Landforms from deposition Flashcards
What type of waves form beaches?
Constructive waves
Where are sandy beaches usually found?
Typically found in bays where water is shallow and waves have less energy
Where are pebble beaches usually found?
Where cliffs are being eroded and there are higher energy waves
Three reasons that sediment is deposited
1)Drop in wind speed
2)Friction
3)sheltered
4)shallower waters
What is a flood plain?
An area of land which is covered by water when a river bursts its banks
What part does erosion play in creating a flood plain?
Erosion removes any interlocking sours creating a flat and wide area on either side of the river
What part does deposition have in a floodplain?
During a flood, material being carried by the river is deposited (as the river loses its speed and energy to transport material). Over time, the height of the floodplain increases as material is deposited on either side of the river.
Why are floodplains typically used for agricultural land?
the area is very fertile because it’s made up of alluvium. The floodplain is often a wide, flat area caused by meanders shifting along the valley.
What is Alluvium?
Deposited silt from a river flood
Where do levees occur? when?
The lower course of a river when there is an increase in the volume of water flowing downstream and flooding occurs
Step by step how do levees form?
1)Sediment is transported downstream.
2)When the river floods, the sediment spreads out across the floodplain.
3)When a flood occurs, the river loses energy. The largest material is deposited first on the sides of the river banks and smaller material further away.
4)After many floods, the sediment builds up to increase the height of the river banks, meaning that the channel can carry more water (a greater discharge) and flooding is less likely to occur in the future.
What is an estuary? + extra info
An estuary is where the river meets the sea. The river here is tidal and when the sea retreats the volume of the water in the estuary is reduced. When there is less water, the river deposits silt to form
mudflats which are an important habitat for wildlife.
