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A-Level Geography > 2 Coastal Processes > Flashcards

2 Coastal Processes Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 6 factors that influence coastal processes?

A

Waves
Tides
Currents
Aeolian
Geology
Human Activity

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2
Q

What are waves?

A

The transfer of energy through the water, produced by wind exerting a frictional drag on the ocean’s surface - not the transfer of water

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3
Q

What energy do waves input?

A

Major input of kinetic energy into the coastal system
-Potential energy by virtue of the water’s height above the trough of the wave
Energy allows work (e.g. erosion)

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4
Q

Describe the movement of a molecule of water as a wave passes through

A

The waves impart a circular motion to the individual water molecules

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5
Q

What is the wave crest/trough?

A

Highest/lowest point of a wave

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6
Q

Define wavelength

A

Average distance between successive wave crests

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7
Q

Define wave height

A

The vertical distance between a wave trough and crest

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8
Q

Define wave velocity

A

The speed at which the wave travels

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9
Q

Define wave steepness

A

The ratio of wave height to wave length

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10
Q

Define wave period

A

The average time between successive waves

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11
Q

Define wave frequency

A

The average number of waves per minute

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12
Q

Define wave power

A

The square of wave height multiplied by wave period (P=H^2T)

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13
Q

Describe the characteristics of swell waves

A

Long wavelength
Gentler gradient
Long wave period (up to 20secs)
Generated by distant winds blowing in the open ocean

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14
Q

Describe the characteristics of storm waves

A

Short wavelength
Steeper
Short wave period
Generated by local winds

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15
Q

What is the equation for calculating the wave power?

A

P (wave power) = H^2 (height) T (wave period)

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16
Q

Why do waves break?

A

-In deep water, not affected by friction (long wavelength and low wave height)
-Shallower water, slowed by friction with the sea bed
-Front is slowed earlier than the back, causing the back of the wave to ‘catchup’ with the front (shortens wave length and increases wave height)
-Base slowed more than the top so top ‘overshoots’ the base, and distorts the circular orbits of water molecules to be more elliptical
-When wave depth is <x1.3 wave height, the wave becomes too top-heavy and unstable, and it breaks

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17
Q

Describe spilling waves

A

Steep waves breaking onto gently sloping beaches; water spills gently forwards as the wave breaks

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18
Q

Describe plunging waves

A

Moderately steep waves breaking onto steep beaches; water plunges down vertically as the crest curls over

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19
Q

Describe surging waves

A

Low angle waves breaking onto steep beaches; the wave slides forward and may not actually break

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20
Q

Describe the characteristics of constructive waves

A

Low waveheight
Long wavelength
Gentle steepness
Long period
Low frequency (6-8/min)
Long fetch (distant winds)
Broken wave spills up beach
Swash stronger than backwash - long period means backwash returned to sea before next wave arrives, so incoming swash is not disrupted
Material pushed from lower to upper beach, creating steeper upper beach features such as berms

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21
Q

Describe the characteristics of destructive waves

A

High waveheight
Short wavelength
Steep steepness
Short period
High frequency (12-14/min)
Short fetch (local winds)
Wave breaks vertically down in a plunging motion
Backwash stronger than swash - plunging motion means little energy directed up the beach, and short period means backwash of one wave will disrupt incoming swash
Material combed from upper beach and deposited on lower beach, creating features such as breakpoint bars

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22
Q

Draw a sketch of constructive and destructive waves

A
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23
Q

What shape of coastline results in wave refraction?

A

Irregular-shaped

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24
Q

What two coastal landforms in particular encourage refraction?

A

Headlands and bays

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25
Q

What is an orthogonal

A

Line drawn at right angles to the wavefront, showing direction of wave energy

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26
Q

Describe orthogonal

A
  1. Waves approach the coastline at an angle
  2. One side of the ave front reaches shallower water before the other
  3. The side of the wave front in deeper water travels faster, causing the whole wave front to bend
  4. One side of the wave front is therefore slowed by friction before the other side
  5. The overall effect is the wave front to become increasingly parallel to the coast
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27
Q

What is wave energy derived from?

A

Wind blowing over the surface of the water

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28
Q

What is wave energy dependent on?

A

Wind strength
The length of time for which the wind has blown
The fetch

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29
Q

Define fetch

A

The distance of open water over which the wind has blown to generate the waves

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30
Q

What is the formula for calculating the maximum wave height?

A

H = 0.36 square rootF

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31
Q

What are tides?

