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Geography - Coasts > Key terminology > Flashcards

Key terminology Flashcards

1
Q

Bedding planes

A

Natural breaks in the strata.

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2
Q

Cliff profile

A

The height and the angle of the cliff, as well as its features, such as wave cut notches or changes in the cliff angle.

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3
Q

Coastal Accretion

A

The deposition of sediment and the coast, and the seaward growth of the coastline, creating new land.

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4
Q

Coastal plains (Alluvial coastline)

A

The land gradually slopes towards the sea across and area of deposited sediment. E.g., sand dunes or mud flats. Usually found in low energy coastlines.

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5
Q

Concordant coastline

A

Rock strata runs parallel to the coastline

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6
Q

dip

A

the angle rock strata lies.

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7
Q

discordant coastline

A

Where different resistant rock strata layers intersect the coastline

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8
Q

dynamic equilibrium

A

A balanced system where inputs and outputs balance over time.

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9
Q

emergent coast

A

Where coasts are rising relative to sea levels.

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10
Q

faults

A

major fractures in rock caused by tectonic forces, and causing the displacement of rocks on either side of the Faultline.

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11
Q

geological structure

A

the arrangement of rocks in three dimensions: Deformation, faulting, and strata.

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12
Q

halophyte

A

plants that can tolerate salty environments.

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13
Q

high energy coastline

A

Exposed coasts facing prevailing winds with long wave fetches resulting in powerful waves.

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14
Q

Lithification

A

Where materials such as sand, gravel ,and clay is compacted over time and becomes rock.

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15
Q

Lithology

A

The characteristics of rock (Permeability, resistance, type of rock, presence of fissures, porosity, joints and bedding planes)

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16
Q

Littoral zone

A

The wider coastal zone including adjacent land areas and shallow areas of sea offshore.

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17
Q

low energy coastlines

A

sheltered coasts with limited fetch and slow winds resulting in small waves.

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18
Q

Plant succession

A

the changing structure of a plant community over time as once bare sediment is consolidated by plants.

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19
Q

pore water pressure

A

the pressure water experiences below a certain point under the water table due to the water above it.

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20
Q

Primary coasts

A

dominated by land-processes such as deposition from rovers or lava flows.

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21
Q

rocky coastlines

A

resistant rocks, with cliffs varying in height from a few metres to hundreds of metres, usually found in high energy environments.

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22
Q

secondary coasts

A

Dominated by marine processes such as erosion and marine deposition.

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23
Q

submergent coasts

A

Where coasts are being flooded by the sea, either by rising sea levels or subsiding land.

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24
Q

unconsolidated sediment

A

materials such as sand, gravel, clay and silt that has not been compacted or cemented to become sedimentary rock.

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25
Q

wave refraction

A

the bending of waves around a headland.

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26
Q

xerophyte

A

plants that can tolerate very dry environments

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27
Q

abrasion

A

where sediment picked up by breaking waves is thrown against the cliff face, causing it to chip away.

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28
Q

Attrition

A

Collision between already eroded sediment

29
Q

backwash

A

Where water runs back down the beach due to gravity.

30
Q

beach morphology

A

the shape of the beach, including its profile, and the sediment found in different locations along the beach.

31
Q

constructive waves

A

low, surging waves which have a long wave length, strong swash, and weak backwash.

32
Q

destructive waves

A

high, plunging waves, with a short wavelength ,weak swash, and strong backwash.

33
Q

erosion

A

the breakdown of rock due to the action of an external force which then transport the newly broken sediment to a new location.

34
Q

fetch

A

the distance over water in which wind blows, so the distance which a wave has travelled.

35
Q

flocculation

A

The attraction of clay molecules to each other because of electrostatic energy, therefore causing them to clump together and become large enough to sink.

36
Q

gravity settling

A

energy transporting sediment within water becomes too weak and drops the sediment.

37
Q

hydraulic action

A

air is trapped or compressed in cracks or fissures in cliffs because of the force of waves, therefore breaking open the cracks wider.

38
Q

longshore drift

A

the process of sediment moving along a coast when waves approach at an angle, causing a drift-aligned beach.

39
Q

mass movement

A

the downslope movement of rock and soil

40
Q

negative feedback

A

a cyclical sequence of events, which dampens the impacts of a system, therefore returning to a state of equilibrium.

41
Q

positive feedback

A

a cyclical sequence of events which increases the impacts of a system

42
Q

saltation

A

smaller and lighter sediment bounces sediment along a seabed. Wind also bounces sand along the coast.

43
Q

sediment cell

A

a long stretch of coastline operating as an almost closed system with inputs, outputs, and transfers.

44
Q

solution (marine)

A

Dissolved sediment carried in water as a solution.

45
Q

sub-aerial processes

A

the breakdown of rock due to weathering, and the subsequent mass movement process causing collapse.

46
Q

suspension

A

lighter sediment floats in water.

47
Q

swash

A

the flow of water up a beach as a wave breaks.

48
Q

traction

A

relatively large rocks are rolled along the seabed.

49
Q

weathering

A

the breakdown of rocks in-situ by mechanical, biological, or chemical means.

50
Q

barrier islands

A

offshore bars, usually sand dune covered which are not attached to the mainland.

51
Q

dissipation

A

how wave energy is decreased by friction with seabed material.

52
Q

Dredging

A

scooping or sucking sediment form the seabed

53
Q

Eustatic change

A

a fall or rise in sea level due to water volume change. This is a global change, affecting the world’s connected oceans and seas.

54
Q

Fjord

A

a drowned U-shaped glacial valley.

55
Q

isostatic change

A

a local rise or fall in land level

56
Q

post-glacial isostatic adjustment

A

the uplift experienced by land due to the removal of ice sheets, also known as isostatic recovery.

57
Q

raised beaches

A

isostatic recovery causing the former shoreline platforms to raise.

58
Q

Ria

A

A drowned river valley caused by rising sea level.

59
Q

risk

A

The level of exposure to an event, the probability of it happening

60
Q

storm surge

A

the temporary rise in sea level due to a low-pressure system.

61
Q

Coastal conflict

A

Disagreement of how coasts should be protected, and which areas should be protected.

62
Q

Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)

A

Forecasting of costs, weighed up against expected benefits.

63
Q

environmental refugees

A

communities forces to abandon their homes due to natural processes.

64
Q

hard engineering

A

structures that stop physical processes, such as longshore drift, in order to protect a coastline.

65
Q

ICZM

A

Integrated Coastal Zone Management, whereby the coast is managed as a whole in a sustainable way.

66
Q

Littoral cell.

A
67
Q

megaprojects

A
68
Q

Players

A

Geography - Coasts (9 decks)

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