Geography Flashcards
How do coasts change?
Natural processes and human impacts.
Effects of coastal degradation
The effects of coastal degradation are varied, and can include the loss of plants and animal species, or the arrival of invasive species that can permanently effect biodiversity in the area.
What are inputs and outputs?
Inputs are energy or matter entering the coast and outputs are energy and matter which leave the coast.
What happens if the inputs are greater than the outputs?
Dunes and spits increase in size and the coast grows outwards.
What happens if the outputs are greater than the inputs?
Landforms decrease in size and the coast retreats.
What are the four spheres that interact with each other to create unique landscapes?
Atmosphere - gas surrounding the earth
Biosphere - all living things on earth
Hydrosphere - all the water on earth
Lithosphere - the crust
Define anthropogenic coasts.
Coasts where human activity and influence have become the dominant force.
What is the main concern of global warmings impact on coasts.
The main concern of global warming is rising sea levels.
What is coastal squeeze?
Coastal squeeze is when the rising waters forces plants and people to retreat further inland leaving a thin strip of the coast.
What is land reclamation?
Land that has been built by humans in water from rocks, rubbish and silt.
What is beach nourishment?
Beach nourishment is the replacement of sand that has been removed by erosion.
What is managed retreat?
It involves relocation of human settlements and hard engineering so that natural processes can take place.
How does a sea wall work?
They protect land and buildings from erosion and lessen the risk of coastal flooding.
Disadvantages of a sea wall
Very expensive, reflects rather than absorbs wave energy so it may continue to cause erosion elsewhere.
How does a groyne work?
Absorb energy of waves and allows the build up of sand.
Disadvantages of a groyne
They can be expensive to maintain and ruin the appearance of the beach.
Impacts of rising sea temperatures
The water is heating up to a temperature that coral can not survive in.
Impacts of rising sea levels
It can impact homes, increase erosion, increase flooding, destruction fresh water sources and increased chance of big storms.
Impacts of ocean acidification
Carbon dioxide is absorbed into the ocean reducing the amount of carbonate in the water which is essential for corals to grow.
Impacts of extreme weather events
They pose serious threats to the reef as well as humans.
Hard vs soft engineering
Hard engineering refers to the building of structures such as sea walls. Soft engineering use natural processes.
Definition of wellbeing
Geographers define wellbeing as the ability of people to access the things they need in order to live happy, healthy and contented lives.
How does wealth impact wellbeing?
Access to basic necessities is largely determined by wealth. The more money you have the greater access you have.
How does health impact wellbeing?
Human health is affected by a wide range of factors. If you are unable to have access to health care you are likely to have lower wellbeing.
How does education impact wellbeing?
Access to formal education is viewed by many people as the key to improving wellbeing.
What is the GDP?
The Gross Domestic Product provides a measure of the total market value. This provides data which can then be used to assess the average wealth of individuals.
What is the literacy rates?
Literacy rates give an indication of the number of people who can read and write in a population. In general low levels can effect wellbeing.
What is a choropleth map?
It gives a quick impression of spatial pattern by using colours.
What is a cartogram?
It is a type of map on which the size of the country depends on the variable being mapped.
What is the coastal zone?
The coastal zone is the 100km from coast.
How are dunes formed?
Created by deposition.
What is erosion?
Wearing away of land from waves and wind.
What is deposition?
Building up of land through deposits of mainly sand.
What is the accretion cycle?
A process of the movement of sand mainly by water:
Sand eroded and transported via rivers along coast
Sand deposited on shore by waves
Sand dried out blown to back of beach
Sand eventually goes back into sea via destructive waves
Deposited slowly by constructive waves
What is saltation?
Sand particles move through small bouncing movements.
What is surface creep?
Sand particles too large to be moved through saltation creep along surface.
What is suspension?
Smallest particles carried by wind above ground and can travel for kilometres.
What are aeolian processes?
Aeolian processes involve erosion, transportation, and deposition of sediment by the wind.
What landforms are formed by deposition?
Tombolo, spit, sand bar, beach, sand dunes.
What are landforms formed by erosion?
Headland, wave-cut platform, stack, arch, cave, cliff.
How does temperature impact coasts?
Affects the dryness of the sand and ability for vegetation to grow (more vegetation, more sand)
How does precipitation impact coasts?
Affects how wet the sand is, wet sand stabilises sand but heavy rain can erode dunes.
How do storms impact coasts?
They can create structural damage to dune systems.
How do blowouts impact coasts?
Strong winds blow sand into secondary and tertiary vegetation zones.
How do wash-overs impact coasts?
Waves erode primary vegetation and foredune areas.
What is the role of vegetation in coasts?
Stores and build up sand and used as wind protector.
What is longshore drift?
Movement of material along shore by wave action at an angle.
What are swash-waves?
They move up a beach at an angle
What are backwash?
Waves that move back down beach at right angle
Around how many people live on coasts?
More than >50% of people live on coasts
What are constructive waves?
Constructive waves have large ‘swash’ which means they can carry deposits of sand and other materials far up the beach.
What are destructive waves?
Destructive waves are much larger and more powerful, and are mostly during storm.
Why are some countries rich and poor?
Institute - corruption, police, transport, health
Culture - religion
Geographic - latitude and longitude, connectivity
What is the vegetation process?
Colonisation – first organisms inhabit part of lithosphere
Succession – sequence of organisms that grow after each other until community
Step 1 – grasses and creepers colonise
Step 2 – shrubs and small trees stabilise the fore dune
Trees in the hind dune
Characteristic of grasses and creepers?
Is adapted to survive with the often touch of salt water
What is ICZM?
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
What are the characteristics of ICZM?
Pulling together of ideas of managing a coast with a focus on All relevant governments A long term view Holistic approach Local conditions and ideas Working with nature
Causes of low wellbeing among Aboriginal communities.
Dispossession of land
Displacement of people (intergenerational Trauma)
Discrimination (institutional racism)
This creates it harder for some to access services and opportunities
For e.g. health, education, employment and economic independence
