Coastal Landscapes Flashcards
What is slumping?
The base of the cliff is eroded by the sea and the top is saturated with rain. The cliff starts to slide.
What is a rock fall?
Fragments of rock break from the cliff face due to weathering and fall to the base of the cliff.
What is Abrasion?
Pebbles picked up by waves are flung against the cliff face wearing the cliff away.
What is attrition?
Pebbles carried by the waves collide with other particles and become rounder.
What is hydraulic action?
Waves hitting the cliff force air into cracks which breaks up the rock.
What is corrosion?
The dissolving of rocks and minerals by water.
Name examples of soft rocks found on coast lines
Gravels
Sands
Clay
Sandstone
Name examples of hard rocks found on coast lines
Limestone
Chalk
Granite
What is a spit?
A spit is an extended stretch of beach material, joined to the mainland,that projects out to sea l.
What is a bar?
A bar is an extended stretch of beach material that grows across a bay, joining two headlands.
Name the factors influencing cliff recession
Fetch- a large open body of water will cause a bigger fetch and therefore produce more destructive waves eroding cliffs more easily.
Geology- harder more resistant rocks will erode more slowly than less resistant rocks
Coastal management’ coastal defences can help slow down the rate of erosion and protect the coastline.
Impacts of cliff recession
Human- loss of property
Nature- destruction of habitats for plants and animals
Characteristics of destructive waves
occur in stormy conditions have high energy have probably travelled a long distance (large fetch) are responsible for erosion have a greater backwash than swash
Characteristics of constructive waves
occur in calm conditions have lower energy help transport material by longshore drift are responsible for deposition have a great swash than backwash
Advantages and Disadvantages for a Sea Wall
protected cliffs and buildings
Expensive (£5000-£10000 per linear meter)
sometimes ugly
