes: define constructive wave

A

low and flat wave frequently associated with swells that have long wavelengths

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

coastal processes: define destructive wave

A

wave frequently associated with storm conditions that have a short wavelength and high frequencies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

coastal processes: define wave refraction

A

curving of a wave as a headland is reached, causing erosion on the headlands sides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

coastal processes: define swash

A

the uprush of incoming waves onto a beach

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

coastal processes: define backwash

A

the return of waves down the beach towards the sea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

coastal processes: define tidal range

A

the difference between high and low tide in a coastal zone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

coastal processes: define spring tide

A

the tides with the highest tidal range caused by full or new moons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

coastal processes: define neap tide

A

the tides with the lowest tidal range caused by first and third quarter moons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

coastal processes: define intertidal zone

A

area of the coast between the high and low tides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

coastal processes: define high-energy coastline

A

areas of shore where there is more erosion then there is deposition causing cliffs and headlands to form because the waves are large with high erosive power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

coastal processes: define low-energy coastline

A

areas of shore where there is more deposition then there is erosion, allowing beaches to form because the waves are small with less erosive power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

coastal processes: define currents

A

flow of water around a coastline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

coastal processes: define physical weathering

A

the in situ breakdown of rocks by the action of frost, water and temperature fluctuations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

coastal processes: define chemical weathering

A

the in situ breakdown of rock resulting from the action of weak acids contained within seawater

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

coastal processes: define biological weathering

A

the in situ breakdown of rock resulting from the action of living organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

coastal processes: define mass movement

A

the down-slope transport of soil, bedrock, rock debris or mud on steep coastlines, above the influence of waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

coastal processes: define erosion

A

the breakup and transport away of rock and material within a coastal environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

coastal processes: define hydraulic action

A

water compresses air into gaps in a rock face, creating high pressures followed by expansion that can cause rocks to break apart when repeated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

coastal processes: define abrasion

A

pebbles transported in the sea grinds against, and are hurled against cliffs causing erosion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

coastal processes: define solution

A

chemical attack upon rocks causing them to dissolve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

coastal processes: define attrition

A

rocks transported in the sea are slowly worn down into smaller, increasingly round pieces as they are swirled around

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

coastal processes: define transport

A

movement of material around the coast by water and wind

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

coastal processes: define traction

A

large particles are rolled across the sea floor because they are too heavy to be suspended, such as pebbles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

coastal processes: define saltation

A

waves and currents bounce larger material across the sea bed - there is insufficient energy available to constantly suspend the material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

coastal processes: define suspension

A

fine sediment requires very little energy for it to be maintained within the water column, therefore it will remain there for a long time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

coastal processes: define solution

A

transport of dissolved load

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

coastal processes: define aeolian erosion and transport

A

the breakdown and transport of rock using the wind. material is deposited when the wind speed drops or reachews an obstacle

41
Q

coastal processes: define deposition

A

material is no longer transported so falls out of suspension

42
Q

coastal processes: define longshore drift

A

sediment is transported along the coast. waves approach at an angle carrying material up the beach. backwash then moves it back out to sea.

43
Q

landscapes of erosion : define unconsolidated material

A

loose deposits which have not yet been cemented together to form rock

44
Q

landscapes of erosion : define sedimentary rock

A

layers of stone created by the deposition of material. can be fairly soft, and susceptible to erosion

45
Q

landscapes of erosion : define metamorphic rock

A

sedimentary rock which has been altered by heat, from overbearing pressure, or intrusions of magma, making rocks harder than before

46
Q

landscapes of erosion : define igneous rock

A

stone created by a volcano , usually very hard and resists erosion

47
Q

landscapes of erosion : define rock joints

A

a fracture within stone, allowing erosion to occur at a faster rate

48
Q

landscapes of erosion : define bedding planes

A

separation between layers (strata) in a sedimentary rock

49
Q

landscapes of erosion : define strata

A

layers of sedimentary rock

50
Q

landscapes of erosion : define concordant coastline

A

a region of the coast where alternating bands of hard and soft rock run parallel to the coast

51
Q

landscapes of erosion : define discordant coastline

A

coast section where alternating bands of hard and soft rock meet the sea near or at right angles.

52
Q

landscapes of erosion : define cliffs

A

rock back wall to a beach created by the erosion of the land

53
Q

landscapes of erosion : define wave-cut platform

A

rocky ledge caused by the retreat backwards of a cliff further inland

54
Q

landscapes of erosion : define headland

A

resistant outcrop of rock, normally on discordant coastlines, with bays either side

55
Q

landscapes of erosion : define bay

A

a body of water surrounded by land on three sides formed by the erosion of less resistant rock along a coastline.

