What processes and factors are responsible for distinctive coastal landforms? Flashcards
1
Q
What are the main marine erosion processes?
A
- Hydraulic action
- Abrasion
- Corrosion
- Attrition
2
Q
What are the main marine erosion processes?
A
- Hydraulic action
- Abrasion
- Corrosion
- Attrition
3
Q
What is hydraulic action?
A
- Waves breaking on cliffs causing blocks to break away
- Waves forcing air into joints and cracks in the cliff surface. This compressed air has the power to loosen and break away pieces of rock
4
Q
What is abrasion?
A
- When waves have the energy to pick up sand particles and pebbles and hurl them at the cliff face.
5
Q
What is attrition?
A
- Where rocks and pebbles constantly collide with each other as they are moved by waves. This action reduces the size of the beach material and increases its ‘roundness’ by smoothing away rough edges
6
Q
What is attrition?
A
- Where rocks and pebbles constantly collide with each other as they are moved by waves. This action reduces the size of the beach material and increases its ‘roundness’ by smoothing away rough edges
7
Q
What are the main weathering processes?
A
- Corrosion / solution
- Wetting / drying
8
Q
What is corrosion / solution ?
A
- Where saltwater evaporation from sea-spray leads to the growth of crystals on rocks. As they develop, the crystals expand, forcing rocks to disintegrate.
9
Q
What is wetting / drying?
A
- Where rocks are in the coastal splash zone, they are constantly prone to expansion and contraction as they become wet and then dry out. This causes weaknesses in the rock which allows marine processes to attack and erode the rock away easily.
10
Q
What is mass movement/ slumping?
A
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