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Coasts and rivers Flashcards

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1
Q

what is systems thinking

A

systems thinking is particuarlly usefull to help understand how natural landscapes work and humans interact with them. It is used to simplify and help make sense of complex things.

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2
Q

what is it called when matter or energy is added

A

input

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3
Q

what is it called when energy or matter leaves a sysstem

A

output

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4
Q

what is it called when matter or energy builds up

A

stores

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5
Q

what is it called when there is a movement of energy in a system

A

the flows

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6
Q

what is the limit of a system called

A

the boundarie

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7
Q

what are they key features of an open system

A

Open systems have input and output flows, representing exchanges of matter, energy or information with its surroundings.

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8
Q

what are the key features of a closed system

A

A closed system is a system in which only energy is transferred with its surroundings.

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9
Q

what is a dynamic equilibrium

A

when input and outputs are balanced

in reality there are samll variaition are so small that the inputs and outputs are balanced

for example in drainage basins the amount of water varries

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10
Q

what is poitive feedack

A

This amplifies the change ininput and output

this means the systems responds by increasing the effect of the change moving the system further from the origonal state

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11
Q

what is negative feedback

A

the counteracts the change in inputs or outputs

the system responds by deacreasing the effect of the change keeping the system closer to previous state

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12
Q

what are the 5 spheres

A

hydrosphere
cryosphere
atmosphere
biosphere
lithosphere

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13
Q

what is transfer flow

A

the movement of matter from one store to another

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14
Q

what is a store

A

when matter is temporarily held in a store

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15
Q

isolated system

A

No interactions whith anything outside the system boundary. RARE

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16
Q

closed system

A

energy is transfered into and out of the system. All matter is enclosed e.g the global water and carbon cycles

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17
Q

open system

A

Matter and energy can be transfered into and out of the system. ALL matter is enclosed e,g the drainage basin water or woodland

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17
Q

what is positive feedback

A

Where the effect of an action are amplified by changes to theinput/output/process

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18
Q

How are waves formed

A

Created by wind as the crest is pulled up

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19
Q

what causes friction

A

The wind blows on the surface of the water

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20
Q

what type of motion does water move in

A

circular orbit

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21
Q

The amount of energy gaines by the aes depends on what three things

A

wind speed length of lime the wind has been blowing and the distance of open water (fetch)

