Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Physical Geography > Coasts > Flashcards

Coasts Flashcards

(89 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Geology definition

A

Physical structure and characteristics of a rock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

sediment supply

A

Process of weathering and erosion produces output in form of sediment which is transported and deposited

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Rocky plains

A

Can have low and high relief and result from high energy environments and resistant geology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Coastal plains

A

Referred to as alluvial and are sandy and estuarine coasts at low relief

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Igneous

A

magma cools down, below surface intrusive and above surface extrusive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Sedimentary

A

layers of sediment. Non clastic: made of sediment already dissolved in water, Clastic: sediments stuck together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Metamorphic

A

Heat and pressure exerted on to sedimentary rock and changes its characteristics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Emergent coasts

A

Where coasts are rising relative to the sea level due to tectonic uplift or glacier activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Low wave energy

A

Sheltered coasts with limited fetch and low wind speeds result in small waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

High wave energy

A

Exposed coasts, facing prevailing winds with long wave fetches result in powerful waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Constructive Waves

A

Low surging waves with long wavelength
Strong swash weak backwash
Deposition takes place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Destructive

A

High lunging waves with short wavelength

Weak swash, strong backswash

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Concordant coastlines

A

Lie parallel to the coast

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Discordant coastlines

A

Erosion which involves greater erosion of less resistant than more resistant rocks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Haff coastlines

A

Concordant coastlines
Spits of sand and lagoons aligns parallel to the coast
Baltic Sea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Dalmation coastlines

A

Where bands of harder and softer rock run parallel to the coastline
As sea levels rise, valleys of softer rock get flooded, whilst harder rock remains above (Croatia, Turkey)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Headlands

A

More resistant rocks (igneous/metamorphic) form headlands

waves refract concentrating energy in headlands, making. them steep cliffs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Bays

A

Weaker rocks are eroded to form bays

when waves enter bay, energy is dissipated, leads to deposition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Permeability

A

can affect coastal recession. If water enters a rock it will remove cement that bonds rock together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Lithology

A

Igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary
Sedimentary, less resistant (More coastal recession)
Igneous, more resistant (less coastal recession)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Geological structures

A

concordant/discordant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Vegetation

A

Will reduce coastal recession

Sand dunes, Salt Marshes and Mangroves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Salt marshes

