Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Geography > Costal Environments > Flashcards

Costal Environments Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Geography flashcards World Geography flashcards
1
Q

Describe a constructive wave

A

Strong swash

Weak backwash

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Describe a destructive wave

A

Weak swash

Strong backwash

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Explain the erosional processes.

A

Hydraulic action - air in a rock crack, sea water crashes against it and forces rock to break apart as air has nowhere else to go
Abrasion - rocks rub together and scour the coast
Corrosion - sea water corrodes the rocks and slowly dissolve
Attrition - rocks bash together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Explain longshore drift

A

Eroded rock is picked up by waves and dragged along the coast.
Moves in direction of wind.
Backwash is at 90 degree angle to swash.
When run out of energy or coastline changes direction, sediment is deposited forming depositional landforms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the three land processes?

A

Weathering - freeze-thaw, salt crystals, acid rain
Erosion - wind and rain
Mass movement - gravity, slumping and landslides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a concordant and discordant coastline?

A

Concordant - straighter coastline, outcrops run parallel to the sea, eroded to form wave cut notch, if hard rock is on edge, rock crashes down, if soft, rock slumps down

Discordant - rocks outcrop at right angles, eroded to form headlands (by crack, cave, arch etc) and bays - different strengths of rock on the coastline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How are caves, arches, stacks and stumps formed?

A

Erosion in a headland opens up to a cave
The cave extends back to form an arch
The arch widens and the roof collapses
A stack is left separated for the headland
Further erosion cause a stump

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How are spits formed?

A
  • long shore drift occurring along coast
  • coastline changes direction
  • waves have to drop sediment forming a spit
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How are waves created?

A

By winds as they blow over the surface of the sea

Strength depends on the wind and fetch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a tombolo?

A

Spits that have continued to grow and joined to an island.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a cuspate foreland?

A

Triangular shape accumulations of sand and shingle

Longshore drift has occurred from two directions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are sand dunes?

A

Made up of dry sand blown inland by wind
Forms series of ridges
Vegetation helps stabilise them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What factors affect coasts?

A

Geology
Vegetation
Sea level changes
Human activities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Explain what a submergent coastline is

A

When sea level rises

Downward river valleys and glacial valleys

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Explain what an emergent coastline is

A

Falling sea level

Raised beaches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What conditions do coral reefs need to grow?

A 
Temperature - 23-25 degrees C
Shallow water for more warmth and light - less than 25 metres deep
Wave action - oxygenated salt water 
Exposure to air - too long they die 
Sediment - clean water
No alge - alge can suffocate
Fish to inhabit
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Where are coral reefs distributed?

A

Between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Where are mangroves found?

A

Within 30 degrees latitude of the equator

19
Q

Describe what a mangrove is and what it does?

A 
One foot on land one in the sea 
Live in a changing environment 
Range in size from shrub to 60m
Filtration System keep salt out 
Make new land
20
Q

What are the main reasons for coastal conflict?

A
  • all competing for same site
  • reclaiming land
  • no special protection or conservation areas
  • over developed
  • no protection plan
21
Q

What are the threats to coral reefs?

A 
Humans taking bits of coral
Pollution
Overfishing
Coral for building stones
Farm run off
Sea level change
Sea temperature rising
22
Q

What are the threats to mangroves?

A

deforestation
land reclamation
herbicides
aquaculture

23
Q

Give an example of hard and soft engineering?

A

hard - sea wall, rip rap, rock islands, gabion, break water

soft - beach replenishment, managed retreat, fencing

24
Q

What are the advantages or disadvantages of engineering?

A

Hard
adv - quick, effective
dis - can be expensive, unattractive

Soft
adv - cheaper generally
dis - doesn’t last as long, not effective

25
Q

Why are coasts constantly changing?

A

Used by humans
Weathered
Eroded
Transported

26
Q

Explain how headlands retreat to produce new coastal landforms.

A

Front on: Cliffs & Wave Cut Platforms:

  • waves form wave cut notch via abrasion
  • overhang becomes too heavy
  • collapses (either crashes or slumps) and headland retreats
  • draw diagram

Side on: Crack, Cave, Arch, Stack, Stumps:

  • sea erodes areas of weaknesses i.e. cracks
  • further erosion leads to larger cracks developing into small caves
  • further erosion widen caves until two caves erode into back of each other forming an arch
  • wave attack at base of arch weakens structure until roof of arch collapses leaving stack
  • continued erosion in stack causes collapsing to a stump
  • stump then covered by water at high tide.
27
Q

What is a bar?

A

Long shore drift has occurred on the outsides of two headlands making its way to the bar inbetween
Waves drop sediment on corners of headlands
Over time so much sediment has dropped just inside the bay region of each headland that two piles of sediment join up to form a bar of sediment across a bay

28
Q

What is a beach?

A
  • depositional landform
  • made up of an accumulation of sand and sediment between high and low tide
  • created by constructive waves
  • includes berms and storm beaches
29
Q

How do coasts change with sea level rises?

A
  • rias formed (drowned river valleys)

- fjords formed (drowned glacial valleys)

30
Q

How do coasts change with sea level drops?

A
  • raised beaches formed (wave cut platform emerges)

- relict cliffs formed (caves, arches, stacks emerge)

31
Q

What conditions do mangroves need to grow?

A
  • intertidal zones
  • tropics
  • a mix of salt and fresh water
32
Q

What conditions do sand dunes need to grow?

A
  • wind
  • lots of sand
  • vegetation
33
Q

What conditions do salt marshes need to grow?

A
  • a mix of salt and fresh water
  • form behind a spit
  • calm water
34
Q

What is the importance of, threats to and management of sand dunes and salt marshes?

A

Importance:

  • habitat
  • recreation
  • protection

Threats:

  • recreation
  • development

Management:

  • zone off
  • prohibit development
  • educate
35
Q

Why is casual conflict caused by different users of the coast?

A
  • conservationists don’t want any coastal activities
  • fishermen want no tourism so they can fish for a living
  • tourists want water sports and touristic activities
36
Q

Give examples of hard and soft engineering.

A

Hard:

  • sea wall
  • groynes
  • gabion cages
  • rip rap
  • revetments

Soft:

  • cliff stabilisation
  • beach replenishment
  • zoning
  • managed retreat
37
Q

Why are coasts retreating in one named area and how is it being managed?

A

Barcelona, Spain

  • long shore drift
  • increased storms
  • human activity
  • huge fetch from South East
  • beach reolenishment
  • groynes
  • breakwaters
  • rock islands
  • rip rap
38
Q

For an ecosystem you have studied, discuss the threats to the ecosystem and how successfully they are managed.

A

Sand dunes

  • roads / housing / general development
  • walking (footpath erosion)
  • litter / pollution
  • planning laws to restrict development
  • rope barriers
  • educational signs
  • boardwalks, playgrounds
  • bins, sign posts
39
Q

What is deposition?

A

When accumulated material / sand / shingle / sediment is deposited all at once.

40
Q

How do headlands and bays form?

A
  • form only on discordant coastlines
  • (where soft and hard types of rock all meet the sea)
  • soft erodes more easily forming a bay further back
  • leaving hard rock in either sides of it as two headlands
41
Q

What factors affect the distribution of coastal ecosystems?

A

Coral reefs:

  • temperature
  • light
  • water depth
  • salinity
  • wave action

Mangroves:

  • warm temps (30degrees latitude of equator)
  • intertidal zones
42
Q

What are the threats to sand dunes?

A

Human activities
Development
Pollution

43
Q

What are the threats to salt marshes?

A

Development
Human activities
Reclaimed land

Geography (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions