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Geography GCSE > Coastal > Flashcards

Coastal Flashcards

(95 cards)

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1
Q

What is weathering?

A

It’s the process of rocks being broken down by various processes

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2
Q

Explain freeze thaw weathering:

A

Water collects in the cracks of rocks
It freezes when temp goes below 0°C
The ice expands by 9% and puts pressure on surround rock
The cycle repeats breaking rock up

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3
Q

Explain exfoliation:

A

Repetition of heating and cooling of rocks/ cliffs
Heated = expansion, cooled = rock contraction
This happens until the top layer falls off and exposes layers beneath

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4
Q

Explain chemical carbonation:

A

CO2 dissolves in rainwater
This forms carbonic acid
Dissolves some rocks like chalk and limestone

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5
Q

Explain biological weathering:

A

Plants and tree roots break up rocks
Burrowing animals digging holes into cliffs

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6
Q

What is mass movement?

A

Material falling downhill by the process of gravity

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7
Q

Explain rockfall:

A

Fragments of rock break off the cliff due to gravity
They collect at the bottom

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8
Q

Explain landslides:

A

Movement of material down a slope along a slip plane
Lubrication from water
Water adds weight to the slope

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9
Q

Explain mudflow:

A

Saturated mass of soil moving down a slope which spreads out at the bottom

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10
Q

Explain slumping:

A

Water adds weight and lubricates a curved slip plane

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11
Q

What is transportation?

A

Material that is moved by the sea

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12
Q

Explain saltation:

A

Material bouncing along the beach due to wave action

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13
Q

Explain traction:

A

For larger material rolling along the beach or sea floor

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14
Q

Explain solution:

A

For the smallest material which dissolves into the sea

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15
Q

Explain suspension:

A

Material carried along by the sea or waves

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16
Q

Explain hydraulic action:

A

The force of waves hitting cliffs and trapping air in the cracks of rocks. As the wave retreats the air escapes with a ‘pop’

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17
Q

Explain abrasion:

A

Waves use material to crash into or rub along cliffs

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18
Q

Explain attrition:

A

Material carried by the sea crashes into each other creating smaller and rounder material

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19
Q

Explain solution (erosion) :

A

Chemicals within the sea dissolves or reacts with chalk/ limestone cliffs to weaken them

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20
Q

Explain how destructive waves are created:

A

Created in storm conditions
Created from big, strong waves when the wind is powerful for a long time

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21
Q

Explain characteristics of destructive waves:

A

Erodes the coast
Stronger backwash than swash
Short wavelength but high and steep

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22
Q

Explain how constructive waves are created:

A

Created in calm weather

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23
Q

Explain characteristics of constructive waves:

A

Break on the shore and deposit material building up beaches
Stronger swash than backwash
Long wavelength and low in height
Less powerful than destructive waves

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24
Q

What is swash and backswash?

A

Swash is waves coming onto the beach
Backwash is waves coming away from the beach

