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Flashcards in Coasts-Coastal Landforms Deck (26)
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1
Q

What is a dynamic equilibrium

A

When there is a balance in between the inputs & outputs then the system is said to be in a state of dynamic equilibrium

2
Q

What is feedback and how can it be termed

A

If one element of the system changes, for example there is increased deposition on a beach. Feedback can be termed positive or negative.

3
Q

What is the backshore

A

Area between the high water mark and the limit of marine activity

4
Q

What is the foreshore.

A

The area lying between the high water mark and low water mark. This is the most active area for marine processes but is affected by storms

5
Q

What is inshore

A

Area between the low water mark and where waves cease to have any influence on the land beneath them.

6
Q

What is offshore

A

Area beyond the point where waves cease to have any impact upon the sea bed & activity is limited to deposition

7
Q

What is nearshore

A

This zone combines the foreshore and inshore. Here the waves begin to break to create a swash zone, surf zone and breaker zone

8
Q

Why is much of the chalk in Flamborough Head covered in boulder clay

A

During the ice ages the whole area was covered in ice; when the ice melted, boulder clay was deposited over the area.

9
Q

Explain the geological and marine factors at North Landing in the formation of caves and geos

A

The jointing is very dense here so there is a lot of faulting as the rock can be fragmented easily, also its open to the North Sea so its open to storm waves from the Artic

10
Q

Why are headlands and a bay formed at Selwicks Bay even though it is supposedly one rock type (chalk).

A

Because the headlands chalk has got harder due to severe earth movement causing chemical reactions in this part of the chalk. Also the bay used to be a blow hole, then it was filled with boulder clay, the boulder clay was eroded, then the sea could erode the chalk around he blow hole

11
Q

What is a swash aligned beach

A

Swash aligned beaches are where sediment is taken up and down the beach with little sideways transfer

12
Q

What is a drift aligned beach

A

Drift aligned beach is where sediment is transferred along a beach by long shore drift

13
Q

What is a storm beach

A

This is a ridge composed of the biggest boulders thrown by the largest waves above the usual high tide mark

14
Q

What is a runnel

A

These are ridges of sand that are parallel to he shoreline

15
Q

What are cusps

A

These are semi circular shaped depressions.

16
Q

What is a simple spit

A

Simple spots are either straight or curved but only have one curve (if they have one).

17
Q

What is a compound spit

A

Compound spits have lots of curves and are found in areas with lots of wave retraction

18
Q

What is a bar

A

A bar is a spit which develops across a bay

19
Q

What is a tombolo

A

A tombolo is a spit that joins an island to the mainland.

20
Q

What is a halosere

A

A plant succession is known as a halosere

21
Q

What are sand dunes

A

These are accumulations of sand mounds

22
Q

What is a psammosere

A

A sand succession is called a psammosere

23
Q

What is eustatic changes

A

When the sea level rises or falls

24
Q

What is isostatic change

A

When the land rises or falls, relative to the sea

25
Q

What is a ria

A

Sheltered winding inlets with irregular shorelines, example River Camel, Cornwall

26
Q

What is Fjord

A

Steep valley sides, long and have a u-shaped cross-section, caused when deep glacial troughs flood, example Milford Sound, New Zealand