Coasts Flashcards
How are cliff retreats formed
The foot of a cliff is eroded into a wave cut notch this continues eroding until the top of the Notch collapses and these rocks get washed away this progress continues until the cliff is far back and a wave cut platform is created
What type of costal erosion is a wave cut platform
Erosional
What is a cove
A wide circular bar with a narrow entrance
How is a cove formed
They form where there a band of hard rock along the coast with a band of softer rock behind it, where there’s a weakness in the band of hard rock a narrow gap will be eroded, the softer rock behind will then be eroded much more to form a cove
What is a spit
Spits are bits of silt deposited at the sharp bend in a Coast line
How is a spit formed
Longshore drift transports sand and shingle past the bend in the Coast line and deposits it in the sea, strong wind and waves curve the end of the spit
What’s special about a spit
The sheltered area behind the spit is protected from waves so lots of material accumulate here so plants can grow
What is a bar
A bar is two spits that have joined together on each side of the headland
How is a bar formed
Both spits build up enough silt to connect and form a bar which cuts off the bay creating a lagoon
What is a tombolo
A bar that connects the shore to the island
What is a stump
A stump is a headland that has overtime eroded down and broken away from the cliff
How is a stump formed
The head land’s are eroded by hydraulic action and corrasion this forms cracks in the headland they eventually get so big rest collapses off and turns into a cave the erosion continues until the other side of the Cave is gone and it becomes an arch over time the top of the arch falls down because of gravity, this is now a stack which in turn erodes into a stump
What is a headland
a headland is an area of the resistant rock that erodes slower than the bay
How are headlands and bays formed
They both form where there are alternating bands of resistant and less resistant rock, the less resistant rock eroded Lordy creating a bay and the more resistant rock is left out creating headlands
What is a cliff retreat/wave cut platform
A result of weathering erosion and mass movements - the backward movement of a cliff
