Coastal Processes

Question 1

Hydraulic Action

Answer 1

Force of water crashing against coastline causing material to be dislodged and carried away - creates cracks
Air becomes trapped in cracks in rocks and causes them to break apart

Question 2

Cavitation

Answer 2

Method of Erosion
Air bubbles compress into cracks in river banks, and eventually burst. This causes small shockwaves which weaken the rock

Question 3

Wave Quarrying

Answer 3

Process of tall waves with intense force hitting cliff face - have power to destroy large chunks of rock

Question 4

Abrasion

Answer 4

Method of Erosion
Pebbles grind along sea floor rock platform - smoothening its surface

Question 5

Solution/Corrosion

Answer 5

Method of Erosion
Where sea salt dissolves certain types of rock (eg: limestone or chalk)

Question 6

Attrition

Answer 6

Method of Erosion
Where rocks the sea is carrying knock against each other and break apart

Question 7

Longshore Drift

Answer 7

Wave action occurring due to prevailing winds where sediment is carried along the coast

Question 8

Swash

Answer 8

Layer of water that travels up shore after wave is broken

Question 9

Backwash

Answer 9

Layer of water that moves back into sea after wave is broken

Question 10

Offshore Currents

Answer 10

Continuous, predictable, directional movement of seawater driven by gravity, wind and water density

Question 11

Traction

Answer 11

Large heavy rocks grinding along sea floor

Question 12

Solution

Answer 12

Dissolving of rocks by acidic water

Question 13

Saltation

Answer 13

Little pebbles bouncing along sea floor

Question 14

Suspension

Answer 14

Light sediment floating through water

Question 15

Mudflow

Answer 15

Occur on very steep slopes at coastline, with very limited vegetation mud can lose its structure and flow down cliffs

Question 16

Rotational Slumping

Answer 16

Structurally compact material that makes up cliff becomes saturated by heavy precipitation - this causes cliff face to become heavier until it collapses and slips down - seperating from unsaturated material behind

Question 17

Soil Creep

Answer 17

Slow downward progression of soil/rock along a slope - influenced by saturation of material or mostly gravity

Question 18

Types of (Sub Aerial) Weathering

Answer 18

Physical, Eg: - Wetting+Drying, Crystallisation, Freeze Thaw
Chemical, Eg: - Oxidation, Hydrolysis, Carbonation
Biological, Eg: - Cliff Vegetation, Seaweed, Nesting Birds etc

Question 19

Landslides

Answer 19

Masses of rock/debris moving down a slope, with 4 types:
Falling/Toppling - Rockfall
Rotational and Translational
Flows
Creeps (slow)

Question 20

Sub-Aerial Runoff

Answer 20

Precipitation accumulation on cliffs - can cause erosion

Question 21

Aeolian Processes

Answer 21

Onshore wind - blows sand landwards
Can create extensive sand dunes
Transport by saltation, suspension and creep (depends on size of material/strength of wind)
Optimum conditions = large beach