A

The periodic rise and fall in the level of the sea
Caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and of the sun
The moon pulls water towards it, creating a high tide, and there is a compensatory bulge on the opposite side of the Earth. In the area between the two bulges, the tide is at its lowest

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32
Q

Does the moon or sun exert a stronger influence?

A

Moon as it is much closer despite being smaller

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33
Q

What is a spring tide?

A

Moon, Earth and sun aligned in a straight line
Very high high tides and very low low tides (large tidal range)
Twice a month

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34
Q

What is a neap tide?

A

Earth, sun and moon are aligned in a 90 degree angle, the gravitational pulls are acting in contrary directions
Not as high or low tides

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35
Q

What is the tidal range?

A

Vertical distance between high and low tides

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36
Q

What are the numbers for macro-tidal, mesh-tidal and micro-tidal?

A

macro-tidal (>4m)
mesh-tidal (2-4m)
micro-tidal (<2m)

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37
Q

Why do funnel-shaped coastlines affect tides?

A

They constrict the high tide bulge, forcing it higher e.g, Bristol Channel

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38
Q

Define currents

A

Represent the flow of ocean water
Major input of kinetic energy into the coastal system

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39
Q

What do rip currents do?

A

Role in transport of coastal sediment

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40
Q

Explain how rip currents are formed

A

(Important in the transport of coastal sediments)
- Water from broken waves moves up through the breaker zone, then parallel to the shoreline (alongshore current)
-Causes water to pool up by the beach where it will flow out to sea through the path of least resistance through a narrow neck
-Once this cellular circulation is set up, erosion of beach material by the offshore rip current creates a beach cusp, which further channels water and intensifying the rip

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41
Q

What is transferred by currents which can be significant?

A

Heat energy as it directly affects air temperature and therefore sub-aerial processes
Strength of the current itself may have limited impact on coastal landscape systems in terms of geomorphic processes

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42
Q

Explain how ocean currents are formed

A

Larger scale, Coriolis force and convection
-Movement of winds across ocean surface distribute heat from equatorial oceans to the high-latitude oceans, to maintain global atmospheric equilibrium
-Warm water currents tend to move from the W to E bringing warm, onshore currents to western-facing coastlines
-Cold water currents move from E to W and more offshore –> usually driven by offshore winds so have less effect on coasts

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43
Q

Define gyres

A

Huge circulations of water in the oceans created by ocean currents

44
Q

How do winds influence the coastal landscape?

A
  • Wave energy generated by frictional drag of winds moving across the ocean –> waves are a source of energy for coastal erosion and sediment transport
  • Higher wind speed and longer fetch = larger waves with more energy
45
Q

What are onshore winds and what do they do?

A

Blow from the sea towards the land and drive waves towards the coast
If winds blow at an oblique angle towards the coast, waves approach obliquely and generate longshore drift

46
Q

What processes can wind carry out by itself?

A

Erosion, transportation and deposition

47
Q

How does the tidal range influence coastal landscapes?

A

Influences where wave action occurs, weathering processes that happen on land exposed between tides and the potential scouring effect of waves along coasts with a high tidal range
In enclosed seas, tidal ranges low so wave action restricted to a narrow area of land
Funnel coast tidal range high as 14m

48
Q

What is the micro-tidal range?

A

<2m

49
Q

What is the meso-tidal range?

A

2-4m

50
Q

What is the macro-tidal range?

A

> 4m

51
Q

Define differential erosion

A

The process by which adjacent rock types, of differing levels of resistance, are eroded at different rates
It can also occur with the same rock mass if, for example, sections of it have a higher density of joints, bedding planes and other lines of weakness

52
Q

Define lithology

A

The physical and chemical composition of the rocks

53
Q

What are the 3 characteristics that determine the characteristics of rocks and how they are affected by coastal processes?

A

Lithology, structure and dip

54
Q

What is the lithology of clay?

A

-Weak lithology
-Little resistance to erosion, weathering and mass movements
-Due to unconsolidated nature of the rock –> weak bonds that join the individual particles

55
Q

What is the lithology of basalt?

A

Dense, interlocking crystals lead to a highly resistant lithology

56
Q

What is the lithology of limestone?

A

-Strong physical lithology tightly bonded particles
-Very resistant rock, but a weaker chemical lithology
-Vunerable to solution in weak acid (corrosion erosion/carbonation weathering)

57
Q

Why is carboniferous limestone permeable?

A

Water seeps into limestone because of its many joints - secondary permeability
Joints ae easily enlarged by solution

58
Q

What is primary permeability?

A

To be able to absorb and store water
In porous rocks, eg chalk, pores separate the mineral particles

59
Q

What does structure refer to?

