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AA: Geography- Coasts > Key Terms > Flashcards

Key Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Strata

A

A layer of sedimentary rock

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2
Q

Deformation (e.g. tilts, folds)

A

A change in the shape of a body of rock due to a strain/stress

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3
Q

Faults/Faulting

A

A body of rock that has been displaced due to mass movement

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4
Q

Joints

A

A fracture dividing rock into two sections that have not moved away from each other

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5
Q

Bedding plane

A

The gap that separates layers of rock from each other

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6
Q

Fissures

A

Any separation in a body of rock (e.g. joints, fractures)

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7
Q

Dips (Horizontal/seaward/landward)

A

The angle that a rock face strikes a horizontal plane

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8
Q

Unconsolidated sediment

A

An area of sediment that has formed as the result of volcanic processes, weathering or erosion. It often hardens into sedimentary rock over time

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9
Q

Concordant coast

A

A coastline where layers of different rock are compressed into ridges that run parallel with the coast

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10
Q

Discordant coast

A

A coastline where layers of different rock run perpendicular to the coast, so the rocks erode at different rates (differential erosion)

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11
Q

Open system

A

A system that can be added to (e.g. coasts)

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12
Q

Closed system

A

A system that has fixed amounts (e.g. water cycle)

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13
Q

Negative feedback

A

Stabilises the system and brings it back to equilibrium

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14
Q

Example of negative feedback

A

If there is additional erosion causing cliff collapse, the collapsed cliff will protect much of the beach from being eroded itself

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15
Q

Example of positive feedback

A

Rising sea levels result in an increase in erosion, which in turn causes higher levels of erosion than deposition

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16
Q

Coastline

A

The line that forms the boundary between the coast and the shore (i.e. the foot of a cliff, the foot of sand dunes)

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17
Q

Backshore

A

Above the high tide line and is only affected by waves during exceptionally high tides or major storms

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18
Q

Foreshore (Inter-tidal zone)

A

Between the low and high tide water marks. Rocky shores, sandy beaches and mudflats may be located here

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19
Q

Breaker line

A

Where approaching waves start to break (position is variable)

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20
Q

Nearshore

A

Shallow water areas close to land. Influenced by currents close to the shoreline. Often intense human activity here (e.g. fishing, leisure etc.)

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21
Q

Offshore

A

Area always covered by the sea. Beyond the influence of waves

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22
Q

The three inputs to a system

A

Waves (kinetic), sunlight (thermal) and gravitational potential- energy in a beach is stored in the sand and is flowed by longshore drift

23
Q

How can dynamic equilibrium on coasts be disrupted?

A

Beach nourishment, coastal defences (e.g. groynes)

24
Q

Equilibrium

A

When the inputs (e.g. deposition) and outputs (e.g. erosion, weathering) are equal

25
Q

Dynamic equilibrium

A

When the inputs and output can fluctuate, but will balance out overall

26
Q

Sediment cell

A

An area of the coast between physical barriers

27
Q

Sediment budget

A

The amount of sediment available within a sediment cell

28
Q

The littoral zone

A

The wider coastal zone- from the highest possible waters to shallow offshore waters

29
Q

Flows/transfers examples

A

Longshore drift, saltation, solution, traction, suspension

30
Q

Spring tide

A

The highest tides of the year, occurring when the moon is between the sun and the Earth. This occurs twice every lunar month

31
Q

Neap tide

A

The lowest tides of the year, occurring when the Earth is directly between the sun and the moon

32
Q

Microtidal

A

Less than 2 metres tidal range

33
Q

Most common tidal range

A

Microtidal

34
Q

General tidal range patterns are shown…

A

Latitudinally

35
Q

Areas with macrotidal range

A

UK, north-western Australia, western Madagascar

36
Q

Areas with mesotidal range

A

USA, Portugal, Philippines

37
Q

Areas with microtidal range

A

Mediterranean, Caribbean

38
Q

Tides are caused by…

A

The gravitational pull between the moon (and the sun)

39
Q

UK maximum fetch (max wave height)

A

3,700 miles west (21.8m)

20 miles south-east (1.6m)

40
Q

Sea waves

A

Caused by wind energy

41
Q

Swell waves

A

Waves that have energy from wind that has now stopped

42
Q

Wave refraction

A

Where the headlands receive the majority of the wave energy, so the bays receive little energy

43
Q

Succession

A

The decomposition of one plant producing the nutrients for another to grow

44
Q

Turbidity

A

Murky, cloudy

45
Q

Flocculation

A

A process by which solute comes out of a solution. As the sediment is dropped the charged particles, such as clays and polymers, clumps together to form flocs

46
Q

Salinity

A

Salty

47
Q

Inter-tidal zone

A

Area between high and low tide

48
Q

Coastal accretion

A

Build up of sediment

49
Q

Alluvium

A

River sediment

50
Q

Fluvial/Alluvial

A

River related

51
Q

Aeolian

A

Wind related

52
Q

What do groynes do?

A

Widen and steepen the beach, so wave energy is reduced due to friction and gravity, so the risk to the coastline is lowered

53
Q

Geomorphic

A

Changes on the Earth’s surface (e.g. mass movement, erosion, deposition, transportation, weathering)

54
Q

Relict cliff

A

Former cliff but now not by the coast due to sea level fall or tectonic activity (behind a raised beach)

AA: Geography- Coasts (11 decks)

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