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25
Explain long shore drift (LSD):
Rocks and sand gets pushed by prevailing wind (in direction of LSD) This material gets taken by the swash (hits the beach at an angle) and moves back at 90° due to backwash This process repeats until sediment is move along the coast
26
What is prevailing wind?
Wind coming from the most common direction
27
What types of waves does LSD occur in?
Both constructive and destructive
28
What is deposition?
When the sea loses energy it drops the material it has been carrying
29
When is deposition likely to occur?
When waves enter shallow water When waves enter a shallow area (cove or bay) When there's little wind When there's a good supply of beach material
30
What are two feature of deposition?
Beaches and spits
31
What is a spit?
An extended stretch of beach material that projects out to sea and is joined to the mainland at one end
32
How are spits formed?
Created by deposition Prevailing wind blows at the coast at an angle which results in LSD Material from LSD is deposited in shallow calm water usually where the coastline changes direction
33
How are headland and bays formed?
Soft rock (like clay) erodes faster than harder chalk Erosion at the headland occurs slower and eroded material is deposited in the bay Headland is now more exposed, destructive waves erode it more Constructive waves occur in the bay as energy is lost as waves bend around the headland (wave refraction) Weathering occurs at the same time
34
How does cliff retreat occur?
Waves undercut the cliff forming a wave cut notch Cliff becomes unstable and collapses (rockfall) Cliff moves back inland
35
How can vegetation change the shape of the coastline?
Vegetation helps to make a feature more stable (roots bind soil together making it more resistant against waves)
36
What is a eustatic change?
Change in sea level caused by changes in ice caps melting and thermal expansion of water. Global change
37
What is a isostatic change?
Change in sea level caused by land uplifting or being subjected. Local change (whole/ part of a country) Removal of ice from the land causes it to rise
38
Explain headland erosion:
Cracks in rock allow seawater to enter it (hydraulic action) Repeated hydraulic action enlarges cracks to form crevices and caves as well as undercutting Caves are eroded all the way through the headland -arch Roof of arch collapses during a storm helped by weathering forming a stack When a stack collapses it becomes a stump
39
What are submergent features and how are they caused?
Rias and fjords Eustatic and isostatic changes
40
What is a Ria?
It's a flooded river valley
41
What is a Fjord?
It's a flooded glacial valley
42
How are Rias formed?
Sea water has risen This floods river valleys on the coast It'll be higher at points where the sea erodes it
43
How are Fjords formed?
Carved out/ eroded glacier Glacier melts, rising sea levels therefore level into the valley
44
Compare Ria and Fjord:
Fjords are U-shaped Fjords are much longer and wider
45
What's a relict?
Ancient cliffs shows where high tides used to reach
46
What's a raised beach?
This used to be the beach when the sea levels were higher
47
What can building settlements cause?
On lowland and cliffs it can lead to coastal management to protect them Can lead to new land created as we extend into the sea
48
What can building industry cause?
Lead to development of ports and harbours Lead to coastal management
49
What can coastal management cause?
Money spent on protecting coastal towns and cities
50
What's a biotic?
Living factors in the ecosystem or factors that can reproduce (plants and animals)
50
What's an abiotic?
Non living factors in the ecosystem (e.g. water, air, soil...)
50
Where do coral reefs develop and where do they develop in relation to land?
South East Asia, North Australia, warm tropical areas Near land - shallower water but this can extend several Km's offshore
50
What's an ecosystem?
An area where the land and the sea meet. A combination of salt water, fresh water, land, fauna, flora and climate working together
51
Where do mangroves develop and where do they develop in relation to land?
South east Asia, areas 30° of equator Near land with intertidal zones
52
Where do salt marshes develop and where do they develop in relation to land?
All over the world Developed in sheltered areas where the sea is calm
52
Where do sand dunes develop and where do they develop in relation to land?
All over the world Form on land at edge of beaches need to be slightly inland from tidal zones
53
What sea conditions do coral reefs require to develop?
Best temperature is 23-25°C Shallower water as it needs lots of light Salt water
54
What sea conditions do mangroves require to develop?
Cope with salt and fresh water conditions Can be flooded
55
What sea conditions do salt marshes require to develop?
Develop in sheltered areas where sea is calm
55
What sea conditions do sand dunes require to develop?
N/A
56
What wave action does coral reefs require?
Strong wave action for oxygenated salt water
57
What wave action does mangroves require?
A period of relative calm as they develop and set down roots
58
What wave action does sand dunes require?
N/A as they develop above the high tide mark
59
What wave action does salt marshes require?
Needs calm conditions
60
What plants and animals does coral reefs have?
Range of algae Range of animals, coral reefs house 25% of all marine animals
61
What plants and animals does mangroves have?
Range of plants Large amount of animals, diverse ecosystem
62
What plants and animals does sand dunes have?
Range of grasses, shrubs and trees, marram grass, red fescue, birch and oak Rabbits and shelducks nesting area
63
What plants and animals does salt marshes have?
Different plants in different zones Range of wading birds as it has important feeding zones
64
What are the main threats to coral reefs?
Sediment and pollution in sea - blocks light Climate change and sea level rise
65
What are the main threats to mangroves?
Humans - deforestation
66
What are the main threats to salt marshes?
Rising sea levels and more extreme weather events
66
What are the main threats to sand dunes?
Rising sea levels and more extreme weather events
67
Sudarbans threats:
Deforestation for space for farms Poaching of tigers and spotted deer Wood cut down for housing and fires - needs a licence to cut it down, high demand for wood
68
Sudarbans management:
Teaching people not to kill tigers - non harmful scaring methods Eco tourism provides jobs - small number of boats that don't damage the environment
69
Why does local residents care about coastal management and use?
Wants beaches to be taken care of, be maintained and have protection against flooding and storms
70
Why does developers care about coastal management and use?
Protection from flooding and storms, clean nice looking beaches to attract tourists
71
Why does the local council care about coastal management and use?
Against too many defences as it could ruin natural beauty of an area
72
Why does national governments care about coastal management and use?
Defences are high cost, may stop them building defences
73
Why do ports care about coastal management and use?
Want to expand ports for economic growth
74
Why does National Park Authorities care about coastal management and use?
Against defences built, protecting ecosystems
75
What coastal management is breakwater?
Concrete or large rock walls in the sea to protect harbours Lasts a long time, effective Expensive, restricts LSD which starves areas of sediment
76
What coastal management is groynes?
Large wooden fences which trap sand to stop the beach being washed away Effective for stopping LSD Unattractive, expensive, unaccessible
77
What coastal management is beach nourishment?
Replaces sand which has been lost from action of the sea Cheap, effective with groynes, natural Doesn't last long, not effective against storms
78
What coastal management is gabions?
Metal cages with rocks used to build a wall as the absorb energy from waves Cheap, hold line for a short time Unattractive, doesn't last long
78
What coastal management is sea wall?
Curved concrete walls to deflect energy back towards the sea Lasts long time, very effective Expensive, limits access, increases erosion in unprotected areas
78
What coastal management is rock armour/ rip rap?
Big rocks placed on beaches to absorb energy from destructive waves Lasts long, very effective Expensive, limits access
79
What's soft engineering?
Use of natural materials or vegetation to create a natural barrier to defend against the sea
80
What has been done at Abbots Hall Farm?
Breaching - 5 holes put into sea wall 2 sections of sea wall were built to protect farms Salt marsh was created
81
What has been created in Abbots Hall Farm?
Brent geese, redshank, lapwing Pink sea lavender, eel grass, spartina
82
Advantages of Abbots Hall Farm:
£1/2 million saved Eco tourism - multiplier effect Benefitted local habitats
83
Disadvantages of Abbots Hall Farm:
Loss of land by farm Increased number of vehicles on small lanes Rising sea levels could flood salt marshes
84
Whats the issue of Holderness?
Fast eroding coastline Defending one area will erode another
85
Plan for Holderness:
Diversification - People have to change their business plans Cost benefit analysis - Deciding to defend places which will benefit Roll back scheme - Allows businesses to move in land
86
Benefits of Holderness:
Business able to expand - can't relocate Beach attracts visitors which helps local businesses Supply for terminal gas on the coast from the north sea
87
Costs of
Too many defences will cause more erosion further down the coast - sacrificial areas High cost to maintain defences Not possible to sell house if no one is interested in buying it

Geography GCSE (4 decks)

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