physical landscapes Flashcards
(13 cards)
the wearing away by friction, of cliffs by sediment flung by breaking waves. A ‘sandpaper’ affect
abrasion
a wave-eroded passage through a small headland. This begins as a cave formed in the headland, which is gradually widened and deepened until it cuts through
arch
erosion caused when rocks and boulders transported by waves bump into each other and break up into smaller pieces
attrition
where a spit grows across a bay, a bay bar can eventually enclose the bay to create a lagoon. They can also form offshore due to the action of breaking waves
bar
the zone of deposited material that extends from the low water line to the limit of storm waves. The beach or shore can be divided in the foreshore and backshore
beach
the addition of new material to a beach artificially, through the dumping of large amounts of sand or shingle
beach nourishment
changing the profile or shape of the beach. it usually refers to the direct transfer of material from the lower to the upper beach or, occasionally, the transfer of sand down the dune face from the crest to toe
beach reprofiling
the decomposition of rock caused by a chemical change within that rock, sea water can cause chemical weathering of cliffs
chemical weathering
a steep high rock face formed by weathering and erosion along the coastline
cliff
occurs when material being transported by the sea is dropped due to the sea losing energy
deposition
action taken to build up dunes and increase vegetation to strengthen the dunes and prevent excessive coastal retreat - this includes the replanting of marram grass to stabilise the dunes as well as planting trees and providing boardwalks
dune regeneration
the wearing away and removal of material by a moving force, such as a breaking wave
erosion
steel wire mesh filled with boulders used in coastal defences. All the same size and shape so they can be stacked to create a barricade that absorbs energy rather than reflecting it
gabion