A

Properties of individual rock types e.g. jointing, bedding and faulting
Relates to the permeability of a rock
Configuration of rock types relative to other geological bands at regional scale

60
Q

Define porosity

A

Primary permeability
Water transmitted through pores

61
Q

How does structure impact cliff profiles?

A

Structure also includes the angle of dip of rocks
Both horizontally bedded and landward-dipping strata support cliffs with steep, vertical profiles
Where strata incline seawards, cliff profiles follow angle of dip of the bedding planes

62
Q

How does structure influence the coast?

A

Influence on the planform (shape) of coasts at a regional scale
Rock outcrops that are uniform or run parallel to the coast, tend to produce concordant coasts
Rocks that lie at right angles to the coast create discordant planform

63
Q

Define perviosity

A

Secondary permeability
Cracks/joints allow water through (not through the rock)

64
Q

How does the shape of the coastline differ on concordant and discordant coastlines?

A

Discordant - rock bands perpendicular to the coastline, creating irregular coastlines (headlands and bays)
Concordant - rock bands parallel to the coastline, creating straighter coastlines

65
Q

How does dip impact cliff formation?

A

Steepest cliffs tend to form in rocks that have horizontal strata or which dip gently inland, whereas rock that dip towards the coast tend to produce much more gently sloping features

66
Q

What are the 3 types of strata?

A

Horizontally bedded strata
Seaward dipping strata
Landward-dipping strata

67
Q

Describe how horizontally bedded strata impacts cliff formations

A

Undercutting by wave actions leads to rockfall
The cliff retreat inland parallel to the coast

68
Q

Describe how seaward dipping strata impacts cliff formations

A

Undercutting by wave action removes basal support, rock layers loosened by weathering slide into the sea along the bedding planes

69
Q

Describe how landward-dipping strata impacts cliff formations

A

Rocks loosened by weathering and wave actions are difficult to dislodge, the slope profile is gradually lowered by weathering and mass movement

70
Q

How does building groynes impact the coastal system?

A

-Traps sediment being transported by LSD, creates larger store of material (wider, higher beach), which reduces erosion rates
-At adjacent locations, however, the beach will be starved of sediment and the store will be depleted. May lead to increased rates of erosion downdraft

71
Q

How does extracting sand from a beach and the offshore zone impact the coastal system?

A

-Depletes store of sediment; as beaches and offshore bars are an effective wave energy buffer; increased rates of erosion of cliffs behind the beach (this is the system trying to replace the lost store by increasing an input)
-Or sediment may be transported from locations along the coast to replenish the lost store

72
Q

How does beach nourishment impact the coastal system?

A

-New input
-Larger beach may reduce erosion of the terrestrial environment behind the back

73
Q

How does stabilising a sand dune ecosystem by planting marram grass impact the coastal system?

A

Facilitates the process of deposition by disrupting Aeolian transport of sand and fine material
The store of sediment in the sand dune grows

74
Q

How do aeolian factors affect the coastal system?

A

Wind is another input of kinetic energy
Capacity to erode, transport and deposit finer material
Waves get energy from wind exerting a frictional drag on the ocean surface
Wind speed will therefore affect coastal processes

75
Q

Define solution

A

Dissolved minerals transported in a mass of moving water

76
Q

Define suspension

A

Occurs when small particles are carried by currents

77
Q

Define saltation

A

Irregular ‘leapfrogging’ motions where material too large to be in suspension is bounced along the sea
After being picked up the material will be deposited after a short distance
This may dislodge other sediment for further saltation

78
Q

Define traction

A

Largest particles of load pushed along the sea bed by waves or currents
Partial rotations then periods of rest

79
Q

When does deposition occur?

A

-Sheltered places
-When waves slow down due to friction after breaking
-Top of the swash when wave stops momentarily
-Backwash when some water seeps into the beach and weakens it
-Rate of sediment accumulation > rate of removal

80
Q

Name 5 chemical weathering processes and briefly explain them

A

Oxidation - react with oxygen and iron oxide decomposes the rock
Solution - Dissolved by water
Hydration - water added to rock create new minerals of a larger volume, causes surface flaking as expand
Hydrolysis - reaction between rock minerals and water
Carbonation - rainwater and CO2 produced carbonic acid which reacts with calcium carbonate in rock to make it soluble

81
Q

Name 2 biological weathering processes and briefly explain them

A

Tree roots - grow into cracks or joints
Organic acids - produced during decomposition of plant and animal litter cause soil water to become more acidc and react with some minerals. Blue-green algae can have a weathering effect, producing a shiny film of iron and manganese oxides on rocks. Molluscs secrete acids which produce hollows in rock

