Term
| Why are sedimentary rocks generally the easiest to erode by waves? |
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Definition
| Sedimentary rocks are generally the easiest to erode because they are not consolidated very well, and are made of loose material. |
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Term
| What are the likely sequence of coastal landforms that might form as a consequence of cliff erosion? |
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Definition
| Sea cave, sea arch, sea stack, wave cut platform. |
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Term
| Describe the role of fractures in seacliff erosion. |
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Definition
| Fracture are a very important role in seacliff erosion because they probably have the biggest effect on it. The fractures are the points where rocks will eventually break apart, and freeze/thaw and hydraulic riving have a big part in making these bigger. |
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Term
| Discuss coastal morphodynamics in terms of seacliff erosion and beach formatoin from eroded cliff material. How do the two landforms (cliff, beach) interact with one another? |
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Definition
| Beach is a result of the seacliff erosion, and in some cases, a beach can actually protect seacliffs from wave erosion. |
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Term
| Why might a seacliff have a 1000 year average erosion rate that differs from a rate measured over 10 years? |
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Definition
| The erosion rate over 1000 years would probably differ than that of 10 years because seacliffs are strong, and they erode in steps, relatively slowly, then when the rock can not hold itself any longer, slides down or drops into the ocean. |
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