Term
| What is the littoral zone? |
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Definition
| Extends landward as far as the water line and extends seaward to where the water is too deep for waves to move sediment on the seafloor (~60m) |
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Term
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Definition
| Shifting line of contact between land and sea (defined by each wave and tides) |
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Term
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Definition
| A zone in which coastal processes operate or have a strong influence |
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Term
| Describe the continental shelf. |
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Definition
Gently sloping submarine surface extending from the coastline to the steep continental slope.
Has shallow waters, sunlight can penetrate, very rich and fertile |
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Term
| What does the width of the continental shelf depend on? |
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Definition
The plate boundary
passive margin (wide), active margin (narrow) |
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Term
| Describe the continental slope. |
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Definition
| Steeply sloping submarine surface that's seaward of the continental shelf (~15 degree slope). Experiences mass movements. |
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Term
| Describe waves of transition. |
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Definition
| Very little movement of water out in deep ocean waters; movement of energy. |
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Term
| Describe waves of translation. |
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Definition
| When water gets shallower, begins to interact with the bottom, churning of matter (increase in wave height); movement of energy and matter. |
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Term
| What is the relationship between wave depth and wave length? |
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Definition
| Wave depth is ~1/2 the wavelength |
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Term
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Definition
| Friction along the water's surface with moving air. |
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Term
| What are 3 factors affecting waves? |
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Definition
| Wind velocity, wind duration, and distance of uninterrupted sea (fetch) |
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Term
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Definition
| A destructive wave caused by earthquakes, submarine land slides, or underwater volcanic eruptions that travel at 600-800km/h |
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Term
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Definition
| Rise in sea level associated with powerful storms (innundates coastal environments) |
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Term
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Definition
| Daily oscillations in sea level that vary spatially and temporally |
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Term
| What are causes of tides? |
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Definition
High Tides - When gravitational or centrifugal force exceeds the other
Low Tide - when neither force can prevail |
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Term
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Definition
Time when lunar and solar tides coincide.
Largest tidal variation. Earth, sun, moon, in line. |
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Term
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Definition
| Moon is at a right angle from the earth and sun. Low variation in tidal range. |
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Term
| What are factors affecting tidal range? |
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Definition
| Presence of a large water body, presence of a wide continental shelf, other submarine topography, and whether its occurring in a gulf, bay, or inlet. |
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Term
| Describe wave refraction. |
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Definition
| Waves bend as they approach the shore and are concentrated in areas of high energy (convergence) and areas of low energy (divergence). |
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Term
| Waves of convergence (high energy).... |
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Definition
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Term
| Waves of divergence (low energy)... |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Waves come in on an angle and go back to sea at 90 degree angles. This results in sediment being moved down beaches. |
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Term
| What are some protections against littoral drift? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are 8 characteristic features of erosional coastlines? |
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Definition
| Beaches, Sea Cliffs, Marine Terraces, Headlands, Bays, Sea Caves, Sea Arches, and Sea Stacks |
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Term
| What are 5 characteristic features of depositional coastlines? |
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Definition
| Deltas, Lagoons, Baymouth Bars, Tombolos, and Spits |
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Term
| Where are erosional coastlines most common? |
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Definition
| Tectonically active margins with coasts of soft materials. |
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Term
| Where are depositional coastlines most common? |
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Definition
| Along land of gentle relief with abundant sediment and along passive plate boundaries. |
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Term
| What is a sea arch a result of? |
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Definition
| It is result of wave defraction concentrating energy on headlands. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| What is a tombolo a result of? |
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Definition
| Heavily eroded headlands leaves an island creating low energy backwaters that deposit sand (link between mainland and island) |
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Term
| What is a barrier island? |
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Definition
| Long, narrow depositional feature that forms offshore parallel to the coast. High in sediment, low tidal variations. |
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Term
| What are 4 types of coastlines? Describe them. |
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Definition
Passive Margin - low relief, broad coastal plains, wide continental shelf, and deposition
Active Margin - high relief, narrow coastal plain, narrow continental shelf, and active mountain building/volcanoes
Emergence - water level has lowerd/land has risen leaving coastal landfrom elevated above seashore (active margins)
Submergence - water level has risen/tectonics have lowered (creates Rias and Fjords) |
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Term
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Definition
| A marine animal that secrets calcium carbonate to form a hard external skeleton (biologically derived sedimentary rock) |
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Term
| What are the 4 specific conditions coral require? |
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Definition
| 10-55m water depth, clear water/no sediment, water temp 18-29, and salinity 27-40% |
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Term
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Definition
| Coral expelling their algae and dying. Likely because rising sea levels, ocean temps, and salinity. |
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