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A level Geography > Coasts > Flashcards

Coasts Flashcards

(54 cards)

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1
Q

what are the processes affecting coasts?

A
  • weathering
  • erosion
  • transportation
  • deposition
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2
Q

what is dynamic equilibrium?

A

when inputs and outputs are balanced

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3
Q

what is negative feedback?

A

negative feedback reduces some of the change by reducing some of the inputs, returning the system to stability

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4
Q

what type of system are coastal environments?

A

open systems with inputs, stores, flows and outputs

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5
Q

what is positive feedback?

A

moves the system away from its equilibrium state causing further change

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6
Q

what are high energy coasts characterised by?

A

destructive waves, long fetches, high rates of erosion, caves, cliffs, wave-cut platforms, arches, stumps

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7
Q

what are low energy coasts characterised by?

A

constructive waves, shorter fetches, high rates of deposition, sand dunes, spits and bars

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8
Q

what are constructive waves?

A
  • low frequency
  • long and low
  • swash stronger than backwash= deposition
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9
Q

what are destructive waves?

A
  • erosional
  • high frequency
  • steep and high
  • backwash stronger than swash
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10
Q

what are littoral/longshore currents?

A

when a flow of water runs parallel to the shoreline in areas where waves approach at an angle, moving water and sediment along

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11
Q

what are rip currents?

A

strong currents that flow away from the shoreline

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12
Q

what is upwelling?

A

movement of cold water to the surface

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13
Q

how do tides work?

A
  • water is pulled towards the moon, bringing a high tide on each side of the Earth
  • these high tides follow the moon as it orbits the sun
  • when the moon, sun and earth line up a spring tide occurs- happening twice a month
  • when the moon and sun are perpendicular, a neap tide occurs- twice a month
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14
Q

what is the tidal range?

A

the difference in height between high tide and low tide

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15
Q

what is abrasion?

A

where pieces of rock are picked up by waves and hit against the bed, the beach or the cliffs

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16
Q

what is corrosion?

A

chemical reaction between sea water and susceptible rock eg. limestone

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17
Q

what is attrition?

A

where piece of bedload are hit against one another

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18
Q

what is hydraulic action?

A

force of waves being compressed into cracks of the rock. Breaks down rocks and cliff

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19
Q

what is suspension?

A

small material is picked up and carried by sea water

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20
Q

what is mechanical weathering?

A

when rocks are broken down without their chemical composition being changed
salt weathering is the main type:
- seawater gets into cracks in rocks
- salt crystals form when the seawater evaporates, these crystals then expand and put pressure on the rock
- the repeated evaporation of saltwater widens the cracks in the rocks until they break apart

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21
Q

what is biological weathering?

A

biological weathering is when rocks are broken down by living things eg. animals/plants

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22
Q

what is chemical weathering?

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A

when rocks are broken down because of their chemical composition being changed eg. carbonation weathering

23
Q

what is mass movement?

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A

when rocks and loose material shift down slopes. This happens when gravity overcomes the force supporting the material

24
Q

what are the coastal transfers?

