Processes

Question 1

What is corrasion?

Answer 1

sand or pebbles being picked up by the ocean and thrown at cliffs, causing them to be scraped away

Question 2

What is abrasion?

Answer 2

the scraping away of cliffs over time

Question 3

What is corrosion?

Answer 3

mildly acidic seawater can cause alkaline rocks to be dissolved

Question 4

What is hydraulic action?

Answer 4

water is forced into cracks, leading to high pressure which results in rocks breaking away

Question 5

What is cavitation?

Answer 5

when water enters cracks, bubbles may explode under high pressure, causing jets of water which erode rocks

Question 6

what is wave pounding?

Answer 6

when waves hit rocks with high energy and directly pull away sediment

Question 7

What are 3 factors that impact erosion?

Answer 7

• wave type
• beach size
• subaerial processes
• rock faults/bedding
• rock lithology (hard or soft)

Question 8

Why is lithology a significant factor affecting erosion?

Answer 8

• more erosion can occur if the rocks are softer
• more erosional landforms forming in specific areas.
• impacts other factors such as wave type (eg headlands and bays)

Question 9

What are the 4 main methods of sediment transportation?

Answer 9

• traction
• saltation
• suspension
• solution

Question 10

Describe the process of longshore drift (4 points)

Answer 10

• waves hit shore at angle determined by prevailing wind
• swash moves sediment up the beach in this direction
• backwash carries sediment down the beach at 90 degrees to shoreline
• this moves sediment along the beach

Question 11

When does deposition occur?

Answer 11

when waves have too little energy to carry sediment they hold

Question 12

What coastlines tend to deposit larger sediment?

Answer 12

higher-energy, as they continue carrying smaller sediments

Question 13

What is corrasion?

Answer 13

when sediment carried in the sea is thrown at cliff faces and as a result rock is scraped away