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Coastal Landscapes

Coastal transport and longshore drift

  • 2 things to know
  • Component 1 Section A

Overview

Traction as a transport process, saltation at the coast and transport in suspension.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Process

Explain the mechanism of longshore drift.

Process

Define traction as a transport process.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define traction as a transport process.

    Model answer

    Traction is the rolling of the largest particles along the sea bed. Only the most powerful waves and currents can move boulders and cobbles this way.

  2. 2

    Describe saltation at the coast.

    Model answer

    Saltation is the bouncing of sand-sized particles along the bed in a series of hops. Particles are too heavy to stay suspended but light enough to be lifted briefly.

  3. 3

    What is meant by transport in suspension?

    Model answer

    Suspension is the carriage of fine silt and clay within the body of the water. Turbulence keeps the particles from settling, which is why storm water looks brown.

  4. 4

    Explain transport in solution at the coast.

    Model answer

    Solution is the movement of dissolved minerals within the sea water itself. Calcium carbonate from limestone and chalk is carried in this form.

  5. 5

    Which transport process moves the largest volume of sediment on a sandy coast?

    Model answer

    Saltation moves the greatest volume on a sandy coast because sand is the dominant grain size. Suspension dominates in estuaries where the material is finer.

  6. 6

    Explain the mechanism of longshore drift.

    Model answer

    Waves driven by the prevailing wind break at an angle to the shore, so swash runs obliquely up the beach carrying sediment with it. Backwash then drains straight back down the steepest gradient under gravity, so each grain travels along the shore in a zigzag.

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