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Geography (GCSE OCR) > Coasts & Landscapes > Flashcards

Coasts & Landscapes Flashcards

1
Q

upland geology

A

igneous and metamorphic rocks most common
- have interlocking crystals so water (and air) can’t get in easily = less weathering and/or erosion = more resistant

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2
Q

example of igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary rock

A

I: granite, basalt
M: slate
S: sandstone, limestone

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3
Q

lowland geology

A

sedimentary
- composed of grains which often have gaps between them = easier to break, weather and/or erode = lower land

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4
Q

upland climate

A

lower temp- higher altitude
higher precipitation- relief rainfall

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5
Q

lowland climate

A

higher temp- lower altitude
less rainfall - NO relief rainfall, just frontal and convectional

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6
Q

upland human uses

A

mountaineering, skiing, hydroelectric power, pastoral farming, reservoirs, mining and quarrying

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7
Q

lowland human uses

A

arable farming, big settlements, road networks, factories

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8
Q

distinctive characteristics of glaciated landscapes

A

deep, wide, steep-sided, U-shaped valleys (and therefore misfit rivers)

soil scraped away during glaciation so:
- ridges formed at the end of these areas
- thin soils in glaciated areas now

erosional features such as knife edge ridges (arêtes) & pointed peaks (pyramidal peaks)

depositional features such as tear-shapes mounds (drumlins) and mounds of angular material (moraines)

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9
Q

5 geomorphic processes

A

weathering = wearing away of the earths surface where the material doesn’t get moved from the original location (in situ)

erosion = wearing away of the earths surface (usually by water, wind or ice) and the removal of this material from the original location

transport
deposition

mass movement = movement downslope of weathered material under the force of gravity
- often fairly continuous movement and varies in speed from v slow (soil creep) to rapid (landslides)

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10
Q

4 types of erosion

A

attrition/corrasion = crashing together and knocking corners off other pieces

abrasion = rubbing/scraping against bank/bed/cliff

solution/corrosion = dissolving of rocks
- limestone (CaCO3 is particularly prone to this)

hydraulic action = water gets into small cracks and pushes into rock in bank/bed/cliff: pressure -> cracks -> breaks off
- or air can be forced into the cracks by water but water is ALWAYS pushing

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11
Q

4 types of transport

A

traction = rolling along the bed - too large to be picked up
solution
suspension = held in the water column (is light enough)
saltation = leapfrogging movement - as one piece falls onto the bed it displaces others upwards

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12
Q

wind transportation is likely to include…

A

suspension

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13
Q

deposition:
occurs when energy is _____
in a river this can occur ____________
on the cost this can occur ________

A

low
on the inside of a meander and at the mouth of a river
when there is a low energy area (eg where a headland is blocking strong waves entering a bay)

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14
Q

exfoliation

A

this happens because of temperature changes (diurnal temperature range) When rocks are heated during the day they will expand, and then cool and contract at night. The repetition of expansion and contraction applies stress to the outer layers of rock, which causes them to peel away or flake off over time (disintegration)

happens in dry areas like deserts
repeated process

terrestrial only (aerobic)

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15
Q

6 types of weathering

A

physical: exfoliation, freeze thaw
chemical: carbonation, reduction
biological: wedging by tree roots, decaying vegetation

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16
Q

wedging by tree roots

A

tree grows in cracks in rock
roots grow and force the cracks open wider

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17
Q

carbonation

A

limestone affected by acid rain carbonic acid and dissolves
takes a long time to

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18
Q

freeze thaw

A

water gets into cracks -> freezes -> expands by 9%
low temperature (above and below 0)
eg: in mountains NOT ON COASTLINES
repeated process
scree?

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19
Q

oxidation/reduction

A

oxidation: addition of oxygen (aerobic)
reduction: moved to an environment without oxygen (anoxic)

weaken material and changes colour
most topical with iron based materials

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20
Q

decaying vegetation

A

as material decomposes it releases CO2 and acids, the acids decay it further
this is a cycle

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21
Q

slumping

A

water infiltrated through the soil and builds up, increasing the weight of the material
the weight of the material become high enough that it moved down under gravity
a small wave cut notch may have been created at the base of the cliff which increases the weakness
the water acts as a lubricant, enabling the material to slip
material moves in a rotational direction

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22
Q

sliding

A

waves attack the base of the cliff causing erosion and leading to undercutting of the cliff (a wave cut notch forms)
water infiltrates the ground and builds up along a line of weakness (eg a bedding plane, fault line) leading to a zone of lubrication
the gap of the wave cut notch means there is a lack of support the for cliff above - it can fall straight down in that area
the material moves down the cliff face in a straight line

