SECOND FORM GEOGRAPHY weathering

Question 1

What is weathering

Answer 1

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks in situ

Question 2

What is erosion

Answer 2

The weathering away and removal of rocks by wave action

Question 3

What are the three types of weathering

Answer 3

Biological, chemical and mechanical

Question 4

What is biological weathering

Answer 4

Biological weathering is when flora and fauna break down the rock eg growing roots systems or burrowing animals

Question 5

What is flora

Answer 5

Flora refers to all the plants and vegetation found in a particular place or ecosytem

Question 6

What is fauna

Answer 6

All the animals in the a particular place

Question 7

What is chemical weathering

Answer 7

Chemical weathering is when rocks dissolve as a result of slightly acidic rainwater

Question 8

What is mechanical weathering

Answer 8

Mechanical weathering is freeze thaw weathering which is where water gets into cracks in the rock during the day. Then at night when the temperature drops below freezing the water turns to ice and starts to push the rock apart.

Question 9

What is mass movement

Answer 9

The downward movement or sliding of material under the influence of gravity.

Question 10

Rockfall

Answer 10

Fragments of rck break away from the cliff face often due to freeze thaw weathering.

Question 11

Landslide

Answer 11

Blocks of rock slide downhill

Question 12

Mudflow

Answer 12

Saturated soil and weak rock flows down a slope

Question 13

Slumping ( also known as rotational slip)

Answer 13

Slump of saturated soil and weak rock along a curved surface

Question 14

What is longshore drift

Answer 14

Waves approach the coast at an angle.
Swash carries sediment up the beach at an angle.
Backwash carries sediment down the beach with gravity – at right angles to the beach.
This creates a zig-zag movement of sediment along the beach.

Question 15

Outline the difference between weathering and mass movement in coastal areas

Answer 15

Weathering is the breakdown o rocks in situ whereas mass movement is the downward movement or sliding of material under the influence of gravity. Weathering happens very slowly however mass movement happens very quickly.

Question 16

What is erosion

Answer 16

Erosion is the process of natural features being gradually worn down by wind water or rocks.

Question 17

What is hydraulic action

Answer 17

Waves smashing against a cliff forcing air into cracks

Question 18

What is attrition

Answer 18

When rock fragments knock against each other

Question 19

What is abrasion

Answer 19

‘Sandpapering effect’ when pebbles grind over the surface of the seabed

Question 20

What is solution

Answer 20

Where minerals in rock are dissolved by the water

Question 21

Name three types of landforms

Answer 21

Headlands and bays
Wave cut platforms
Caves, arches and stacks (stumps)

Question 22

When do headlands and bays form

Answer 22

When there are alternating bands of hard and soft rock

Question 23

How do waves attack the coastline

Answer 23

Through erosional processes such as hydraulic action, abrasion and solution

Question 24

What is it known as when the soft rock retreats leaving the hard rock exposed

Answer 24

A headland

Question 25

How is a wave cut notch formed

Answer 25

Waves attack the base of the cliff by hydraulic action Waves continue to erode the headland by Ha, Abrasion and solution the rock starts to form an undercut The constant attack of waves forms a notch

Question 26

How is a wave cut platform formed

Answer 26

After a notch has been made overlying rock collapses as it is unsupported the cliff will retreat and the process repeats This leaves behind a rocky platform where the coastline used to be

Question 27

What is a bay

Answer 27

A bay is an inlet of the sea where the land curves inwards, usually with a beach.

Question 28

What is a headland

Answer 28

When the softer rock is eroded inwards, the hard rock sticks out into the sea, forming a headland. ( Headland is the bit of land to the side of the bay sticking out formed of hard rock )

Question 29

How are caves formed

Answer 29

Waves attack the headland and forms a crack. Freeze thaw weathering takes place in the crack causing the crack to get bigger and bigger until it eventually forms a cave.

Question 30

How are arches formed

Answer 30

The cave will be under constant attack from the waves. As the cave gets deeper the water breaks through to the other side of the headland this leaves behind an arch.

Question 31

How are stacks formed

Answer 31

Weathering occurs and the overlying rock on the arch is unsupported and collapse leaving behind a stack.

Question 32

How are stumps formed

Answer 32

Waves attack the base of the stack, this starts to form a notch until the stack becomes unstable and collapses leaving a stump.