Distinctive features of the coastal zone Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the littoral zone?

A

The coastal zone in which sediments are moved around between the land, beach and sea

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2
Q

Why is the littoral zone dynamic (always changing)?

A

These changes are due to the interactions between the processed happening on land, in the seas and in the oceans. It varies because of
- short term factors (individual waves, daily tides, seasonal storms)
- long term factors (sea level changes and climate change)

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3
Q

What are the 4 divisions of the littoral zone?

A

Backshore
Foreshore
Nearshore
Offshore

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4
Q

What is the coastal system?

A

The coastal system helps us to understand the processes and interactions involved - the inputs, processes and outputs. In theory these work together to create coastal equilibrium

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5
Q

What are the 4 types of inputs?

A

Marine (tsunamis, waves, tides)
Atmosphere (precipitation, solar energy, wind)
Terrestrial (tectonics, geology)
Human (buildings, pollution, tourism, sea defences)

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6
Q

What are the 3 types of processes?

A

Deposition
Transportation
Erosion

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7
Q

What are some examples of outputs?

A

Spits
Beaches
Caves
Stacks
Arches
Headlands and bays
Cliffs
Sand dunes
Wave cut platforms

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8
Q

Define Store/component

A

A part of the system where energy is stored/transferred

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9
Q

Define system

A

A set of components working together

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10
Q

Define flow/transfer/flux

A

A form of transfer between one store and another

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11
Q

Define input

A

The addition of matter or energy into a system

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12
Q

Define a closed system

A

Does not interact with its surroundings

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13
Q

Define an open system

A

Interacts with its surroundings

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14
Q

Define the coastline

A

Part of the land near the sea; the edge of the land

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15
Q

Define the coast

A

Regarded as an open system with inputs, processes and outputs; interacts with its surroundings

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16
Q

What is the sediment budget?

A

The sediment budget is knowing exactly how much sediment is coming in along the coastline (input) and how much sediment is going out (output)

17
Q

What are the 3 principal sources of beach sediment?

A

Rivers
Cliffs
Sand dunes

18
Q

What are examples of outputs to the sediment budget?

A

Outputs to the sediment budget could include longshore drift, natural loss, aeolian (natural wind) loss and anthropogenic (human induced) losses

19
Q

Features of a high energy (rocky) coastline

A
  • The rate of erosion exceeds the rate of deposition
  • Landforms include headlands, cliffs and wave cut platforms
  • High levels of erosion, high wave activity, exposure to prevailing winds, a long fetch
  • Example: Conachair in the outer Hebrides is a 426m granite coast
20
Q

Features of a low energy (sandy/estuarine) coastline

A
  • High levels of deposition, they are sheltered, and characterised by low wave activity
  • The rate of deposition exceeds the rate of erosion
  • Landforms here include beaches and spits
  • Low-lying, low relief, contains wetlands and marshes, poor drainage, flat landscapes, just above sea level
  • Coastal accretion can occur (where the coastline gradually moves seaward)