Geography 4.3 - Sediment transportation Flashcards
Describe transportation by solution
Location: within water
Action: dissolved
Size of sediment: very small
Example: chalk/ limestone
Describe transportation by traction
Location: within water
Action: scraping across seabed
Size of sediment: large
Example: pebbles
Describe transportation by suspension
Location: within water
Action: dissolved/ carried along water
Size of sediment: very small
Example: material like seaweed
Describe transportation by saltation
Location: within water
Action: hopping across seabed
Size of sediment: small
How is sediment transported around the coastline of the UK?
- when a cliff is eroded, the sediment falls into the sea
- it doesn’t stay still but moves depending on the dominant wind direction
What are constructive waves
They are created in calm weather and are less powerful than destructive waves.
They break on the shore and deposit material, building up beaches.
They have a swash that is stronger than the backwash.
They have a long wavelength, and are low in height.
What is long shore drift
The prevailing wind (the direction the wind ususally blows from) causes waves to approach the coast at an angle. The swash carries the sand and pebbles up the beach at the same angle (usually 45º).
What are spits
A spit is an extended stretch of beach material that projects out to sea and is joined to the mainland at one end
What are bars
It is a ridge of sand or shingle which forms across the mouth of a river, the entrance to a bay or harbour. It is usually parallel to the coast
What is deposition
When the sea loses energy, it drops the sand, rock particles and pebbles it has been carrying