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23
Q

bed

A

layer of a cliff

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24
Q

joint

A

crack within a single bed

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25
Q

fault

A

cracks running across multiple beds

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26
Q

bedding planes

A

lines running between beds

27
Q

grains vs crystals

A

(rocks made of) grains: have pores
- easier for water and dirt to get in

crystal (igneous and metamorphic):
- no pores - crystals interlock
- harder for water and air to get in

28
Q

smaller grains/crystals mean…

A

more surface area
- more opportunities for water to get in

29
Q

quartz

A

SiO2
most resistant minerals on the planet
v hard to break down and weather
eg grains on beaches

30
Q

effect of climate on weathering (mountains, desert, rainforest)

A

mountains (cold):
freeze thaw

desert:
exfoliation
oxidation (red colour)

rainforest (warm and wet):
decaying vegetation
wedging by tree roots

31
Q

concordant

A

same rock type along the coastline
(discordant is the opposite)

32
Q

geology of dorset coast

A

innermost -> outermost (kind of):
bagshot sands- easily eroded sands
chalk- quite resistant rock that forms steep cliffs
wealden beds- easily eroded clays and sands
limestone- hard resistant rock
kimmeridge clay- mixed clays easily eroded/potential landslides

33
Q

constructive vs destructive waves

A

constructive:
- strong swash, weak backwash
- gentle weather
- lower frequency
- lower energy
- material moved up the beach

destructive:
- no swash, strong backwash
- strong weather
- higher frequency
- higher energy
- material moved down the beach

34
Q

formation of bays

A

discordant
wave attack concentrated on areas of weaker rock
differential erosional rates
bays are the areas where the soft rock has eroded away
headlands are the sections of land jutting out into the sea

the bays are then sheltered- low energy areas = deposition of material = beaches build up

35
Q

formation of coves (give egs)

A

A) uniform wall of resistant rock
weakness exploited and cove begins to form

B) cove formed as at Lulworth Cove
there is erosion W-E on weaker rock - elongated

C) if multiple coves erode into each other = coalescence of coves
maybe a possible arch
islands are detached - residual stacks and stumps eg Manowar Bay and Mupe Bay

36
Q

example of bay

A

STUDLAND HEAD
sea stacks eg old harry rocks
SWANAGE BAY
DURLESTON HEAD

37
Q

coves vs bays

A

cove: concordant
high energy
smaller

bay: discordant
low energy
usually larger

38
Q

cave -> stump

A

1) hydraulic action and abrasion erode line of weakness (& solution of limestone)

2) most likely:
fault line = plane = outcrops on both sides = CAVE both sides = erodes through = ARCH

3) biological weathering at the surface combined with the continued erosion of arch edges mean the roof of the arch collapses leaving a STACK

5) once big enough erosion, stack collapses = STUMP!!
there will be a wave cut notch and wave cut platform

39
Q

swash

A

waves moving up beach in same direction of prevailing wind

40
Q

backwash

A

wave movement down the beach perpendicular to the coastline

41
Q

prevailing wind

A

most dominant direction of wind on average

42
Q

longshore drift

A

process where materials are moved along the coastline:
1. Waves approach the coast at an angle.
2. Swash carries sediment up the beach at an angle.
3. Backwash carries sediment down the beach with gravity – at right angles to the beach.
4. This creates a zig-zag movement of sediment along the beach.

43
Q

spit

A

form where the coastline changes direction and longshore drift continues to move material along the beach.
longshore drift will deposit material in the sea after the coastline has changed direction.
over time the level of the sand deposited will build-up until it is above sea level.
the spit cannot develop right across the bay as a river’s estuary prevents the build-up of sand.
sand spits often have a recurved or hooked end. this is created when secondary wind and wave direction causes waves to strike from a different direction.
the beach therefore appears to extend out into the sea and is known as a spit.
the spit creates a low energy area, sheltered by the spit. a lagoon, salt marsh and finally dry land can develop in this sheltered area.
can stop extending if water flow from inland is strong enough

44
Q

swanage temperature

A

Jul and Aug = higher temp (avg 20.5) so
- higher rates of chemical weathering (particularly carbonation as dorset coast is majority limestone)
- higher rates of bio weathering as warmer weather = more plant growth
temp never gets low enough (lowest ~9) for freeze thaw weathering to be influential

45
Q

swanage precipitation

A

lowest ~50mm in summer months but enough to still support biological growth (so b weathering)
highest = Oct-Dec (~150mm) and temperatures high enough for carbonation and solution to occur
- also much more potential for mass movement (slumping/sliding) as water builds up in cliffs

46
Q

swanage prevailing wind

A

prevailing wind = (W/SW from west/sw towards east)

47
Q

swanage wind speed

A

more storms are in winter
- destructive waves - erosion
- transport - more & larger material
- mass movement as more undercutting

