Coastal Landscapes Flashcards
6 cards from real GCSE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Coastal Landscapes flashcards as text
What is the process called when waves force air into cracks in a cliff, causing pressure that breaks the rock apart?
Answer: Hydraulic action
Hydraulic action is the force of water and compressed air breaking apart rock in cracks and joints.
What type of erosion involves rocks and sediment carried by waves scraping and wearing away the cliff face?
Answer: Abrasion
Abrasion (also called corrasion) is when waves throw sediment against the cliff, sanding it down.
What is the process in which rocks and sediment carried by waves collide with each other and become smaller and rounder called?
Answer: Attrition
Attrition occurs when transported particles collide with one another, breaking into smaller, smoother fragments.
A headland is eroded through cracks, caves, and arches. What landform remains after the arch collapses?
Answer: A stack
When an arch collapses, an isolated pillar of rock called a stack is left standing separate from the headland.
What is the movement of sand and shingle along a coastline, caused by waves hitting the beach at an angle, called?
Answer: Longshore drift
Longshore drift moves sediment along the coast in a zigzag pattern following the prevailing wind direction.
What landform is a long, narrow ridge of sand or shingle that extends from the coast and often has a curved (hooked) end?
Answer: A spit
A spit is a depositional feature formed by longshore drift where the coastline changes direction, such as at a river mouth.