the littoral zone and how coastlines can be classified Flashcards
what are the inputs of a system driven by
driven by energy
what are the inputs of a system
-marine (waves, tides, storm surges)
-atmospheric(weather, climate, climate change, solar)
-land (rock type, structure)
-people (human activity, coastal management)
what are the processes in a system
-weathering
-mass movement
-erosion
-transport
-deposition
what are the outputs in a system
-erosional land forms
-depositional land forms
-different types of coasts
what are linked
-the components of the system, if one changes there will be a knock on effect
whats an open system
when the energy and material crosses a boundary
whats a closed system
only energy crosses boundary
what is the littoral zone
the environment between the highest and lowest levels the tides reach and the inland limit of marine influence
where does most human activity and physical processes occur
-foreshore and backshore
what is the foreshore
-where water processes are usually confined
-between the high and low tide marks
whats the backshore zone
-above high tide level, only affected by waves during spring (Very high) tides or major storms
nearshore
-shallow water areas close to the land
whats the offshore zone
beyond the influence of waves
2 main types of coast
-rocky
-coastal plains
what are rocky coasts
have cliffs varying in height
-cliffs are formed from rock but hardness of rock is variable
what are coastal plains
the land gradually sloping towards the sea across an area of deposited sediment with sand dunes and mudflats
