Geomorphical Processes 3.1.3.2

Question 1

Types of mass movement

Answer 1

-soil creep
-mudflows
-landslides
-rockfall
-landslip/slump
-runoff
-solifluction

Question 2

Soil creep

Answer 2

-soil particles on a hillside get wet after rainfall
-rainfall lubricates the particles making them heavier and making them have less friction
-they slowly move downslope causing trees to bend
-slowest form of mass movement

Question 3

Evidence of soil creep

Answer 3

Terracettes

Question 4

Mudflows

Answer 4

-earth and mud are on a hill slope
-rainfall fills pores in the soil which increases pressure- lubricant
-mud particles are heavier due to them being wet
-sediment flows downhill and mixes together in a rapid and dangerous mudflow
-forms a lobe of mud

Question 5

Landslide

Answer 5

-rock moves along a plane
-rainfall occurs and lubricates the land surface reducing friction
-solid blocks of material slide rapidly down the hill
-triggered by earthquakes

Question 6

Rockfall

Answer 6

-Rocks (often resistant ones) are on a steep and vertical cliff face
-mechanical weathering such as freeze thaw repeatedly occur overtime
-large blocks of rock break away and collect as scree
-scree is a temporary store of sediment becoming an input into sediment cells

Question 7

Land slip / slump

Answer 7

-material is in a curved surface often permeable rock overlies impermeable rock
-rainfall occurs and can percolate through permeable rock but not the impermeable so a layer of water forms causing pressure
-saturated layer of material moves/slumps downhill

Question 8

Runoff

Answer 8

-surface runoff/overland flow occur following a rainfall event
-smaller particles flow downslope within the overland flow to the littoral zone

Question 9

Solifluction

Answer 9

-same as soil creep in colder environments
-frozen soil thaws in summer and becomes saturated
-saturated layer creeps down full over layer of permafrost

Question 10

What are geomorphical processes?

Answer 10

Processes causing change to the landscape including subaerial and marine processes

Question 11

Sub aerial processes

Answer 11

Weathering
Mass movement

Question 12

Erosional processes

Answer 12

-hydraulic action
-wave quarrying
-corrosion
-abrasion
-solution
-attrition

Question 13

Hydraulic action

Answer 13

-caused by the sheer force of water crashing against the coastline
-the water traps and compresses air in joints and cracks in the cliff
-waves retreat, air expands
-overtime this weakens the cliff and pieces break off
-any bubbles in the water may implode due to high pressure further eroding rock

Question 14

Wave quarrying

Answer 14

-destructive waves break against unconsolidated material
-they then scoop loose material away

Question 15

Corrasion

Answer 15

-sand and pebbles are picked up from seabed by waves advancing towards the coast
-transported material is thrown at the cliffs chipping away rock
-energy of the waves and size/shape of sediment determines how much erosion occurs

Question 16

Abrasion

Answer 16

-abrasion involves picking up sediment from the seabed as it advances towards the coast
-transported material is dragged across the shoreline smoothing rocky surfaces in a ‘sandpapering’ effect
-contributes towards formation of wave-cut platform

Question 17

Solution

Answer 17

-weak acids in sea water dissolve alkaline rocks (chalks/limestone)
-alkaline cement bonds rocks together
-overtime rocks crumble and sediment is washed away

Question 18

Attrition

Answer 18

-gradual wearing down of rocks due to impact of abrasion and the impact of them bashing together when moved by waves/currents/tides
-overtime the rocks become smaller, smoother and more rounded

Question 19

Factors affecting the amount of erosion

Answer 19

Geology
Type of coastline
Presence/absence of beach
Wave energy