Coastal Erosion 12 ATAR Marine Science

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers concepts from 12 ATAR Marine Science regarding coastal erosion causes, weathering processes, rocky coastline landforms, and specific methods of wave erosion.

Coastal Erosion

The permanent loss of land along the shoreline.

Natural Causes of Coastal Erosion

Changes in wave climate (increased height, angle change, or frequency of high magnitude waves), reduction in sediment delivered from reefs, and rising sea level.

Human Induced Causes of Coastal Erosion

Sand extraction from beaches, coral mining, insertion of structures like seawalls that alter wave processes, and the removal of mangroves.

Contributing Factors to Beach Erosion

Coastal Development (loss of dune protection, sand cycle disruptions), Climate Change (storms and sea level rise), and removal of dune vegetation.

Wind Coastline Shaping

Process that erodes headlands and controls plant growth; smaller plants grow in areas with stronger winds.

River System Deposition

Large river systems deposit mud and silt at the point where they meet the sea.

Weathering

A re-shaping process where rock of the foreshore is disintegrated and decomposed by water.

Physical Weathering

The abrasive action of sand particles in the moving sea and wave action, including waves compressing into rock cracks and joints to force them apart.

Chemical Weathering

Process where water dissolves minerals out of rocks and removes debris, breaking them down into sand.

Rocky Coast Notches

Indentations formed at the base of a cliff in a headland by wave action before the material above collapses.

Caves

Features formed where softer rock is eroded faster than the surrounding rock through wind and wave action.

Natural Arch

A feature formed when a cave breaks through a headland due to prolonged wave action.

Stack

A tall rock formation left behind after the top of a natural arch breaks off.

Blowhole

Created when a joint of weakness in a cave extends further up to the top of a cliff.

Stump

The feature formed after a rock stack has been eroded down.

Attrition

Process where materials carried by waves bump into each other, becoming smoothed and broken into smaller particles.

Hydraulic Action

Erosion involving the force of water against the coast where compressed air in cracks expands quickly, causing minor explosions.

Corrosion

The chemical action of sea water where acids in salt water slowly dissolve rocks, specifically affecting limestone and chalk.

Abrasion/Corrasion

The wearing down of the coast by material carried by waves that are thrown against the rock at high velocity.