Coasts Geography

• What is the littoral zone?

  The breakwater area where waves come ashore
• What are the four main sections of the littoral zone?

  Offshore, near shore, foreshore, back shore
• What is the offshore section of the littoral zone?

  The farthest section out to sea
• What happens in the near shore section of the littoral zone?

  Waves distort due to seabed friction
• What is the foreshore zone?

  Area between high and low tides
• When is the back shore affected by wave action?

  During storm events only
• What type of coastline is formed by erosional and depositional processes?

  Different types of coastlines
• What characterizes a rocky or cliff coastline?

  High energy environments with resistant rock
• How does erosion compare to deposition in rocky coastlines?

  Erosion is greater than deposition
• What type of waves are typically found at rocky coastlines?

  Destructive waves
• What defines sandy coastlines?

  Low relief areas with soft rock
• What is the relationship between deposition and erosion in sandy coastlines?

  Deposition is greater than erosion
• Where are estuarine coastlines typically found?

  At a river's mouth
• What type of environment do estuarine coastlines represent?

  Low energy environments with salt marshes
• What is dynamic equilibrium in coastal landscapes?

  Balance between sediment inputs and outputs
• What factors can affect dynamic equilibrium at coastlines?

  Sea level change, tides, weather conditions
• What are short-term classifications of coastlines based on?

  Tides, currents, and sediment inputs
• What happens if deposition rates are higher than erosion rates?

  The coastline expands in size
• How do advancing and retreating coastlines relate to sea level rise?

  They indicate emergent or submergent coastlines
• What is lithology?

  The rock type at a coast
• How does lithology affect coastline classification?

  Determines if coast is rocky, sandy, or estuarine
• What are concordant coastlines?

  Rock runs parallel to the sea
• What characterizes discordant coastlines?

  Rock is arranged in bands perpendicular to the sea
• How do softer bands of rock affect coastline formation?

  They erode quickly, forming bays
• What is a Dalmatian coastline?

  A coastline formed by ridges and valleys
• What is a half coast line?

  A ridge formed by deposition of unconsolidated material
• How does coastal dip influence rock structure?

  It affects the angle and profile of the landscape
• What happens with a high angle of seaward dip?

  Produces a slow, low sloping profile
• What is the effect of a low angle of seaward dip?

  Produces a steeper rock profile
• What are faults in rocks?

  Major fractures created by tectonic plates
• How do faults affect erosion rates?

  They increase the rate of erosion
• What role do joints play in coastal landscapes?

  They can increase erosion rates over time
• What type of coastline profile is produced by low sloping angles?

  Slow low sloping angled profile
• Why are coastlines with low sloping angles vulnerable?

  They are susceptible to subaerial processes
• What happens to cliffs with a low angle of sea wood dip?

  They may produce major cliff collapse
• What causes the overhang in cliffs?

  Marine erosion and undercutting of rock
• What are joints in rocks?

  Fractures without rock movement
• What causes joints to form in rocks?

  Weathering and compression processes
• What are fissures in rocks?

  Deep open ravines in rock
• How do fissures differ from joints and faults?

  Fissures are more open and deeper