Coasts Flashcards
Destructive Waves
Strong backwash
Weak swash
They erode and transport sediment away from beaches
Constructive Waves
Strong swash
Weak backwash
Because swash is stronger than the backwash they deposit sediment and build up beaches
Swash
The movement of waves on beaches towards the land carrying load.
Swash approaches in the direction of the prevailing wind
Backwash
The movement of waves on beaches away from the beach, it carries load away from the beach.
It will find the quickest route back to the sea due to gravity.
Hydraulic action
Erosion of the cliffs caused by the force of water and air in the waves colliding against them.
Abrasion
Erosion of the cliffs as waves throw particles and rocks against them.
(Tennis ball)
Attrition
Erosion of the material carried in the waves. The material in the waves is smoothed as it bumps into each other.
Corrosion/Solution
Erosion of the cliffs by the salts and acids in sea water. Salts and acids are able to dissolve some rocks - limestone and chalk for example.
Solution
Minerals are dissolved in the water and carried along in solution.
Suspension
Fine light material is carried along in the water.
Saltation
Small pebbles and stones are bounced along the sea/river bed.
Traction
Large boulders and rocks are rolled along the sea/river bed.
Is a sea wall hard or soft engineering?
Hard engineering
What does the sea wall do?
Deflect the force of the waves and any sediment away from the sea front.
The sand acts as a natural protection against the force of the waves. The waves break on the beach and not the cliffs.
Is beach nourishment hard or soft engineering?
Soft engineering