Coastal Processes & Landforms (Edexcel IGCSE Geography): Flashcards
Exam code: 4GE1
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Define swash.
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Define swash.
The swash is the movement of water up the beach after a wave breaks.
Destructive waves have a wavelength.
Destructive waves have a short wavelength.
Which process involves waves picking up material and hurling it at the coast?
This process is abrasion, where waves pick up material and throw it against the coastline causing erosion.
Define longshore drift.
Longshore drift is the main process of transportation and deposition along the coast, where waves move material along the beach in a zig-zag pattern due to the angle of the prevailing wind.
In longshore drift, the carries material up the beach at an angle, while the moves it back down at 90°.
In longshore drift, the swash carries material up the beach at an angle, while the backwash moves it back down at 90°.
What is traction in the context of coastal transportation?
Traction is when large, heavy material is dragged along the sea floor by moving water at the coast.
Define weathering.
Weathering is the breakdown of rock in-situ. It does not involve the movement of material, which distinguishes it from erosion.
There are three types of sub-aerial weathering: , and .
There are three types of sub-aerial weathering: mechanical, chemical and biological.
How does freeze-thaw weathering break apart rocks?
Freeze-thaw weathering occurs when water enters cracks in rocks, freezes and expands, widening the cracks. Over time, repeated freezing and thawing causes pieces of rock to split off.
Define mass movement.
Mass movement is the downhill movement of material under the influence of gravity. It includes processes such as landslides, slumping, and rockfalls.
Soil creep usually happens in climates and moves the soil at speeds below per year.
Soil creep usually happens in humid climates and moves the soil at speeds below 1 cm per year.
What factors influence the type of mass movement that occurs on a slope?
The type of mass movement is influenced by the angle of the slope, nature of regolith, amount and type of vegetation, presence of water, type and structure of rock, human activity, and climate.
Define headland and bay.
A headland is an area of resistant rock that juts out into the sea, while a bay is an inlet where less resistant rock has been eroded back, usually forming a curved area with a beach.
A forms where the coastline has bands of resistant and less resistant rock running parallel to the oncoming waves (a coastline).
A cove forms where the coastline has bands of resistant and less resistant rock running parallel to the oncoming waves (a concordant coastline).
What processes lead to the formation of a wave-cut platform at the base of a cliff?
A wave-cut platform forms as wave erosion (including abrasion, corrosion, and hydraulic action) creates a notch at the base of the cliff, causing the cliff to collapse and retreat, leaving behind a gently sloping platform.
True or False?
A stack forms when a wave-cut platform is eroded further by the sea.
False.
A stack forms from the collapse of an arch that developed in a headland, not from further erosion of a wave-cut platform.
Define beach.
A beach is a depositional landform that forms in sheltered areas such as bays where constructive wave movement causes sediment to accumulate.
A spit is formed when transports sediment along the coast and deposition occurs at a change in coastline direction.
A spit is formed when longshore drift transports sediment along the coast and deposition occurs at a change in coastline direction.
True or False?
A bar is formed when a spit grows across a bay and joins two headlands together.
True.
A bar is created when a spit extends across a bay, joining two headlands and trapping water behind it.
Define lagoon.
A lagoon is a small body of water cut off from the sea by a bar or tombolo, which may eventually fill with sediment and become new land.
In what order do the features of a headland erode to form a stump?
Crack, then cave, then arch, then stack, then stump.
Define tombolo.
A tombolo is a depositional landform formed when longshore drift builds a spit that joins the mainland to an island.
Headlands and bays form along a ______ coastline, where bands of resistant and less resistant rock run perpendicular to the waves.
Headlands and bays form along a discordant coastline, where bands of resistant and less resistant rock run perpendicular to the waves.
How does a spit sometimes develop a 'hooked' end?
A change in wind direction alters the wave pattern, curving the end of the spit into a hook.
True or False?
A barrier island joins two headlands together.
False.
A bar joins two headlands together; a barrier island forms parallel to the coast and is open at one or both ends.
How does geology influence the shape of coastlines over time?
Geology influences the coastline by determining its resistance to erosion, which shapes the landscape both vertically as cliffs and horizontally as bays and headlands over time.
A coastline made up of rocks such as sands and clays will be easily eroded by .
A coastline made up of softer rocks such as sands and clays will be easily eroded by destructive waves.
True or False?
The longer a coastal landform exists, the more likely it is to be colonised by vegetation.
True.
Over time, coastal landforms such as sand dunes are increasingly likely to be colonised by vegetation, which can stabilise and protect these features.
Vegetation must adapt to survive coastal environments by coping with high levels of in both air and soil.
Vegetation must adapt to survive coastal environments by coping with high levels of salt in both air and soil.
Define submergent coastline.
A submergent coastline is formed when sea levels rise, leading to the flooding of valleys and the creation of features such as rias and fjords.
What coastal landforms are produced by falling sea levels?
Falling sea levels produce emergent coastlines with relic features such as raised beaches, cliffs with caves, and arches.
During the last Ice Age, sea levels as water was locked in glaciers.
During the last Ice Age, sea levels fell as water was locked in glaciers.
How can human activities transform the features and landscape of a coastline?
Human activities such as settlement, economic development, and coastal management can intentionally or unintentionally change the natural landscapes and features of the coast, thereby altering the coastline over time.
What cliff characteristics does hard rock produce?
High, steep cliffs with bare, rugged faces and boulders and rocks at the foot of the cliff.
Define emergent coastline.
An emergent coastline is formed when sea levels fall, exposing relic features such as raised beaches and cliffs with caves and arches.
True or False?
Soft rock produces high, steep cliffs with rocks at the foot.
False.
Soft rock produces lower, gently sloped cliffs with smoother faces showing slumping and few rocks at the foot.
Pacific Ocean islands such as ______ and Tuvalu are at risk of being completely submerged by rising sea levels.
Pacific Ocean islands such as Kiribati and Tuvalu are at risk of being completely submerged by rising sea levels.
How does vegetation help coastal landforms?
It 'fixes' and stabilises features such as sand dunes, salt marshes and mangroves, protecting and preserving them.
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