Geography - Coastal Landscapes Test Revision Flashcards
What is erosion?
The wearing away and removal of soil and rock by natural elements, such as wind and water, and by
human activity.
What is deposition?
The laying down of rock and soil material carried by rivers, wind, ice and ocean currents and waves.
How does erosion and deposition change and create landforms?
Erosion wears away the earth’s surface to change the shape of the landscape. Deposition constructs or
adds to landforms to create new or reshape landforms over long periods of time.
What states of matter does water go through in the water cycle?
Ice, liquid or gas.
What is evaporation?
When water (liquid) turns into water vapour (gas) and rises into the atmosphere
What is condensation?
When water vapour (gas) returns to water (liquid) and forms clouds
What is precipitation?
When water falls from the sky in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow
Starting with evaporation, what is the order of the water cycle processes?
Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Repeat.
What is a bay and how are they formed?
A bay is a stretch of beach which is protected by 2 headlands either side of it. It is formed when soft rock is eroded by destructive waves.
What is a wave-cut platform and how are they formed?
Waves hit the base of a cliff, making a little cave. The hole weakens the rock above and this rock later collapses. This rock is then smoothed into a platform.
What is a headland and how are they formed?
A cliff that sticks out into the ocean and is surrounded by water on all three sides. It is formed by hard rock, so it is more resistant to erosion. It forms when the soft rock next to it erodes into a bay, and the headland is formed as it juts out of the coast.
What is a blowhole and how are they formed?
Rushing water can cause the roof of a cave to collapse, forming a blowhole. Waves entering the cave spray water upward through the collapsed roof.
What is a stack and how are they formed?
A vertical column of rock near the coast in the sea. Formed by wave erosion, starting with an arch, the arch gets bigger until it separates the stack from the mainland.
What is a cave and how are they formed?
A large space underground which has been eroded by waves. This is formed when waves hit the rock and it creates a hole in the cliff face.
What is an arch and how are they formed?
An arch is a hole in a headland which goes from one side to the other, thus making a bridge. The arch is formed when waves hit onto the side of the headland, creating this tunnel. The arch starts off as a cave before becoming an arch, and then creating a stack.
What is a spit and how are they formed?
A stretch of beach out to sea which is only joined to the mainland at one end. It is formed through longshore drift and prevailing winds.
What is a tombolo and how are they formed?
A tombolo is similar to a spit except that this beach connects an island to the mainland. This is formed by longshore drift where the prevailing wind makes the waves move sand in between the island and mainland.
What is swash?
The movement of water in a wave as it breaks onto a beach
What is backwash?
The movement of water from a broken wave as it runs down a
beach returning to the ocean
What is sediment?
Material carried by water
What are destructive waves?
A wave which has a larger backwash than swash and removes sand from the beach
What are constructive waves?
A wave which has a larger swash than backwash and puts sand on the beach
What is long shore drift?
The prevailing wind angles the waves to move the sand laterally
What is prevailing wind?
The direction the wind is moving, this effects long shore drift.
What is a sea wall?
a wall in front of property to stop the waves from damaging structures close to the coast
What are the advantages of a sea wall?
Prevents further erosion of the dune area and protects buildings
What are the disadvantages of a seal wall?
The base of the sea wall will be undermined over time
Visually unpleasing
Will need a sand renourishment program as well
High initial cost
Ongoing maintenance cost
What is a groyne?
a wall perpendicular to the beach which stops long shore drift
What are the advantages of a groyne?
Traps and maintains sand on the beach
What are the disadvantages of a groyne?
Does not effect sand being moved offshore
Visually unpleasing
What is an offshore breakwater?
a wall parallel with the beach off the coast to stop big waves from crashing onto shore
What are the advantages of a breakwater?
Waves break in the deeper water reducing their energy offshore
What are the disadvantages of a breakwater?
Destroys surfing amenity of the coast
Requires large boulders in large quantities
Cost can be extremely high
What is purchase property?
the government purchases coastal property to avoid paying for repairs later
What are the advantages of purchasing property?
Allows easier management of dune area
Allows natural beach processes to continue
Increases public access to the beach
What are the disadvantages of purchasing property?
Loss of revenue (money) to the government
Possible social problems with residents who must move
Exposes the back dune area which might be exposed
Does not solve sand loss
What is beach nourishment?
collects sand from the ocean and deposits it onto the beach
What are the advantages of beach nourishment?
Sand is used that best matches the beach environment
Has minimal environmental impact
What are the disadvantages of beach nourishment?
The sand must come from another beach
Short term solution as sand must continuously be replaced
