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Physical Geography > Systems and processes > Flashcards

Systems and processes Flashcards

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1
Q

Name some factors which affect wave energy:

A
  • Strength of the wind
  • Duration of the wind
  • Fetch
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2
Q

Describe tides

A

Changes in the water level of the sea/ocean caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.

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3
Q

Define tidal range

A

Difference between high and low tides

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4
Q

Define rip currents

A

Strong localised underwater currents

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5
Q

How are rip currents formed?

A

When a series of plunging waves caused a build-up of water at the top of the beach. The backwash is forced below the surface.

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6
Q

Give some landforms found in high-energy environments

A

Headlands
Cliffs
Wave-cut platforms
Rocky coasts

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7
Q

High-energy environments are found:

A
  • Along stretches of the Atlantic-facing coast; powerful waves all year
  • Where the rate of erosion exceeds the rate of deposition
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8
Q

Give some landforms found in low-energy environments

A

Beaches
Spits
Sandy coasts

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9
Q

Low-energy environments are found:

A
  • Along stretches of the coast where the waves are less powerful
  • Where the rate of deposition exceeds the rate of erosion
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10
Q

Name some sediment sources:

A 
Rivers
Cliff erosion 
longshore drift 
Wind 
Glaciers
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11
Q

What is a sediment cell?

A

A stretch of coastline where the movement of sediment is contained.

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12
Q

Give an example of an input, transfer and store in a sediment cell:

A

Input - Costal erosion
Transfer - Longshore drift
Store - Sand dunes

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13
Q

Define sediment budgets

A

Material in a sediment cell

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14
Q

What does the sediment budget aim to do?

A

Maintain a state of dynamic equilibrium; erosion and deposition balanced.

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15
Q

Describe the types of mechanical weathering

A
  • Freeze-thaw: water enters cracks in rock, freezes and expands putting pressure on the rock and causing it to break off
  • Wetting and drying: rocks expand when they get wet and contract as they dry, causing them to crack
  • Salt crystallisation: water evaporates leaving salt crystals behind, these can grow overtime exerting pressure on the rock
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16
Q

Describe the types of biological weathering

A
  • Plant roots (seaweed) grow through small cracks, widening these as they grow
  • Bird and animals burrowing
  • Algae secrete chemicals, promoting solution
17
Q

Describe the types of chemical weathering

A
  • Carbonation: rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide, forming a weak acid which reacts with calcium carbonate in rocks
  • Oxidation: reaction of rocks with oxygen, leaving them vulnerable to more weathering
  • Solution: dissolving of rock minerals
18
Q

Describe the process of mass movement

A

The downhill movement of material under the influence of gravity

19
Q

Give some examples of mass movement

A

Mudflows
Landslide
Rockfall
Soil creep

20
Q

Describe the types of costal erosion:

A
  • Hydraulic action: sheer force of water entering cracks in the rock
  • Corrasion/Abrasion: sediment hurled at the cliff face/ dragged along the cliff
  • Solution: weak acids dissolve alkaline rock
21
Q

Describe the types of costal transportation processes:

A
  • Traction: rolling of sediment along the seabed which is too heavy to be carried by the sea
  • Saltation: sediment bounces along the seabed, light enough to be lifted but not carried
  • Suspension: lighter sediment picked up and carried within the flow of water
22
Q

What factors effect the type of transpiration seen at a costal environment?

A

Velocity (energy)

Particle size

23
Q

Describe the process of longshore drift:

A

Waves approach the beach at an angle, carrying material up the beach. The backwash pulls the sediment vertically down (perpendicular to the beach front). This results in a zigzag movement of sediment along the beach.

24
Q

Describe the process of costal deposition:

A

Deposition occurs when the velocity of the water can no longer transport particles of a certain size.

25
Q

Describe the process of deposition in a high-energy environment:

A

Clay and sand is transported away leaving behind larger, coarser pebbles to form a shingle beach.

26
Q

Describe the process of deposition in a low-energy environment:

A

Small clay particles will drop to the seabed to form mudflats.

27
Q

What is upwelling?

A

Cold water from deep in the ocean moves towards the surface

28
Q

What factors effect the rate of erosion at a coastline?

A

Rock type
Beaches - absorb wave energy
Weathering and mass movement - weakening cliff and producing rock fragments
Waves - time of year

Physical Geography (16 decks)

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