Physical Flashcards
Name the 2 types of wave
constructive and destructive
Describe the characteristics of a destructive wave
Weak swash, strong back wash, tall waves, waves with a steep gradient, waves more frequent (more than 10 per min break on the shore). Cause erosion
Describe the characteristics of a constructive wave
weak backwash, strong swash, long wave length, shallow gradient waves, waves less frequent (less than 10 per min break on the shore).Cause deposition
Explain the process of hydraulic action
the force of the water hitting the cliffs, often forcing pockets of air into the cracks and crevices of a cliff face.
Explain the process of Abrasion
this is caused when the waves pick up stones and hurl them at the cliffs causing them to wear away
Explain the process of attrition
any material carried by the waves will become rounder and smaller overtime as it collides with other particles and all the sharp edges get knocked off.
Explain the process of corrosion
the dissolving of rocks and minerals by the sea.
Draw a diagram which shows the formation of a cave, arch, stack and stump - with labels/annotations
Draw a diagram showing the process of longshore drift with labels/annotations
How does a spit form?
longshore drift transports sediment along the coast beyond a bend/change in direction of the coastline. The spit is in open water and becomes curved because it is exposed to strong winds and waves.
Where does a salt marsh form?
behind a spit, it is sheltered and deposition can occur.
What are the impacts of cliff recession in Holderness?
The soft boulder clay is easily eroded. Social – People are being forced to leave their homes as the coastline is eroded, i.e. Spurn Point spit and Cowden. Economic – Towns, homes, businesses and tourist attractions are being lost to the sea. Farmland is being lost to the sea. Environment – Important salt marshes behind Spurn Point and local beaches are being destroyed.
Where are do earthquakes and volcanic eruption occur?
Along plate boundaries
Why earthquakes and volcanoes occur?
Plate tectonics theory states the earth is split into different plates which sit on top of magma and the convection currents below the plates cause the plates to move.
name the 2 types of tectonic plate
Oceanic and continental
describe the characteristics of an oceanic tectonic plate
Thinner than continental crust (5-10km thick) high density material
describe the characteristics of a oceanic tectonic plate
Thinner than continental crust (5-10km thick) high density material
Draw a diagram to show what happens when an oceanic and continental plate meet
describe the plate movement at a conservative plate boundary and name an example.
plates slide past each-other (can be in the same of different direction). An example is San Andreas
What does the richter scale measure?
the strength of an earthquake according the amount of energy that is released during and earthquake as measured by a seismograph.
what does the Mercalli scale measure?
using Roman numerals, it measures the effects of the earthquake based on what people feel about the amount of damaged caused
Draw a diagram showing the formation of a hotspot volcano - add labels and annotations
describe what happens at convergent plate boundaries (movement and what is created)
plates move towards each other. the convergence of 2 continental plates is known as a collision boundary and causes earthquakes and creates fold mountains such as the Himalayas.
describe what happens at divergent plate boundaries (movement and what is created)
plates move away from each other. When oceanic plates are moving away from each other it causes cracks and in the rocks which if filled by rising magma. It can create sub-marine volcanoes which overtime can build up to create volcanic islands e.g Iceland. When continental plates diverge a rift valley is formed e.g east Africa.