48
Q

durdle door

A
  • formed as a cove entrance 10K years ago
  • portland limestone - very resistant
  • fractures -> weakness -> arch (and eventually a stack will form)
  • 61m high
    (NOT A BAY/HEADLAND FORMATION- CONCORDANT)
49
Q

lulworth cove

A
  • classic scallop shape on the concordant east-west running coastline
  • narrow and entrance (125m) between portland limestone headlands
  • cove is 400m at its widest point - in the wealden beds
  • not so eroded in the purbeck beds - there is some erosion
  • chalk = back of cove - resistant so reduces erosion - most is winter storms
  • shingle beach forms at the back of the cove due to lower energy
50
Q

swanage bay

A
  • between ballard point (N) and peveril point (S)
  • where the wealden beds have eroded
  • home to the town of swanage
  • 2.7km wide
  • features a pier, breakwater, groyne, sea wall
  • tourist hotspot
51
Q

handfast point

A
  • includes Old Harry Stack and Old Harry’s Wife stump, an arch and a wave cut platform
  • OHW became a stump in 1896
  • chalk
  • 20m high (approx.)
  • formed traditionally
52
Q

studland bay

A
  • between handfast point and shell bay
  • wide shallow bay created within Studland Heath spit
  • 3.7km wide
  • sandy beach along length
  • v poplular tourist dest. - National trust
  • contains a full sand dune system which is at risk of “blow outs” as humans trample vegetation
53
Q

shingle beach

A

beach made up of pebbles, stones and other small rocks

54
Q

studland heath spit

A
  • 3.6km in length
  • built up over 400 years
  • soft bagshot sands = high supply of material
  • stretches north from redend point by studland village
55
Q

8 types of coastal management

A

groynes
sea wall
rock armour/rip rap
gabions
revetments
beach nourishment
managed realignment
offshore reefs

56
Q

groynes

A
  • reduce longshore drift by trapping sediment on one side
  • concrete/hardwood barriers perpendicular to the coast line
  • highly effective in a local context - like in the maintenance of holiday beaches
  • if the beach becomes too uneven it can be redistributed between the groynes during offseason
  • require ongoing maintenance
  • aesthetically questionable (although have acquired visual acceptance through longevity)
  • unsustainable - hardwood timbers are expensive
57
Q

sea wall

A

usually concrete walls (can also be made of stone
- reflect and absorb wave energy- preventing erosion of the coastal landscape
- some are curved which turns the waves back on themselves (can also be sloping, stepped or vertical)

  • effective property defence in high risk locations (eg robin hood’s bay in north yorkshire)
  • v expensive
  • by deflecting waves (rather than dissipating energy) they are prone to rapid erosion
58
Q

rock armour/rip rap

A

large rocks placed in formt of the cliff (at the foot) (generally igneous or metamorphic)
- dissipate wave energy and protect cliffed coastline by slowing down rate of erosion (eg at Sheringham)

  • relatively cheaper than concrete constructions
  • traps flotsam and jetsam leading to smell and rat infestation
  • potential public safety tripping and trapping hazard
59
Q

gabions

A

wire cages filled with stone
- stabilise cliff bases
- reduce erosion by absorbing wave energy

  • cheaper than concrete constructions
  • unsightly
  • prone to cage weathering (rusting)
60
Q

revetments

A

sloping features - older ones made of wood - more modern ones = concrete/stone/rock armour
- absorb energy of waves but let water and sediment through

  • effective in highrisk locations (eg RHB)
  • v expensive
  • prone to rapid erosion as energy not dissipated
61
Q

beach nourishment

A

sand shingle and coastal sediments added to the beach from elsewhere (eg from offshore zone)
- this builds up the beach

  • aesthetically pleasing
  • maybe essential in supporting the tourist industry
  • requires expensive annual replenishment to compensate for continued erosion and drifting
62
Q

managed realignment

A

controlled erosion of the coastline allowed to occur
- does not always lead to erosion (eg inundation and accretion - such as saltmarsh creation - can decrease erosion of defences

  • potential for estuary tidal reduction (noted but not proven)
  • politically sensitive- loss of land/property
63
Q

offshore reefs

A

old tyres and cement placed in the intertidal zone, parallel to the coast, to create them
- encourages waves to break offshore
- reduces the energy of the wave which reaches the shoreline - less erosion

  • natural marine ecosystem only partially disrupted
  • dunes allowed to stabilise onshore
  • rocks create a new intertidal habitat for marine wildlife
  • may cause a navigation hazard
  • can create an eyesore at low tide
  • can disrupt the recreational use of the beach eg jet skis

Geography (GCSE OCR) (1 decks)

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