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Introduction to the UK and Coasts (More information) Flashcards

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1
Q

How are sedimentary rocks formed?

A

Formed from sediments that have settled at the bottom of a lake, sea or ocean, and have been compressed over millions of years

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2
Q

What are some examples of sedimentary rocks?

A

Sandstone, limestone and chalk.

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3
Q

What are properties of sedimentary rocks?

A

Layers and intact fossils.

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4
Q

How are igneous rocks formed?

A

Created by volcanic activity when magma or lava cools.

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5
Q

What are properties of igneous rocks?

A

Randomly arranged crystals and resistant.

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6
Q

What are examples of igneous rocks?

A

Granite and basalt.

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7
Q

How is metamorphic rock formed?

A

When sedimentary or igneous rocks are subjected to great heat or pressure deep underground.

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8
Q

What are examples of igneous rocks?

A

Granite and basalt.

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9
Q

What are properties of metamorphic rocks?

A

Have crystals and can contain fossils.

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10
Q

What are the properties of UK upland landscapes?

A

Much harder, resistant rocks that have eroded at a much slower rate, such as igneous and metamorphic rocks.

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11
Q

What are properties of UK lowland landscapes?

A

Formed from younger, softer sedimentary rocks which are less resistant to erosion.

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12
Q

What is mass movement?

A

Where weakened rocks can collapse under the influence of gravity.

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13
Q

What is hydraulic action?

A

The sheer power of the waves as they smash against the cliff. Air becomes trapped in the cracks in the rock and causes it to break apart.

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14
Q

Name the 4 types of coastal erosion.

A

Hydraulic action, attrition, abrasion and solution.

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15
Q

What is abrasion?

A

When pebbles grind along a rock platform. Over time the rock becomes smooth.

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16
Q

What is attrition?

A

When rocks that the sea is carrying knock agaisnt each other, and the rocks break apart to become smaller and more rounded.

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17
Q

What is solution?

A

When sea water dissolves certain types of rocks.

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18
Q

What are the four types of coastal transportation.

A

Suspension, solution, traction and saltation.

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19
Q

What is suspension?

A

Where sand and silt are carried in the flow of the water which makes the sea water look cloudy.

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20
Q

What is solution?

A

Where minerals are dissolved in the sea water and carried along.

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21
Q

What is traction?

A

Where large stones are rolled along by waves. (Mainly when there are high energy levels)

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22
Q

What is saltation?

A

Where small pebbles and stones are bounced along the sea bed by the waves.

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23
Q

What is depositon?

A

Where waves do not have adequate energy and drop the sand, pebbles and rock they are carrying.

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24
Q

When does deposition happen?

A

When the swash is stronger than the backwash. (Constructive waves).

