Fluvial processes

Question 1

What are fluvial processes?

Answer 1

Processes of erosion and transpiration that provide a significant amount of sediment to the coastal zone. River estuaries are low-energy coastal environments with deposition the dominant process.

Basically anything to do with transport or erosion in rivers

Question 2

What are tidal flats?

Answer 2

Tidal flats are level muddy areas bordering an estuary

Question 3

Features of tidal flats

Answer 3

Edges of estuaries are shelted so are low-energy coastlines

Deposition of fine sediment is the main process creating a tidal mudflat

At low tide the mudflat is uncovered. Fresh water from tributaries flows across the mudflat to the sea in small channels an rills

Morecambe Bay on the Lancashire coast is an example of a tidal flat

Question 4

Features of salt marshes

Answer 4

Gently sloped.
Found in low-energy sheltered locations such as estuaries lagoons and behind spits.
A lack of marine erosion allows salt-tolerant pioneer plant to thrive on mudflats
Dissected by channels and rills
Habitats of some wildlife
Many salt marshes get drained for agriculture e.g. Blyth estuary in Suffolk
Many salt marshes are found on the 120km of Essex Coast between blackwater and crouch estuaries.

Question 5

What are rills?

Answer 5

Shallow channels cut by the action of running water