Paper 1: Coasts Flashcards
process of wave cut platforms
-sea attacks weakness in base of cliff
-between high and low tide level
- wave cut notch formed by erosion
- becomes larger + unstable = collapses due to gravity
-cliff retreats inland
- collapsed material erodes and transported = wave cut platform
-process repeats
mass movement
downslope movement of rock,soil
- due to gravity
-caused by heavy rainfall
Rock slides
- steep cliffs collapse weakened by weathering
rock slides process
- rain percolates= heavier
- straight slip line forms in cliff
- rock falls along slip plane
- pile of rocks forms at base of cliff
- then removed by erosion
straight slip plane
line of weakness
Rock falls
- affect cliffs vulnerable to freeze thaw weathering
- composed of well jointed rock
- rocks fall away from cliff face
-creates a scree slope at base
Rotational slumping
- cliffs made from top layer of soil and boulder clay at bottom
- top layer is permeable = percolation
- if bottom layer is impermeable then rainwater builds up = wet/soft
- base cannot support weight of cliff above
-creates a curved slip plane
-rock collapses in a rotational movement along slip plane
-loose material collects at the bottom and is eroded
longshore drift
- prevailing wind pushed waves to beach at an angle
- wave breaks swash push material up at an angle
- backwash pulls material at a right angle (due to gravity)
- next wave breaks and pushes material further along beach
-process repeats + transports material
Conditions that encourage deposition
-sheltered bay
-good supply of material
- waves enter wide = flat beaches
- slow winds
sheltered bay
- wind is less strong
-constructive waves
waves enter wide
- swash spreads over a wide area
- weakens wave so backwash is weak
slow winds
- push waves slowly
- ## creates stronger swash
small fetch causes
waves to be slow = contructive
spit
- narrow strip of new land made of sand/shingle
-jutting out into sea from coast
spit formation
- longshore drift occurs
- until mainland ends
- sediment is deposited from decrease of wave energy
- sediment builds up
spit - curved hook formation
-curved hook forms as secondary winds cause sediment to desposit at a diff angle than before
-salt marsh can form behind
- due to mixing of salt/fresh water/sediment
sand dunes conditions to form
A flat beach with large supply of sand
A large tidal range (a big difference between high and low tide)
An onshore wind
An initial obstacle
A flat beach with large supply of sand
This encourages deposition and provides sand for the dunes.
A large tidal range (a big difference between high and low tide)
This gives the sand a chance to dry out, making it light enough to be carried by wind.
An onshore wind
This allows sand to be blown further inland.
An initial obstacle
The sand builds up around this.
sand dunes
large heaps of sand that form high up on sandy beaches