82
Q

Name 4 physical weathering processes and briefly explain them

A

Thermal expansion - frequent cycles of high and low temps cause layers to flake off
Salt crystallisation - salt solutions seep into porous rocks, forms crystals and creates stress
Freeze-thaw - water enters cracks and expands and causes pressure
Pressure release - overlying rocks removed and underlying rock expand sand fractures parallel to the surface

83
Q

Define mass movement

A

Downslope movement of rock, soil and other material, under the influence of gravity
Water is a trigger

84
Q

What are the 4 types of mass movement

A

Rockfall
Slides
Slumps (rotational)
Mudflows

85
Q

Describe fluvial deposition

A

River velocity decreases at the mouth due to friction - energy reduction
Larger particles deposited first

86
Q

Describe fluvial transportation

A

Transport to coast through traction, saltation, suspension, solution

87
Q

Define flocculation

A

Fresh and salt water mixes, fine clay particles clump together due to electrostatic attraction in saline conditions.

88
Q

Define deflation

A

Removal of fine material by the wind

89
Q

Describe wind erosion

A

Wind able to pick up sand particles and move them by deflation
Speeds of 40km/hr, surface creep and saltation as are heavy
Restricts height of abrasion so has limited effect on coastlines and cliffs
Erosive force increases exponentially with wind velocity
Dry sand easier for wind to pick up as moisture increases cohesion

90
Q

Define surface creep

A

Surface rolling

91
Q

Why is attrition effective on land compared to the sea?

A

As particles carried in the wind lack the protective film of water when they bump into one another

92
Q

Define wind transportation

A

-Same mechanisms apart from solution
Once particles have been entrained, can be moved in winds moving at speeds as low as 20km/hr

93
Q

What are the 2 aspects of geology that influence coastal landscapes?

A

Lithology and structure

94
Q

Define abrasion

A

When the sea’s load is thrown against the rocks of the coast by breaking waves, wearing them away through a ‘sandpapering’ action

95
Q

Define attrition

A

Attrition occurs when particles of the load knock against each other or against coastal rocks causing them to become smaller and smoother

96
Q

Define hydraulic action

A

Wave breaks against a cliff face, causing air and water in cracks in the cliff to be compressed
As the wave recedes, this pressure is released like a mini-explosion, and the rapidly expanding air can widen the crack

97
Q

Define pounding

A

Force of a wave on the rock, even without any load to wear the rock away

98
Q

Define corrosion

A

Particular rocks - contain soluble minerals sun has calcium carbonate (eg limestone) or magnesium carbonate - are slowly dissolved by the sea water
Sea water has a pH of 7 or 8, insignificant unless the water is artificially acidic due to pollution

99
Q

Describe rockfall

A
  • Steep cliff faces (so resistant rocks)
  • Rocks detached from the cliff due to weathering processes and then fall to the foot of the cliff due to gravity
  • Falling material breaks up as it moves, scree slope at the cliff base
  • Promoted by basal undercutting of the cliff by wave action (wave cut notch), line of weakness (joints) and weather conditions that promote weathering processes
100
Q

Describe slides

A
  • Material moves downslope due to gravity as a block
  • Linear slip plane
  • Can occur on softer or resistant materials
101
Q

Describe slumping

A
  • Material moves downslope due to gravity as a block
  • Curved slip plane so rotating material as it moves
  • Common in weak rocks and during periods of heavy rainfall as clay saturated and very mobile/heavy so increasing downslope force
  • A layer of permeable sandstone on top of the clay increases likelihood –> water passes through the sandstone, but if cannot soak into saturated clay, sandstone becomes saturated itself exerting greater pressure on clay
  • Slope loading promotes it (eg thick tree growth or building at the cliff top)
  • Creates characteristic back-titled blocks in the cliff profile
102
Q

Describe mudflows

A

Saturated fine material flows downslope under the influence of gravity
- Slow process
- Usually in combination with slumping

103
Q

How is sediment delivered to the coastline?

A

Rivers are major source of sediment input, particularly for coasts with a steep gradient as rivers directly deposit their sediments at the coast
Delivery can be intermittent, most during floods

104
Q

Where does sediment come from?

A

Erosion of inland areas by water, wind and ice and sub-aerial processes of weathering and mass movement
Wave erosion
Cliff erosion increases by rising sea levels and storm surges
Longshore drift

105
Q

How is offshore locations involved in the coast?

A

Constructive waves, tides and currents bring sediment from offshore and deposit it
Wind blows sediment from exposed sand bars, dunes and beaches - fine sand as wind does not have as much energy

A-Level Geography (10 decks)

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