A

Areas of periodically flooding low-lying wetlands

Common in low-energy environments, sheltered bays

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Formation of salt marshes

A

Accumulation of mud and slit in sheltered part
Deposition takes place, mudflats formed
salt-tolerant plants colonise mudflats (Traps sediment, stabilises mud)
Level of mud rises, less salt due to rainfall (improved fertility of soil)- New plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Threats to salt marshes
Agricultural pollution (eutrophication) Dredging- removing sediment Grazing- alterations to species diversity industrial pollution harms salt marsh species
26
Formation of sand dunes
Onshore winds towards land and carry sand via saltation | Obstacles trap sediment
27
Sand dunes
Bare ground gradually colonised by plants pioneer species modify environment by binding sand and soil with their roots Creeping plants: retain moisture Invaders: improve soil and provide shale
28
Factors affecting strength of waves
Fetch wind speed Water depth Duration of wind blowing
29
Factors affecting beach morphology
Wave type Energy Sediment type
30
Abrasion
Material wears away at a surface | Friction caused, wearing against the cliff
31
Hydraulic action
Force of water crashing against rock Compression occurs in rocky areas when air enters into crack in rock pressure builds up and rock breaks away
32
Corrosion
Weak acid in sea water react with particular rock minerals, causing erosion
33
Attrition
Wearing down of rock hit each other due to currents and tides Reduces particles size and makes stones rounder and smoother
34
Wave cut notch
Waves break against foot of cliff, erosion concentrates in high-tide line. Creates a wave cut notch As it becomes bigger, rock above becomes unstable and eventually collapses
35
Wave cut platform
Erosional processes are related, notch migrates inland and cliff retreats, leaving a shoreline platform
36
Cliffs
Constant wave action and erosion against base of cliff ensures that its maintains a steep profile Steepest cliffs: where rock strata is vertical Gentlest where rocks dips towards or away the sea
37
Caves, arches
Hydraulic action and abrasion erodes joints and faults This creates caves Overlaying rock collapses, blowhole developed Arch is formed when two caves join in wither side of the headland Top will then collapse, leaving a stack Stack, continued erosion - stump
38
Swash-aligned
wave crests approach parallel to coast so limited longshore drift. Sediment doesn't travel along the beach far (Dorset coast)
39
Drift-aligned
Waves approach at significant angle so longshore drift carries sediment up the beach (Lulworth cove)
40
Traction
Large and heavy rocks rolled along sea bed
41
Saltation
Smoother and lighter rocks bounce along the sea bed
42
Suspension
Fine, lighter sediment is carried in the water column
43
Solution
When dissolved sediment is carried
44
Bars
Beach extends across a bay to join 2 headlands- forms a barrier beach. Can trap water behind them and form lagoons (Loe bar)
45
Tombolo
When spit connected the mainland and an island When coastline changes direction, longshore drift occurs Deposition occurs where waves lose energy, Tombolo begins to build up
46
Cuspate forelands
Triangular shaped headland that extends out from main coastline. When coast is exposed to longshore drift from opposite directions- forms triangular shape
47
Spit
Sand/shingle beach ridge extending beyond. Longshore drift current spreads out and deposition occurs.
48
Recurved and double spits
Spit whose end is curved landward, into bay/inlet
49
Freeze-thaw
Water enters a crack/joint in the rock when it rains Freezes in cold water When freezes, expands- crack widens (Breaks away)
50
Salt crystallisation
Growth of salt crystals in cracks and pore spaces cam exert breaking force, less than freeze-thaw
51
Oxidation
Addition of oxygen to minerals, especially iron compounds, producing iron oxides (increases volume) Contributes to breakdown
52
Plant roots
Trees and plant roots grow in cracks and fissures- forces rock apart
53
Boring molluscs
Molluscs dip into plants, may withhold chemicals that dissolve plants
54
Mass movement
Movement downslope of rocks, sand, clay or soil. Caused by gravity. Once slope is unstable, after waves have undercut resistant rocks, rainwater enters pores forcing rocks apart
55
Mass movement depends on
Lithology and geology Vegetation Saturation of ground Angle of slope
56
Types of mass movement
Topple: Material toppling seaward Translational: Slides down (not steep) Rotational landslide: huge masses of material rotate downslope Flows: Flow downslope. Vegetation limited and saturated ground
57
Eustatic sea level change
Global changes to sea- rise or fall Glacial periods: huge ice sheets formed- sea level falls As temp rises: melt and sea levels rise
58
Isostatic
Occurs locally During glacial periods: ice sheets make land sink- isostatic subsidence Ice melts: land to readjust and rise: isostatic rebound
59
Raised beach (emergent)
As land rose (isostatic rebound): shoreline platforms and beaches were raised above sea level
60
