Lesson 2 Flashcards
Describe the landforms at concordant coasts
Either soft or hard rock
Uneven cliff face due to wave cuts
Landslides due to soft rock
What is the shape of the cliff face if it is made out of soft rock?
A small slope
What is the shape of the cliff face if it is made out of hard rock?
Steep and irregular, it caves in at the bottom where water erodes it
Describe the landforms at discordant coasts
Both hard and soft rock at headland and bays
This is where the formation of stacks are most likely to happen
What is the shape of discordant cliffs?
Either a small slope or steep
Name the two layers of rocks
Concordant (parallel to the coastline) and discordant (perpendicular to the coastline)
Why does stack formation happen at headlands?
By the headland, there is more wave energy due to the little wave refraction. This means the waves are more concentrated and are travelling at a faster rate, causing erosion to occur as the waves hit against the rock, starting the formation of stacks.
What effect does refraction have on the wave?
When wave refraction occurs, the waves are more dispersed, this tends to be near the bay and because of the waves being spread out, they travel at a slower rate (less energy). This allows sediment to be deposited in the bay, forming the beach.
What type of rock takes longer to erode and is mainly found at the headland?
Hard rock (granite, basalt)
What starts the process of stack formation?
Hydraulic action- water seeps into the cracks in the rock
Abrasion occurs when the water then starts to erode the rock, forming a cave
What happens after a cave has been formed?
The caves gets bigger and gives in-forming an arch
The arch gets eroded and falls due to the little support, leading to the formation of stacks
The stacks collapse and turn into stumps
Where is the wave energy high?
Headland or Bay
Headland
