Coastal Processes: Marine Erosion

These flashcards cover the processes of marine erosion, factors influencing erosion rates, and the formation of coastal landforms such as cliffs, platforms, and stacks.

The process of __________ involves loose rocks being thrown against larger rocks or cliffs by the waves, wearing the cliff away over time.

CORRASION/ ABRASION

__________ and cavitation result from the sheer power of waves smashing against the coast and forcing water into cracks.

HYDRAULIC ACTION

During cavitation, __________ get compressed as waves push into cracks and then blast out as the waves move back, forcing the rocks apart.

Air particles

The process of __________ occurs when sea water dissolves material from inside the rock, such as calcium carbonate on limestone and chalk coasts.

CORROSION

__________ is the collision of soil or rock particles with each other, causing them to eventually break down into smaller pieces.

ATTRITION

On a __________ coastline, rocks are at an angle to the edge of the coastline and erode at different rates.

discordant

Headlands are exposed to the full force of __________ waves, while bays are more sheltered from wave energy.

destructive

Bays are sheltered from wave energy because of a process called __________ which slows down erosion.

wave refraction

Hard rocks such as __________ and __________ are more resistant to erosion and will form steep cliff faces.

granite, basalt

A __________ is a wide rocky surface with a gentle slope found at the base of a cliff between the high and low water mark.

WAVE CUT PLATFORM

A dent-like formation known as a __________ develops at the level of high tide on the cliff as waves hit the foot.

wave-cut notch

Caves and narrow inlets of water are formed when lines of __________ in the rocks experience hydraulic action and corrasion.

weakness

The progressive erosion of a cave forms an __________, which occurs when erosion cuts completely through the headland.

arch

When the top of an arch collapses because it can no longer be supported, it leaves behind a pillar-like structure called a __________.

STACK