Definitions

• Geology


  Science that deals with the physical structure and substance of the earth, their history, and their processes that act upon them
• Lithology


  Study of general physical characteristics of rocks
• Rock cycle


  Processes undergone by rocks in earth's crust (igneous intrusion, uplift, metamorphism, erosion, transportation)
• Compaction - broken down sediment carried by rivers and deposited to create layers. As they build up the bottom layers are compacted
• Heat and pressure - some rock pushed below earths surface, very hot and high pressure - causes rocks to form crystals
• Concordant coastline - has same type of rock along its length
• Discordant coastline - geology alternates between strata perpendicular to the coast of more resistant and less resistant rock
• Structure of the coastline - a cold form in layers known as beds. These beds are subjected to tectonic forces that tilt and deform them so they dip at an angle
• Horizontal bedding - profile is steep but softer rock has u see gone differential erosion producing several notches
• Seaward dipping - loose material can slide down the bedding planes making the cliff unstable and dangerous
• Landward dipping - these are relatively steep and stable compared to seaward dipping bed planes
• Soft engineering - often less expensive, more long term sustainable- made from natural defences
• Hard engineering - building of artificial structures to reduce or stop impact of coastal processes - man made defences
• Sub-aerial weathering - collective term for weathering and mass movement processes
• Spring tide - higher levels due to moon, sun and earth being aligned
• Erosion -

  • abrasion
  • hydraulic action
  • solution
  • attrition
  • pounding
• • Weathering -
  • mass movement
  • freeze thaw
  • tree roots
  • thermal expansion
  • hydrolysis
  • solution
  • carbonation
• • Transportation -
  • suspension
  • solution
  • saltation
  • traction
• Deltas - landform at mouth of river where the river meets with another water body but with a much lower velocity than itself
• • 3 delta types -
  • arcuate - similarity to triangular appearance (Nile delta)
  • cuspate - toothlike appearance-more pointed (Ebro river, Spain)
  • birds foot - few widely spaced distributaries(Mississippi river)
• Berms - smaller ridges that develop at position of mean high tide mark
• Cusps - small circular depressions where waves have awash and backwash with similar strength
• Nearshore/surface current - caused by wave action in and near the breaker zone
• Offshore/deep currents - not well defined, starts from wither edge of the literal zone from breaking of the wave or outer edge of nearshore zone
• Rip current - caused by either tidal motion or waves breaking at right angles to the shore
• Deep ocean currents - driven by differences in the waters density which is controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline)- thermohaline circulation
• • Natural causes of climate change -
  • volcanic activity
  • sunspot cycles
  • Milankovitch cycles -
  • orbital change
  • axial tilt
  • precession
  • the greenhouse effect