Edexcel A Level Geography - Coastal Processes EQS 1 why are landforms different

what can the coast be defined as

a system

what is the littoral zone

a constantly changing boundary between the land and the sea

how can the coast be divided

back shore, fore shore, near shore , offshore

how can you classify a coast

geology, level of energy, changes in sea level, balance between erosion and deposition

what is a high energy coast

a coast that experiences more erosion than deposition, strong waves, formation of headlands, cliffs, wave cut notches

what is a low energy coastline

a coast that experiences more deposition than erosion, weaker waves, landforms such as spits and beaches

what is a rocky coast

coasts that have resistant geology, high and low relief and normally a high energy environment

what is a coastal plain

sandy and estuarine coast, low energy environment

what is geology

the study of the earth and the rocks below e.g sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic

what is lithology

physical characteristics of particular rock

what is coastal morphology

the shape and form of coastal landscapes and their features

how does igneous rock form

cooling lava e.g granite and obsidian, basalt

how do sedimentary rock form

sediment compressed together e.g sandstone, limestone

how does a metamorphic rock form

other rocks transformed underground by heat and pressure e.g marble, slate

what is a discordant coastline

bands of resistant and less resistant rock at a right angle of the coast, form headlands

what is a concordant coastline

resistant and less resistant rock parallel to the coastline

what is a Dalmation coastline

concordent coastline from a rise in sea level, valleys and ridges running parallel to the coastline e.g dalmation coast in croatia

what is a haff coastline

consists of long spits and lagoons aligned to the coastline parallel

what is the morphology of a coastline determined by

lithology, permeability, erosion, relief

what are strata

layers of rock

what are bedding plains

horizontal cracks

what are joints

vertical cracks, from earth movement

what are folds

rock buckling from pressure during tectonic activity e.g Lulworth Crumple

What are faults

rock experiences too much pressure, exceed internal strength, slips along fault plain

what is a dip

angle at which rock lie

what is a cliff profile

height and angle of a cliff face and its features, such as a wave cut notch

what is coastal recession

the erosion and wearing away of the coastline

what is permeability

how weak a rock is to water or other liquids to go through it

what is longshore drift

the movement of sediment along the coast by wave action

what is the prevailing wind

most often wind direction, in the UK its the SE

what is a sub aerial process

process that happens on the cliff face and provides material for erosion

what is weathering

breakdown of rock over a long period of time

what is mass movement

the movement of weathered material down a slope

what is freeze thaw weathering

water getting into cracks, freezing and then expanding, crack deepens then splits the rock

what is salt crystallisation weathering

salt water gets into cracks of water, evaporates, forms crystals that expand the rock

what is wetting and drying

Common along coastlines that are rich in clay as clay rich rocks are prone to expand when they are wet and contract when they dry.

what is biological weathering

plant roots expanding rock

what is chemical weathering

The process that breaks down rock through chemical changes

what is soil creep

slowest mass movement, soil moving down

what is solifluction

5cm to 1m per year in the permafrost area

what is a mud flow

heavy rain causing mud to flow, e.g hornsea, holderness

what is slumping

rotational movement from rainy conditions e.g Mappleton Holderness coast

What is a rock fall

large loose rock falling at a angled cliff. e.g burton bradstock dorset 2012

how much sediment sells in the UK

11

example of a sediment cell

slapton start bay

what is a sediment cell

movement of sediment in a cycle