Parts Of The Littoral Zone Flashcards
What is the littoral zone
The area of shoreline where land is subject to wave action
What are the four parts of the littoral zone called
Offshore, nearshore, foreshore and backshore
What is the offshore
Area of deeper water beyond point of which waves begin to break.
What is the nearshore
Area of shallow water beyond the low tide mark, friction between seabed and waves distorts the wave sufficiently to cause it to break
What is the foreshore
Area between high tide and low tide mark
What is the Backshore
Area above the high tide mark, affected by wave action only during major storm events
What causes a rocky, cliffed coastline
Areas of high relief. Areas with a resistant geology, in a high energy environment (destructive waves)
What causes a sandy coastline
Areas with low relief with sand dunes and beaches. Less resistant geology, low energy environment (deposition greater then erosion, contructive waves)
What causes an estuarine coastline
Areas of low relief, with salt marshes and mudflats. Form in river mouth where deposition exceeds erosion in a low energy environment usually in areas of less resistant rock
How is the littoral zone dynamic
Constantly changing through inputs and outputs of energy and material
Long term changes affecting littoral zone
Sea level variation due to climate change
Short term changes affecting littoral zone
Tide variation over lunar month, and wave energy variation due to weather conditions
