3.2.2 Coastal Landforms Flashcards
What causes differences in coastal landforms?
The geological structure and rock type
Coastlines with softer rocks like sand and clay form . . .
Low, flat landscapes like bays and beaches
Coastlines with harder, resistant rocks form . . .
Rugged landscapes like headlands
Hard rock cliffs tend to be:
High and steep with a bare, rugged face
Soft rock cliffs tend to be:
Lower and less steep, with a smoother face showing evidence of slumping
Headlands form from:
Bands of hard, resistant rock
Bays form from:
Bands of softer, less resistant rock eroding more quickly
Wave-cut platforms form by:
Wave erosion undercutting cliffs, causing collapse
Caves, arches, stacks initially form from:
Wave refraction and erosion attacking headlands
Beaches mainly form through:
Deposition by constructive wave action
Sand dunes form from:
Onshore winds depositing and trapping sand
The pioneer vegetation on embryo dunes includes:
Lyme grass and sea couch grass
Marram grass helps stabilize:
Fore dunes
Spits form due to:
Longshore drift and a change in coastline direction
Sandbars form when:
A spit joins two headlands or offshore by wave action