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22
Q

When waves reach the shallows what does friction do

A

Friction with the seabed slows the base of the wave

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23
Q

does the top of the wave slow down

A

No it becomes highre and steeper until the wave breaks

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24
what is swash
swash carries material up the beach stronger in constructive waves
25
what is backwash
Backwash takes material away from the beach this is stornger in destructive waves
26
what is wave refraction
when waves approach a coastline that is not regular shape, they are refreacted and become increasingly parralel to the coastline
27
when does wave energy become concentrated
on the headland causing greater erosion
28
what is the wavelength
the distance between the two peaks of a wave
29
what is the techincal term forpeak of a wave
the crest
30
what is the wave height
the distance from the base of the wave to the crest
31
what is the technical word from base for a wave
the trough
32
how do waves form
created by wind as the crest is pulled up
33
what causes friction
the wind blows on the surface of the water
34
what moition do waves move in
they move in a circular orbit
35
the amonyut of energy the waves gained depends on what factors
wind speed the lenghth of time the wind has been blowing
36
when the waves reach shallow watter what does friction do
Friction with the sea bed slows the base of the wave
37
does the top of the wave ever slow down
no it gets higher and steepoerunti it breaks
38
what are the key features of high energy coastlines
large headlands potential sand banks deep bay more frequent and destructive deep water long fetch high erosion rates low deposition rates
39
what are the key features of a low energy coastline
small gentle waves frequent constructive waves shallow water gentle winds short fetch low erosion rate high deposition rate
40
what are sediment cells
in theory sediment cells are regarded as closed systems from which nothing is gained or lost
41
what happens to largere sediemnt cells
they are arranged into smaller sub cells to make it easier to study and manage
42
what happens within a sediment cells
sediment moves around the cell but never leves the cell
43
what factors affect erosion
wave steepness geology human activity beach presence coastal configuraition sea depth the fetch
44
what is geology
the study of rocks
45
what is lithology
this refers to the charcteristics of rocks
46
what are marine processes in relaition to erosion
operates upon the coastline and involve the erosion of the coastline by the action of the sea
47
48
What is a sediment cell
Sediment cells, also known as littoral cells, are reaches of shoreline that encompass the intertidal and nearshore movement of sediment
49
What is traction
Pebbles are rolled along the sea bed eroding them in high energy conditions
50
What is Saltation
Small stones are bounced along the sea bed and the beach
51
What is suspension
Very small particles of sand and silt are carried along by moving water
52
Solution
Solution means it slowly gets dissolved
53
What is weathering
Weathering weakens cliffs and makes them more vulnerable to erosion
54
What is chemical weathering
Caused by chemical changes rainwater that is slightly acidic slowly dissolved away the rock
55
Mechanical weathering is what
Physical dintigraition or break of exposed rock without any changes it it’s chemical composition
56
what is biological weathering
this is simply the distigraition of rock because of animals plants and or microbes
57
what is a rock fall
a rock fall is when fragments of rock fall away from the cliff face due to weathering
58
what is a landslide
rocks are blown off and slide down the hgill bring down more as it falls
59
what is a mud slide
this is when saturated soil flows down the slope
60
mass movements are impacted by what
they are all impacted by gravity
61
what are the different forms of deposition
marine deposition areolian deposition
62
what type o coastline are headlands fromed at
discordent
63
what i an example of a headland and bay in the uk
swanage
64
where are cliffs and wave cut platfroms found
they are found at concordent coastlines
65
what is an example of a wav cut platform in the uk
kimmerage bag has a wave cut platform
66
what is an example of an arch whcih has developed into a stack
durdle door
67
how do tombolos form
A tombolo is formed when a spit connects the mainland coast to an island.
68
what are barrier islands
a barrier island is a long thin sandy stretch of sand arientated parallele to the mainland which thereofr protects the main isalnd from the full force of storms
69
what is a slat marsh
Saltmarshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded and drained by the tides. They're boggy and marshy as their soils are composed of deep mud and peat. They're found in most parts of the world where there's low-lying land and a temperate climate.
70
what is the final plant succesor in the uk
it is an oak tree
71
what is the order of dune colours
embryo dune fore dune yellow dune grey dune dune slack and finly the climax
72
what are the inputs of a sand dune
supply of sand strong onshore winds, large tidal range, obstacles to trap sand, vegitaition growth
73
how anre sand dunes formed
it is done by sand blown/sallated onshore by strong wids at low tide
74
how long does it take for embryo dunes to mature
400 years
75
how do tides and tidal ranges affect the coastline
Tides increase the rate of coastal erosion. Where tidal range is low, for example, in the Mediterranean, wave energy is less and many cliff faces are unaffected by marine processes. due to the rsie ad fall of water
76
why are narrower estuaries at a greater risk from tides than wider
this is due to it beig easier to be eroded 5677io;
77
what is it called when the earth sun and moon line up and their power combines to make exseptinally high tides
spring tides
78
what is a neap tide
A neap tide—seven days after a spring tide—refers to a period of moderate tides when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other.
79
what are rip currents
rip currents are strong surface currents which run perpendicular to the shore. they can be very dangerous to surfers and swimmers as they can move very fast taking them out into the ocean from the breaking waves they often form between sandbars or other physical features
80
What are fjords
These are flooded glacial valleys. It is where a glacier eroded steep u shaped valleys into the land. When it floods water fills these valleys creating fjords
81
What is a ria?
A drowned river valley formed by the flooding of a river valley due to rising sea levels
82
Are rias created by erosion or submergence?
Submergence — they are flooded river valleys caused by eustatic sea level rise.
83
How does a glacial period help form a ria?
During a glacial period, rivers erode their valleys deeper because sea levels are lower.
84
What happens during an interglacial period to help form rias?
As ice melts, sea levels rise (eustatic rise) and flood river valleys, creating rias.
85
What are three key features of a ria?
Gentle valley sides Irregular shoreline with creeks Tidal, deeper near the sea
86
How are rias different from fjords?
Rias are drowned river valleys (V-shaped), fjords are drowned glacial valleys (U-shaped).
87
Name a examples of rias.
Kingsbridge Estuary (Devon)
88
What key process leads to the formation of a ria?
Eustatic sea level rise (global sea level rise due to melting ice).
89
What is a submergent coastline?
A coastline created when land is flooded by rising sea levels, forming features like rias.
90
What are emergent landforms?
Coastal features exposed due to a fall in sea level, either from isostatic rebound or eustatic sea level fall.
91
What causes emergent landforms to form?
Isostatic rebound (land rising after glaciers melt) Eustatic fall (global sea level drop)
92
What is a raised beach?
An old beach now found above the current sea level, often with sand, pebbles, and old wave-cut platforms.
93
What is a relict cliff?
An old cliff, no longer eroded by waves, with old features like notches and caves above current sea level.
94
Name two examples of emergent landforms.
Raised beaches Relict cliffs
95
Give a real-world example of a raised beach.
Isle of Arran, Scotland.
96
What is isostatic rebound?
When land rises after the weight of ice sheets is removed following glacial melting.
97
What happens to emergent landforms over time?
What happens to emergent landforms over time?
98
What is a wave cut platform
Large, flat, step-like platforms caused by wave erosion at an older, higher sea level. Example: California coast.
99
What was built at Withernsea for coastal management?
A curved, reinforced concrete sea wall with rock armour at the base.
100
How much did the Withernsea sea wall upgrade cost?
£6.3 million.
101
What are two advantages of the Withernsea sea wall?
Protects homes, businesses, and tourism. Reduces coastal erosion significantly.
102
What are two disadvantages of the Withernsea sea wall?
Very expensive to build and maintain. Can cause increased erosion down-drift.
103
How do local communities influence coastal management?
They push for protection of homes and public areas, often preferring soft engineering. Their opinions shape local decisions through voting and campaigning.
104
What role do governments and councils play in coastal management?
: They fund and approve schemes based on cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact. They must balance economics, safety, and sustainability.
105
How do environmental groups and businesses affect coastal plans?
nvironmentalists promote sustainable options like managed retreat. Businesses want protection of coastal infrastructure, but may resist changes that hurt profits.
106
Why do stakeholder conflicts occur in coastal management?
Different priorities (e.g. conservation vs. development) cause tension. Example: Holderness, where some areas were protected and others were left to erode.

Geography (14 decks)

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