Coastal Processes Flashcards

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Erosion

Back

The wearing away of rocks by waves, rivers and glaciers

Front

Hydraulic Action

Back

Water is forced into faults in the rock by waves or rivers. The air trapped by the force of the water creates prsure forcing the fault to widen.

Front

Abrasion

Back

Waves throw sediment (rocks and pebbles) against the cliff gradulaly chipping away the rock.

Front

Attrition

Back

Sediment is rubbed together as it is transported in the waves. As the sediment knocks into each other sharper edges are broken off and pebbels become smaller and smoother over time. Eventually the sediment wiill erode into sand.

Front

Solution

Back

Soluble particles in rocks like chalk and limestone are dissolved by the acids in the water.

Front

Weathering

Back

The wearing away of rocks by chnage sin temperature, acids in rain water or the actions of plants and animals.

Front

Mechanical Weathering

Back

Changes in temperature cuase rocks to break up.

Freeze thaw - Ice in cracks in the rock freezes at night, as it turns to ice it expands. This causes tehcracks to become bigger. Over time the rocks break apart.

Front

Chemical Weathering

Back

Soluble particles in rocks are dissolved by weak acids in rain water.

Front

Biological Weathering

Back

Faults/cracks in rocks are widened by the actions of plant roots and burrowing animals

Front

Mass Movement

Back

The downward movement of soil/rocks/sediment due to gravity.