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25
What is longshore drift?
Sediment being moved along the coastline.
26
Describe the process of longshore drift (4)
Firstly, the prevailing wind blows waves carrying sediment onto the beach at an angle. The backwash then carries the sediment back down the beach pependicular to the angle of the coastline under the influence of gravity. This results in a zig-zag motion as sediment is transported along the coastline. Over time beaches will change shape because of this.
27
What are discordant coastlines?
Where there are alternating bands of hard and soft rock which are perpendicular to the coastline.
28
What are concordant coastlines?
Where the coastline has the same type of rock along its length.
29
Where is an example of concordant and discordant coastlines?
Isle of Purbeck in Dorset.
30
What are factors influencing waves?
Wind strength, fetch, wind duration.
31
What are characteristics of constructive waves?
Low energy, low frequency, low wave height, swash greater than backwash, build beaches.
32
What are characteristics of destructive waves?
High energy, high frequency, high wave height, backwash is greater than swash, erodes material.
33
What is fetch?
The distance over which wind has blown.
34
Why are rates of erosion expected to increase by 2080?
Because of rising sea levels and increasing storms brought about by climate change.
35
Why has sea level along the English channel risen?
Due to thermal expansion and glaciers melting. (Due to global warming).
36
When are headlands formed?
When the sea attacks a section of coast with alternating bands of hard and soft rock. The bands of soft rock erode quickly, which leaves a section of land jutting into the sea called a headland.
37
What are bays?
Areas where soft rock has eroded away next to a headland.
38
What does a concordant coastline have?
The same type of rock along it's length.
39
What erosional features can be found on headlands?
Wave cut platforms and cliffs.
40
What can weathering and erosion create along a headland?
Caves, arches, stacks and stumps.
41
How do caves occur?
When waves force their way into cracks in the cliff face. The water contains sand and other materials that grind away at the rock until the cracks become a cave.
42
What are the dominant process in creating a cave?
Hydraulic action and abrasion.
43
How may arches be formed?
If a cave is formed in a headland, it may eventually break through to the other side.
44
What happens when an arch collapses?
It leaves the headland on one side and a stack on the other.
45
What is a stack?
A tall column of rock.
46
How does the structure of a stack weaken to form a stump?
The stack will be attacked at the base/points of weakness through hydraulic action and abrasion and it will eventually collapse to form a stump.
47
How are beaches formed?
When eroded material from elsewhere along the coastline is transported by longshore drift and deposited by constructive waves along the coastline.
48
What material can be found on a beach?
Sand and shingle.
49
What is a cross-section of a beach called?
A beach profile.
50
Where is the smallest and largest material on a beach deposited?
Smallest - near the water Largest - Nearer to cliffs at the back of the beach.
51
How is sediment near the water more effectively broken down?
Most waves break near the shoreline, so sediment near water is more effectively broken down by attrition.
52
What are properties of sandy beaches?
Formed in sheltered bays, usually wider than pebble beaches, slope gently down to the sea.
53
Where are pebble beaches found?
Areas where cliffs are being eroded and where there are destructive waves. Much steeper gradient.
54
What is a spit?
A long, narrow ridge of sand or shingle, with one end attached to the land and the other projecting out to sea.
55
How is a spit formed?
Eroded material is moved by longshore drift (due to prevailing winds blowing at an angle over the coastline) and deposited by constructive waves whenever there is a bend in the coastline. Over time, more and more material will be deposited, forming a spit.
56
What may happen to the tips of spits over time?
The tip of the spit will be affected by wind and waves and may change direction and curve.
57
What can be created in the sheltered area behind a spit?
A saltmarsh.
58
What is a bar?
A ridge of sand or shingle that has simply extended all the way across the entrance to a bay of river mouth.
59
How is a bar formed?
Material is transported along the coastline by longshore drift, then deposited when there is a bend in the coastline. Over time, deposition will continue in a line across the entrance to the bay or river mouth and will eventually join up with the other side of the bay and trap water behind it. The newly formed bar is known as a lagoon.
60
How has urbanisation affected coastal landscapes?
Humans have built on coastal regions, adding weight to cliffs and increasing flood risk.
61
How has agriculture affected coastal landscapes?
Farmland is at risk from coastal flooding, often land is cleared to allow for farming as it can't be used for anything else by the coast.
62
How has industry affected coastal landscapes?
Nuclear power plants are by the coast as well as other factories so that there is a supply of water. industry can pollute sea.
63
What is coastal recession?
The retreat and erosion of the coastline due to the power of the sea.
64
What is coastal flooding?
When sea water inundates the land.
65
What are the physical and human causes of recession on the Holderness coastline?
Physical causes - Soft boulder clay is very weak, waves have a large fetch, large stretch of coastline Human causes - Not everywhere can be protected, adding weight to cliffs increases vulnerability.
66
What are impacts of recession at Holderness?
Loss of homes, loss of farmland, insurance rates go up, pollution of sea.
67
What are the physical and human causes of coastal flooding in Norfolk?
Physical causes - Storm surge, large waves, long fetch, low pressure Human causes - Lack of defences, urbanisation = impermeable surface.
68
What are the impacts of coastal flooding in Norfolk?
Beach huts destroyed, increased erosion rates, flooding, loss of possessions, insurance goes up.
69
What is hard engineering?
Building artificial defences (usually out of concrete) to interrupt natural processes.
70
What are sea walls?
Concrete walls, 3-5 metres high, built to reflect wave's energy and protect the coastline.
71
What are advantages of sea walls?
Effective and they provide a walkway.
72
What are disadvantages of sea walls?
Expensive, obstruct view, unnatural.
73
What are groynes?
Wooden or rock structures built along the beach at right angles to trap sediment being moved by longshore drift.
74
What are advantages of groynes?
Quick and easy to build, build up beaches for tourism.
75
What are disadvantages of groynes?
Ugly and affect sediment supply down drift.
76
What are rip-raps?
Large boulders placed at the base of the cliff or top of beach to absorb wave energy.
77
What are advantages of rip-raps?
Cheap to maintain, last a long time.
78
What are disadvantages of rip raps?
Need to be transported long distances, ugly, reduce access to beach.
79
What is soft engineering?
Allowing processes to work and the land to change in a more environmentally sustainable way.
80
What is beach nourishment?
Where sand or shingle is added to the beach to make it higher and wider.
81
What are advantages of beach nourishment?
Beach attracts tourists, locally sourced sediment, easy and cheap.
82
What are disadvantages of beach nourishment?
The beach needs constant maintenance, can destroy habitats.
83
What is sand dune regeneration?
Preserving sand dunes by planting bushes on them to bind sand together, installing footpaths and giving leaflets.
84
What are advantages of sand dune regeneration?
Keeps area looking nice, cheap, benefits local wildlife.
85
What are disadvantages of sand dune regeneration?
Low impact, takes a long time.

Geography (12 decks)

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