coasts L5 marine erosion & beach morphology

Question 1

HYDRAULIC ACTION

Answer 1

• waves breaking at the FOOT OF THE CLIFF force AIR IN CRACKS to be COMPRESSED
• loose rocks are DISLODGED and removed
• when the WAVE RETREATS the compressed air rushes out of the crack and can FURTHER WEAKEN faults in the cliff face
• worse during stormy conditions
• wave cut notch/platform
• no beach
• cave arch stack stump
• faults and fissures
• light coloured rock (chalk, limestone)

Question 2

ABRASION

Answer 2

• loose rocks and sediment get SCRAPED along BARE ROCKS by the force of the WAVES
• it often SMOOTHS & POLISHES the rocks that sit along the coast that act as BREAKERS OF THE WAVES
• over time, the polished rocks will wear away and erode the more sediment that gets scraped into them
• darker coastline
• rocks

Question 3

ATTRITION

Answer 3

• when rocks and sediment CARRIED BY SEAWATER COLLIDE
• the more they collide the smaller they get (leads to more abrasion)
• pebble beach

Question 4

SOLUTION

Answer 4

• water dissolves certain types of rock (LIMESTONE) due to the PH LEVEL (8.1) (slightly alkaline)
• more CO2 dissolved in the water = more acidic seawater = can dissolve more rock types
• fizzy water
• cloudy/white/green water

Question 5

CORRASION

Answer 5

• rocks HURLED at the CLIFF FACE from the force of the waves
• cliff face CHIPS AWAY

Question 6

WHAT IS BEACH MORPHOLOGY

Answer 6

The shape of a beach - including type of sediment and landforms

Question 7

Which aspects of beach morphology change DAILY?

Answer 7

• storm beach
• drainage channels
• beach cusps (where drainage channels start)
• runnels (where drainage channels run in to)

Question 8

What aspects of beach morphology change MONTHLY?

Answer 8

• cliff face
• ripple marked sand
• beach cusps

Question 9

Which aspects of beach morphology change SEASONALLY?

Answer 9

• longshore ridge
• offshore ridge
• berms