Geomorpholohical Processes

Question 1

What is Geomorphological processes

Answer 1

They are natural mechanisms that result in the modification of the surficial materials and landforms at the earth’s surface

Question 2

What is weathering?

Answer 2

The breakdown of rock in situ

Question 3

What is mass movement?

Answer 3

The downhill movement of rock and sediment under the influence of gravity

Question 4

What is erosion?

Answer 4

The weathering away and removal of land by naturally Forces like water ice and water

Question 5

What is transportation?

Answer 5

Material is moved from one location to another

Question 6

What is deposition?

Answer 6

Material that is being held or transported is laid down

Question 7

What is run off?

Answer 7

Water running off the land e.g. stream across a bath or over a cliff

Question 8

What is Aeolian processes?

Answer 8

Erosion, transport and deposition by the wind

Question 9

What is marine processes?

Answer 9

the powerful wearing away of coastal land by wave action such as hydraulic action, abrasion and solution

Question 10

What is sub-aerial processes?

Answer 10

Includes processes at the base of the atmosphere that slowly breakdown the coastline, weaken the underlying rocks and allow sudden movements or erosion to happen more easily: weathering, mass and run off

Question 11

What factors affect the rate of erosion?

Answer 11

• Geology
• human activity
• wave energy & type
• fetch
• sea depth
• coastal configuration

Question 12

What does Geology affect the rate of erosion?

Answer 12

Lithology, softer rocks e.g. clay erode faster than harder rocks e.g. limestone & concordant vs discordant coastline affect erosion rate

Question 13

What does human activity affect rate of erosion?

Answer 13

Hard emerging can protect some areas but can cause erosion downstream

Question 14

Why does wave energy & type + fetch effect rate of erosion?

Answer 14

Constructive wave causes little Erosion, destructive wave causes rapid erosion

Longer fetch= stronger waves=more erosion

Question 15

Marine transportation - how can sediment be transported?

Answer 15

Longshore drift- key process
Currents
Tides
Waves (swash and backwash)
Traction
Saltation

Question 16

The method by which they material is transported by depends on?

Answer 16

• its weight
• its size
• the energy of the transporting flow

Question 17

List 5 types of mass movement

Answer 17

• rockfall
• landslides
• mudflows
• soil creep
• rotational slip/slunping

Question 18

What are some physical weathering processes

Answer 18

-freeze-thaw
-exfoliation