Coastal processes Flashcards
(21 cards)
What are the different types or rock
Metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary
What is an example of a sedimentary rock
Chalk
Where does slumping usually happen
Clay coasts
What is mass movement
The downhill movement of material through the influence of gravity
Name the four different ways to erode a coast
Abrasion, attrition, solution and hydraulic action
What is abrasion
Waves throwing rocks and sand at the coast during a storm
What is attrition
Where rocks and pebbles rub together and break into smaller pieces
What is hydraulic action
The impact of water against the coastline and waves compressing air into cracks in the rock forcing them apart
What is solution
The chemical action of seawater dissolves some rocks
What is slumping
Where the base of a soft rock cliff erodes and the cliff falls down in layers leading to a step like structure of soft rock
What is longshore drift
This is the process by which beach sediment can be transported along the coast by waves
What are the four ways of transport
Traction, saltation, suspension and solution
What is traction
Large boulders are rolled along the seabed by waves
What is saltation
Smaller stones are bounced along the seabed
What is suspension
Sand and small particles are carried along in the flow
What is solution
Some minerals are dissolved in seawater and carried along in the flow
What is concordant coastlines
Coastlines made up of the same type of rock
What are discordant coastlines
The coastline alternates between rock types which form bays and headlands
What is a destructive wave
A destructive wave has weak swath and strong backwash. This means material is dragged away eroding the coastline
What is a constructive wave
The swash is strong and the backwash weak this means the beach is built up instead of eroded
How are bays and headlands formed
Hard rock like chalk are left jutting out whereas soft rock gets eroded and forms bays
