Emergence, Submergence and Fjords Flashcards
What is eustatic sea level change?
- global changes in sea level
- resulting from a rise or fall in sea level
What is isostatic sea level change?
- local changes in sea level
- resulting from isostatic readjustment of the land
What are submerging coastlines?
- stretches along the coast that have been inundated (flooded) by either isostatic or eustatic sea level change
Where are submerging coastlines found?
- Southern England
- East coast of America
What are fjords?
drowned glacial valleys
What is the shape of fjords?
- steep valley sides
- fairly straight and narrow
- u-shaped cross section
How are fjords formed?
when the sea drowned the lower part of glacial valleys
Where are fjords found?
Coastlines of:
- Norway
- Southwestern New Zealand
- British Colombia in Canada
What do fjords consist of?
- glacial rock basin
- shallow section at the end, known as the threshold
What is the threshold of a fjord the result of?
reduced glacial erosion as the glacier came in contact with the sea and the ice became thinner
Where is the threshold found in comparison to the fjord?
the mouth of the fjord
What are emergent coastlines?
- stretches along the coast that have been exposed by a relative fall in sea level
- can be isostatic or eustatic fall in sea level
Where are emergent coastlines found?
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Eastern coastal plains of the Indian sub-continent
- Hudson’s Bay in Canada