56
Q

landscapes of erosion : define cove

A

a curved bay formed on a concordant coastline

57
Q

landscapes of erosion : define geo

A

a vertical hollow in a rock face, caused by the enlargement of a crack by erosive action

58
Q

landscapes of erosion : define cave

A

a natural hollow within a cliff formed by the continual erosion of a crack

59
Q

landscapes of erosion : define arch

A

a continuous hole through a headland, formed by the backwards erosion of two caves on each side, the overburden may later collapse

60
Q

landscapes of erosion : define stack

A

an isolated portion of resistant rock formed by the erosion and collapse of an arch roof

61
Q

landscapes of erosion : define stump

A

the eroded remnant of a stack, left behind after the rock debris has been removed

62
Q

landscapes of deposition : define littoral zone

A

coastal area submerged by tides and the sea near to the coast

63
Q

landscapes of deposition : define offshore

A

the zone furthest from the shore, waves done impact the seabed here

64
Q

landscapes of deposition : define inshore

A

zone covering all areas below the low water mark where waves still impact on the underlying land

65
Q

landscapes of deposition : define foreshore

A

the zone between low and high tides

66
Q

landscapes of deposition : define backshore

A

the zone furthest from the sea, entirely ;andward of the high water mark under normal conditions. only affected by waves under storm conditions

67
Q

landscapes of deposition : define berm

A

ridges of deposited beach material caused by high tides

68
Q

landscapes of deposition : define cusp

A

circular erosion feature caused by waves eroding a ridge

69
Q

landscapes of deposition : define ripples

A

small ridges and depressions in the sand caused by the movement of water- waves and currents

70
Q

landscapes of deposition : define storm beach

A

steep ridge of larger material on the backshore built during storm conditions

71
Q

landscapes of deposition : define spit

A

strip of deposited material caused when a coastline changes direction or enters an estuary, but transport continues in the same direction

72
Q

landscapes of deposition : define tombolo

A

a spit that joins the mainland to a previously offshore island

73
Q

landscapes of deposition : define bar

A

a spit which crosses an entire bay, forms when there is no strong flow of water from the land to stop continued sedimentation

74
Q

landscapes of deposition : define barrier beach

A

usually permanently exposed sand ridge pout at sea, protecting a lagoon behind, once a spit connected with land again

75
Q

landscapes of deposition : define sand dune

A

a depositional feature in which sand, blown from a beach by onshore winds, is shaped into mounds and stabilised by plants

76
Q

landscapes of deposition : define psammosere

A

development of an ecosystem through succession starting with bare sand

77
Q

landscapes of deposition : define pioneer species

A

first organism to colonise a bare surface

78
Q

landscapes of deposition : define climatic climax vegetation

A

the plants which form the last stage of vegetation succession

79
Q

landscapes of deposition : define mudflat

A

area of fine deposited material often exposed at low tide and not yet colonised by plants

80
Q

landscapes of deposition : define salt marsh

A

estuarine ecosystem formed of salt-tolerant plants which cause mud to be deposited and eventually become dry land

81
Q

landscapes of deposition : define halophyte

A

plant capable of surviving in salty conditions, such as a tidal marsh

82
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define ice age

A

period of global cooling where ice advances from the poles across the land, and sea level falls

83
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define sea level rise

A

as land-ice melts during warmer interglacial periods, water returns to the oceans and sea levels rise

84
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define isostatic change

A

a local change in the level of the land relative to a fixed sea level

85
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define eustatic change

A

a type of change in the sea level that affects the whole planet, caused by the changes in the volume of water stored in the oceans

86
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define isostatic readjustment

A

the surface height of a land mass rebounds to its previous level following ice melting and therefore pressure release

87
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define raised beach

A

a deposit of sand or gravel which is now above sea level, formed when sea level was higher than today

88
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define relic features

A

landforms such as cliffs that are above current sea level - they are not affected by subaerial weathering rather then the sea

89
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define ria

A

a river valley, or a system of river valleys, that is flooded during sea-level rise

90
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define fjord

A

a glacial valley that has been flooded during sea-level rise

91
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define thermal expansion

A

water expands as it warms - this is why climate change could cause sea levels to rise, even without the addition of new water

92
Q

the effects of past, present and future climate change: define adaptation

A

changing ways of life and building defences to cope with the effects of rising sea level, rather then trying to reduce sea level rise

93
Q

coastal management: define coastal management

A

technique of controlling the rate of coastal erosion and the level of protection

94
Q

coastal management: define hard engineering

A

the construction of large-scale construction schemes to disrupt natural processes, in order to defend an area against flooding or coastal erosion

95
Q

coastal management: define soft engineering

A

the use of the natural environments and materials that work with natural processes to provide defence against flooding or coastal erosion

96
Q

coastal management: define sustainable management

A

policies which promote long-lasting, beneficial administration of the coastal zone

97
Q

coastal management: define shoreline management plans (SMPs)

A

policies, plans and methods used to protect coastal margins from erosion while some areas may be protected, others may be sacrificed

98
Q

integrated coastal zone management (ICZM)

A

sustainable development within coastal areas, encompassing the system as a whole, and accounting for different land uses and players