coasts

what is a landform

a feature created by natural processes , includes all visible features in an area

dynamic equilibrium

inputs and outputs are balanced

isolated system

no inputs or outputs eg. universe

closed system

A system in which no matter is allowed to enter or leave eg. water or carbon cycle

open system

A system in which matter can enter from or escape to the surroundings.

coastal environments are examples of a....?

open system

littoral zone

area of a lake or pond closest to the shore

four key sub-areas of the littoral zone

offshore , nearshore , foreshore and backshore

input of littoral zone

action of waves , currents and wind

output of littoral zone

washed out into sea by desposition

characteristics of high energy coasts

destructive waves , high rates of erosion , caves , arches

characteristics of low energy coasts

constructive waves , shorter fetches , higher rates of deposition , beaches + sand dunes

abrasion

The grinding away of rock by other rock particles carried in water, ice, or wind

backshore

The upper beach closest to the land, including any cliffs or sand dunes.

Beach morphology

The surface shape of the beach.

coastal recession

The retreat of a coastline due to erosion, sea-level rise or submergence.

concordant coast

A coastline where bands of alternate geology run parallel to the coast.

dalmatian coast

A coastline with islands running parallel to the land. Form in places where river valleys run parallel to the coast

discordant coast

A coastline where bands of alternate geology run perpendicular to the shore.

emergent coast

A coast where the land is rising relative to sea level or sea level is falling relative to the land.

eustatic

global changes in sea level

foreshore

That part of a shore uncovered at low tide.

Freeze-thaw

breaks down rock when water gets into rock joints or cracks and then freezes and expands, breaking the rock

geology

structure and arrangement of a rock

glacial erosion

the process by which glaciers cut, carve or scratch the earth's surface

grading

The layering of sediments based on their size.

impermeable

a rock that doesn't allow rainwater to pass through

isostatic

Changes in sea level resulting from the rise and fall of land masses

littoral cell

A section of the coast, within which involves much sediment movement. A littoral cell is not a closed system.

permeable

A rock that allows water to pass through it

plant succession

the gradual process by which one group of plants replaces another

Subaerial processes

The combination of mass movement and weathering that affects the coastal land above sea.

submergent coast

a coast at which the land is sinking relative to sea level

till

The sediments deposited directly by a glacier