Coasts EQ1 Flashcards
Why is a coastal landscape dynamic
There are marine and sub-aerial processes
Coasts experience extreme events (tropical storms)
Human development is varied
What is a littoral zone
Contains coastal sediments. Waves and tides move these sediments along the coast called the littoral zone
How many littoral zones are there in England Scotland and Wales
11
Describe the 5 areas in a littoral zone
Coast, backshore, foreshore, nearshore, offshore
What type of system is a littoral zone
Closed system
How is a littoral zone determined
Typography and processes ( land shape )
What is a wave caused by
Wind blowing over the surface of the sra
What is a tide caused by
The gravitational pull (force exerted) by the earth, moon and sun
What is dynamic equilibrium
When inputs and outputs are balanced (littoral zones)
What inputs occur in a littoral zone
Marine - waves, tides, storm surges
Atmospheric - weather, climate, climate change
Land - rock type, structure
Sub-aerial -
What process occur in a littoral zone
Weathering
Mass movement
Erosion
Transportation
Deposition
What outputs occurs in a littoral zone
Erosional landforms
Depositional landforms
Different types of coasts
What factors can we classify coastlines by
Geology - rocky, sandy, concordant, discordant
Level of energy - balance between erosion and deposition
Changes in sea level - submergent, emergent
Describe the characteristics of a rocky coastline
High energy
Rocky landscape
highland coasts
Destructive waves
Exposed to large waves
Main processes: erosion and transportation
Long fetch
Atlantic coasts of Scotland and south west England
What landforms are found at a rocky coastline
Cliffs, wave cut platforms, arches, stacks, caves
Describe the characteristics of a sandy coastline
Low energy
Sheltered from large waves
Lowland coasts
Constructive waves
Short fetch
Main processes: deposition, transportation
East Anglian coasts
What landforms are found at sandy coastlines
Beaches, spits, bars, salt marshes, sand dunes, mudflats
What factors affect the erosional resistance of coastlines
Coastal defences (human management)
Type of rock ( geology)
Wave type ( level of energy)
How reactive minerals in the rock are
Cracks, fractures and weaknesses
If the rock is clastic
What does eustatic mean
The sea level changing relative to a point on the land. This is always global
What does isostatic mean
The land moving relative to sea level. This is always local
Examples of isostatic change
Isostatic rebound
Accumulation of sediment caused river mouth to sink
Compression of earths crust
Tectonic movement
Examples of eustatic change
Climate change
Ice ages
Thermal expansion
Example of a emerging coastline
Scotland highlands and still bouncing back after the last ice age. Creating an emerging coastline due to isostatic change
What is an example of a submergent coastline
South coast of the UK is sinking as Scotland is being raised up creating a submergent coastline. Isostatic change
What is a discordant coastline
Different rock strata intersect the coast at an angle ( perpendicular ) so geology varies along the coastline
What is a concordant coastline
When rock strata runs parallel to the coastline
Image of a discordant coastline
Image of a concordant coastline
What is strata
Different layers of rock within an area
What is deformation
The degree to which rock has been deformed (tilted or folded by tectonic activity)
What is faulting
Major fractures that move the rock from there original positions
Name a uk example of a concordant coastline
Lulworth cove
Name a uk example of a discordant coastline
West Cork coastline
What landforms are found at a discordant coastline
Headlands, bays, caves, arches, stacks, stumps, waves cut platform
