geography roulette Flashcards
Define erosion.
Break down / wearing away of material
Define hydraulic action.
Force of the water hitting the cliff. Squeezes air into the rock. Wave retreats and the air expands causing a minor explosion.
Define abrasion
Sand-papering effect of rocks grinding over a rocky platform. Makes rock smooth.
Define attrition.
Rock fragments carried by the sea knock against one another, causing them to become smaller.
Define solution (erosional).
A chemical reaction where rocks are dissolved by the sea water.
Name 4 erosional processes
Hydraulic action, attrition, abrasion and solution.
Define traction
Large rocks are rolled along the sea bed by the force of the sea.
Define saltation.
Smaller pebbles and stones bounce along the sea bed.
Define transportation.
Movement of material.
Define suspension.
Fine light material like silt and clay are carried along by the sea.
Define solution (tansportation).
Rocks dissolve in the water and are carried along.
Name 4 transportation processes.
Traction, saltation, suspension, solution
Define deposition.
When the sea loses energy, sediment can no longer be carried and it drops the material.
When is deposition likely to occur? Name 3 reasons.
Waves entering shallow water. Waves entering a sheltered area (bay). There is little wind.
What is the fetch?
The stretch of water which the wind blows over.
How are waves created?
By the action of the wind blowing over the sea or ocean.
Fill in the gap. The longer the fetch the ______________ the wave.
Bigger
Define swash.
Movement of water up the beach.
Define backwash.
Movement of water down the beach.
In what conditions do constructive waves form? Make two points
Calm conditions with light winds.
Describe the swash and backwash of the constructive wave.
Strong swash and weak backwash.
Are the waves high or low in height for a constructive wave?
Low
Does a constructive wave build or destroy the beach?
Build
What type of beach does a constructive wave make?
Wide/flat and Sandy