Fossil cliff (emergent)
10 m high: are actively eroding
61
Barrier island (emergent)
Sea level rises land behind the dunes, forming a lagoon, but dunes not eroding so become islands Dune systems moved landward as sea levels rose
62
Ria (submergent)
Sheltered wind inlets with irregular shorelines | Most distinctive feature: Valleys and area is flooded
63
Fjord (submergent)
Narrow inlet of sea between cliffs: long and steep-sided , much deeper inland
64
Dalmatian
Similar to rias | Parallel to coast- Croatia, Turkey
65
Nile Delta case study
Aswan High Dam: 1968 Fell from 130 million tonnes to 15 million tonnes of sediment Increased erosion rates 70% decrease in amount Nile river reaching delta 2m rise in sea level: 30% delta lost
66
Holderness coastline
``` Fastest eroding coastline in Europe 2m of coastline lost a year 29 villages lost so far Boulder clay: easily eroded, sloping cliffs Fetch: exposed to winds from North Sea ```
67
Terminal groyne syndrome
Groynes stop sediment of being transported, starves other parts of coastline of sediment, increasing erosion
68
Bangladesh: Cyclone Sidr
``` Nov 2007 15,000 deaths 700,000 hectares flooded cost of 1.7 billion 7000 shrimp farms destroyed 1.6 million homes destroyed 8000km of road destroyed ```
69
Extreme weather UK 2013-2014
1400 homes flooded winds over 140 mph 2 people died 100,000 homes lost power
70
Flooding- Kiribati
Max of 3m above sea level all population live within 1 km from coast risk of flooding has increased by 200 by 2050 could disappear
71
Tuvalu
4-14 cm sea level rise by 2030 not reliable rainfall 5mm rise per year since 1993 (9cm since then) Larger than global average
72
Economic impact of coastal flooding
Loss of agricultural land Destruction of houses, resorts, restaurants Loss of infrastructure Restoration is very costly
73
Wooden/rock groynes
Structures built at right angles to coast Traps sediment being moved along coast Advantages: not expensive, attract tourists, reduces erosion Disadvantages: Terminal groin syndrome, unnatural and unattractive
74
Curved-lip sea wall
Reflects wave energy, made of concrete at foot of cliff Dissipates wave energy Advantages: effective, provides promenade Disadvantages: Unnatural, doesn't absorb energy, expensive
75
Rip-rap
rocks placed at foot of cliff- forms permeable barrier and break up waves Advantages: Cheap, easy to maintain, strong, durable Disadvantages: expensive to repair, rocks don't fit with local geology
76
Revetments
Tilted structures that run along coastline. Concrete or wood and absorb wave energy Advantages: not expensive, reduces impacts of flooding and allows movement of water Disadvantages: Doesn't cope with strong waves, not aesthetically beautiful, unattractive for tourists
77
Offshore breakwaters
Submerged rock barrier designed to break waves before reaching coast, protecting coastline Advantages: Not invasive, allows tourists to swim, very effective Disadvantages: Expensive and causes pollution
78
Gabions
Cage filled with rocks or concrete Advantages: cheaper than revetments Disadvantages: still expensive, small scale solution and dangerous, could fall down
79
Beach nourishment
Additional sand or pebbles to existing beach Advantages: cheap, easy to maintain, preserves environment and helps economy and locals Disadvantages: Constant maintainance, difficult to obtain sediment
80
Cliff regrading and drainage
Reduces angle of cliff, removes water to prevent landslides Advantages: protection to land, effective, natural looking Disadvantages: causes cliff retreat, still erosion, significant cost
81
Dune stabilisation
Marram grass planted to help stabilise dune Advantages: cheap, natural defence, sustainable Disadvantages: time-consuming, not attractive and not useful if big storm
82
Salt marsh creation
Allows low-lying areas to be flooded, land becomes salt marsh . Short, temporal defence Advantages: Sustainable, cheap, natural defence Disadvantages: Agricultural land lost doesn't last long, not effective
83
Mangrove growth
Planting mangroves where needed for protection Advantages: Natural barrier, protection Disadvantages: Takes up space, not aesthetically beautiful, not as effective
84
Happisburg
Sea wall: 2-6 million pounds rip-rap: 1-4 million pounds groynes: up to 1.5 million pounds Impact: more than 35 properties saved, 45 hectares of farming land saved
85
Maldives
Construction of artificial islands Education about importance of mangroves Education about alternative farming impacts: Helping preservation of islands
86
Hornsea
Sea wall, groynes and rock armour | Impacts: maintains beach at Hornsea but affects Mappleton (erosion of 4cm a year)
87
Withernsea
Curved lip sea wall 1990s | Impacts: waves are noisy, small promenade and unattractive
88
Mappleton
2 rock groynes, rock armour | impacts: increased erosion at Cowden
89
Chittagong
Improving road connections, 25 tropical cyclone shelters, training in climate resistance positive: help alleviate poverty by 10%, adapting to climate change negative: relocating of households, disturbance of habitats and people

Physical Geography (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions