Coasts GI, GW 1-3 [P1] Flashcards
What is swash and backwash?
Swash: brings mats. onto beach (dep) at an angle
Backwash: removes mats. from beach at right angle
Explain wave refraction.
Wave front curves in on protruding landform, conc. wave energy leads erosion.
Wave front curves out in bay, dispersing wave energy, deposition
Factors affecting wave energy (3)
- fetch
- wind speed
- wind duration
Incr incr
What are currents?
Large scale continuous water movement driven by prevailing winds.
What are longshore currents?
Currents that flow parallel to coasts; aid longshore drift
Value of coral reefs 7
- coastal prot , slows waves - prevent erosion, absorbs wave energy - prot infra
- food and jobs via fisheries
- major attraction for snorkelling
- supports bio diversity : breeding grounds
- construction mats : coral rubble
- pharmaceuticals : undiscovered drugs
- aquarium trade : impt aquatic species
What are human activities at coasts?
- pollution
- infrastructure (CA removed/eroded)
- sand removed: HA/ leans reclaimation
What is hydraulic action
- hydraulic action: waves strike against rock, trapping air; air compressed by waves: pressure in rocks; repeatedly compressed: rocks shatter
What is abrasion
As waves break sediments carried are hurled against coast; knock and scrape: weakens surface, breaks down coast
What is attrition
Rock particles carried by waves knock together, breaking into smaller pieces
What is solution
Sea water reacts with water soluble mats in coast, dissolving them
Explain longshore drift (4)
- Waves approach coast at angle of wind. carry mats up in same direction by swash
- Backwash returns at right angle, bringing some mats with it
- Process repeated when next wave breaks
- Mat. is moved along coast in zigzag manner parallel to coast
How are cliffs and shore platforms formed?
- Hydraulic action, abrasion erode a crack/ joint, gradually enlarging to form a notch
- Notch further deepened to form hollow space: cave
- Further erosion, cave roof collapse to form steep cliff
- Further erosion overhanging cliff formed, collapses, mats accumulated at foot of cliff
- Gently sloping pattern at base: shore platform
How are headlands and bays formed?
- Coast has rocks with diff resistance to erosion
- Less resistant erodes faster than more resistant: uneven coastline
- More resistant protrude: headlands
- Less resistant: curve inwards as eroded: bays
How are caves arches and stacks formed?
- Headlands: some rocks less resistant. Erosion via hydraulic action and abrasion. Waves attack lines of weakness and undercut it. Forms cave
- Cave dev. on both sides. Erosion joins them together: bridge (arch) formed
- Arch may collapse forming stack (pillar of rock)
How are spurs and tomobolos formed?
- By longshore drift: abrupt bend in coastline, continue to dep mats in same direction
- Accumulate and forms a ridge of sediment from where coast changes direction: spit
Hook/ curve may dev as conc wave refraction - Spit: one end mainland one end extend into ocean. May connect mainland with offshore island: tómbolo
Sea walls DexaL
D: walls along coast reflect waves: absorb wave energy
Ex: Isle of Wight, UK: reflect waves absorb wave energy
A/S: high degree of protection, prevents further erosion. Ensure max dissipation of wave energy.
L: costly to build and maintain, base may erode and collapse
Gabions DexaL
D: wire cages filled with crushed rocks. Along shore or behind beach, prevent/reduce coastal erosion: weaken wave energy
Ex: East Coast park when first reclaimed, removed after vandalised
A: absorb wave energy better than sea walls: gaps allow water to filter thru; successful against Hugh energy waves
L: very unsightly, expensive to maintain, damaged easily
Breakwaters
D: Structures parallel/ on end to coast. Break force of oncoming waves. Create zone of calm water: shelter harbour for boats
Ex: East Coast park: protect reclaimed shoreline. Act like headlands: area of clam water behind, sediment build up in J shape
A: zone of calm water, sheltered harbour for boats
L: Aesthetically unappealing, may cause flooding and erosion problems, costly, uneven protection
Groynes
D: Low walls at right angle, retain sediments from longshore drift. Reduce wave energy, dep mats on updraft side
Ex: Sandy hook New Jersey, USA. Groynes perpendicular to beach trap sand going north from longshore currents
A: absorb/ reduce wave energy, causes deposition, sustain and extend beach
L: unsightly, expensive to build and maintain, no mats dep of downdrift side
Tetrapods
D: four pronged concrete structures: dissipate wave energy. Stacked in interlocking position. Pre casted, can be replaced quickly.
Ex: Crescent city, north California, USA. Protect from coastal erosion, reduce tsunami impacts: 31 times bet 1933 and 2008
A: reduce erosion, reduce wave energy as water passes thru
L: aesthetically unappealing, expensive, dangerous to swimmers and boats
Beach nourishment
D: using sand from external source to replenish on depleted beach: wide sandy area to protect land
Ex: Cape May point New Jersey usa
A: wide beach: effective energy absorption
L: expensive and time consuming, may suffocate corals, may erode again
Planting vegetation and stabilising dunes
D: mangroves- dense root system; sand dunes: stabilised by planting grass: roots anchor preventing erosion
Ex: Trition place West Australia: vegetated sand dunes prevent erosion
A: stabilise coastlines
L: costly maintenance: paths for human traffic
Encouraging coral reef
D: help weaken wave energy, breeding ground for fish. Artificial: place lasting mats eg, concret onto sea floor to be colonised
Ex: Maldives in the Indian Ocean: coral growing program since 1996- steel rods 45 m long placed off coast, charged with electricity to speed up growth
A: reduces wave energy and wave height, natural barrier
L: 20-30 years for visible results, may not be significant
Limiting damaging activities
D: Banning/ limiting activities that interrupt fiction of natural systems
Ex: port Phillip Melbourne: sand dunes were trampled- fenced off dunes and built separate paths
A: restore coasts, allow function of natural systems, allow recovery
L: less attractive less tourism less income, may be costly
Protect coastal resources eg fish
D: prevents depletion and exploitation eg fish
Ex: Goat island marine reserve New Zealand: marked off zones prevent fishing
A: prevent extinction, marine reserves become tourist attractions
L: threatens fisherman’s livelihood
Restrict development
D: to deal with threat of natural hazards- retreat: relocation, avoidance, regulating development, defence- engineering measures m
Ex: USA: Federal emergency management agency steers development away
A: prevent damage to infrastructure, less cost to rebuild
L: people cannot use the resources that coastal enviros have
How do coastal areas support human activity
- fisheries and aquaculture
- housing and transport
- tourism and recreation