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A

LSD, onshore and offshore winds and tides

25
how does LSD work?
- wind approaches the coast at an angle because of prevailing wind direction- this is the way swash moves - gravity is the only force that acts on backwash, so it falls back to the sea at right angles to the coastline - because of the difference between the angles of swash and backwash, sediment repeatedly moves in the shape of a right-angled triangle
26
what is a concordant coastline?
have alternating bands of hard rock and soft rock parallel to the coast
27
what is a discordant coastline?
alternating bands of hard rock and soft rock at 90° to the coastline eg. Dorset coastline
28
what is a Dalmatian coast?
made up of offshore islands and coastal inlets running parallel to the coastline eg. lulworth cove
29
what is usually found on discordant coastlines?
- bays and headlands - retreating less resistant rock changes shape of coastline and causes wave refraction- increasing rate of erosion= formation of headland features
30
how is a wave cut platform formed?
- sea attacks base of cliff between the high and low water mark - a wave cut notch is formed by erosional processes- a dent in the cliff - as the notch becomes bigger in size the cliff becomes unstable and collapses and retreats - continues to make platform
31
how are caves formed?
- cracks are widened in the headland through the erosional processes of hydraulic action and abrasion - as the waves continue to erode the crack, it begins to open up and hollow out to form a cave
32
how are arches formed?
- when caves are eroded right the way through the headland, an arch is created eg. durdle door
33
how are stacks formed?
when the top of an arch collapses a column called a stack is formed continued erosion of a stack forms a stump
34
how is a bar formed?
when a spit grows across a bay
35
how is a spit formed?
- an extended stretch of beach material that projects out to sea and is joined to mainland on one end - LSD moves material along coastline - spit forms when material is deposited, waves cannot get past spit
36
what is a tombolo?
when a spit joins an offshore island
37
what is an emergent coastline?
- emergent coastlines cause the formation of raised beaches and fossil cliffs caused by isostatic rebound - a raised beach and fossil cliffs are formed when, following an ice age, the land rebounds. This causes the original height of land to increase. - this leaves behind a beach and fossil cliff higher than their original position
38
what is a submergent coastline?
- submergent coastlines cause the formation of rias, fjords and Dalmatian coasts
39
what is isostatic sea level change?
- isostatic change refers to the level of land, which is also influenced by ice ages - during an ice age, the weight of the ice forces land to sink - when the ice age has finished, the melting of the ice causes the land to rebound back up, like a spring
40
what is tectonic change?
- tectonic change causes land to either rise or sink at the boundaries where tectonic plates meet - a sudden change in the movement can lead to a rise or fall in the seabed
41
what is eustatic change?
- eustatic change is the rising and falling of sea levels - water is stored in the form of ice, ice age=sea levels fall - ice melting= rising sea level
42
why are higher sea levels a risk?
- cause higher tides increasing frequency of coastal flooding - higher tides can remove materials from beaches, leaving cliffs less protected - increased frequency of storms due to higher energy of the sea
43
what are the impacts of climate change?
- climate change is changing the frequency and intensity of low-pressure depressions and tropical storms - rising global temps are causing oceans to warm, triggering these low pressure systems - this increases the risk of coastal flooding and creates unusual weather conditions
44
what is a storm surge?
a coastal flood of rising water commonly associated with low pressure weather systems
45
what are the consequences of coastal recession?
- damage to houses and businesses mean that people are forced to relocate whilst repairs are done and financial support is needed to support this - many people in less developed countries depend on intl aid - in developed countries many people cannot get enough insurance to cover potential damages, and many houses lose value as the rate of coastal recession increases
46
what are groynes?
- stone or wooden fences that stick out at 90° to the coast to stop material being transported by LSD - they are cheap and effective - beaches further down get starved
47
what are sea walls?
- hard concrete walls that deflect waves, refract wave energy back to the sea - good long-term solution as requires little maintenance - expensive/ugly
48
what are revetments?
- angled walls placed just offshore to assist in breaking down the force of the waves - cost effective - regular maintenance needed
49
what is rip-rap?
- a pile of boulders to dissipate the waves energy - long lasting and relatively cheap - hazard for people accessing beach - gaps between rocks allow erosion to cotinue
50
what is beach nourishment and reprofiling?
- moving material from the upper sections of a beach elsewhere - slows down waves by widening beaches and so reduces the risk of erosion and flooding - maintains beach for tourism, supporting local economy - threatens organisms
51
what is ICZM?
ICZM (integrated coastal zone management) deals with holistic coastal management strategies - careful consideration for the most effective management approach - considers risk to building/local economy/natural environment
52
what are the benefits of ICZM?
- promotes careful conservation of natural environment - encourages efficient use of resources - tries to reduce potential loss to stakeholders who rely on coastal regions for their livelihoods - inclusive of all parties
53
what is a ria?
a valley that has been partially submerged by water formed by a substantial rise in sea level or a fall of landmass on a coastline
54
what is fjord?
an inlet that is long and narrow in shape, with steep cliffs on either side. Formed by the movement of a glacier that cuts rock formations, forming steep ridges either side of a valley and the valley fills with water

A level Geography (17 decks)

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