revision Flashcards
(31 cards)
cliffed coast
transition from land to sea is abrupt
at low tide the foreshore zone is a exposed platform
cliffs are vertical, but cliff angles can be much lower
sandy coastline
high tide, sandy beach is inundated but the vegetated dunes are not
dune vegetation plays a crucial role in stabilising the coast and preventing erosion
estuarine coastline
extensive mud flats, cut by channels, are exposed at low tide but inundated at high tide
Dalmatian coasts
tectonic activity folded limestone layers so that ridges and valleys formed parallel to the coast
sea level rose- downed the valleys
haff coast
form in low energy environments due to deposition by onshore winds
long sediment ridges topped by sand dunes that run parallel to the coast
the build up of these sand dunes have created lagoons
igneous
most resistant - formed by heat and pressure
crystalline structure
granite
0.1-0.3
metamorphic rocks
resistant rocks folded and faulted create rocky coastlines e.g. slate and schist 0.5-1
sedimentary rocks
cemented sediment particles
under heat and pressure
e.g. chalk
1-100cm
differential erosion
happens at different rates due to the geological structure of the rocks
xerophyte
marram grass
survive in sandy conditions
waxy leaves rolled in wards to prevent evaporation
halophyte
glasswort
survive salty conditions
succession
the changing structure of a plant community over time an as initially bare surface is colourised by pioneer species and continue to develop
typically takes place in low energy environments
psammosere
sand dunes
haloseres
salt marsh
fetch
the distance over which the wind has blown
destructive waves
backwash is bigger than swash
scours beach material
constructive waves
stronger swash than backwash
builds up the beach
beach morphology
the shape of the beach
LSD
the prevailing wind means that the waves approach the coastline at an angle
this means that the swash moves sediment up the beach at the same angle but the backwash moves sediment straight back down the beach due to gravity
waves carry large pebbles by rolling them (traction), small pebbles by bouncing them (saltation) and sand, silt and clay in suspension
a drift aligned beach will then form if the process continues
source of sediment
from rivers
constructive waves
lsd
cliffs
why does it happen?
flocculation increases deposition of fire clay particles that are very light
they clump together in salt water, making them heavier
sediment cell
uk has 11
the boundaries between are often natural
the sediment cells are often split into sub cells that are then managed at a local level by an SMP
sub Ariel processes
processes that occur at the cliff face rather than the cuff foot
weathering
the breakdown of rocks in situ