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Is Dorset a discordant coastline?

Is Dorset a discordant coastline?

Part of the Dorset coastline running north from the Portland limestone of Durlston Head is a clear example of a discordant coastline. The Portland limestone is resistant to erosion; then to the north there is a bay at Swanage where the rock type is a softer greensand.

What type of coastline is Dorset?

Dorset is located in the south of England. Its coastline has examples of many erosional and depositional landforms. For example: Swanage is an example of a headland and bay.

Where is the concordant coastline?

Examples of discordant coastlines are Bantry Bay and Dingle Bay found in Ireland while an example of a concordant coastline is Lulworth Cove. Thus, a concordant coastline refers to a coastline that is made up of the same kinds of rocks and arranged parallel to the coast of the sea or ocean.

What is concordant and discordant coastlines?

Discordant coastline occurs where bands of differing rock type run perpendicular to the coast. A concordant coastline occurs where the bands of differing rock types run parallel to the coast. The outer hard provides a protective barrier to erosion of the softer rocks further inland.

What are the two types of coastlines?

Navigation masterclass: 7 coastline types

  • Glacial landscapes. Steep-sided , clean-edged fjords make for easy navigation but it can be hard to find an anchorage.
  • Rias.
  • Rivers.
  • Barrier Islands.
  • Deltas & Estuaries.
  • Coral Reefs.
  • Volcanic Islands.

What happens at discordant coastlines?

A discordant coastline occurs where bands of different rock type run perpendicular to the coast. The differing resistance to erosion leads to the formation of headlands and bays.

Does Dorset have a beach?

Dorset is the place to come for award winning beaches. The county boasts 25 Blue Flag and Seaside Award beaches. Swanage beach with its large stretches of golden sand and sheltered bay is known for its clear water and family-friendly designated swimming areas.

Is Dorset a high energy coastline?

Erosion of these upland coasts creates dramatic cliffs like Golden Cap in Dorset, the highest on the south coast. Rocks and relief are not the only influences of coastal scenery. Wave energy is particularly high. The rate of erosion will be slow if the rock is hard (resistant).

What is a swash wave?

When a wave reaches the shore, the water that rushes up the beach is known as the swash . The water that flows back towards the sea is known as the backwash .

What is the difference between a concordant and discordant coast?

Coastlines where the geology alternates between strata (or bands) of hard rock and soft rock are called discordant coastlines. A concordant coastline has the same type of rock along its length. Concordant coastlines tend to have fewer bays and headlands. This concordant coast has fewer features.

What makes a discordant coast a concordant coast?

Discordant coasts forms where geological structure is such that different rock strata of folds are aligned at an angle to the coastline. Rock strata that are less resistant (due to the rock unit’s lithology and structure) erode rapidly to form indented bays.

Where is the concordant coastline that we study?

Flamborough – headland and bay (these can form on concordant coastlines but it would be like a lagoon) Where is the concordant coastline that we study? Dorset coast near Lulworth What happens when the outer hard rock of a concordant coastline is punctured? (a weakness or fault line is further eroded)

What makes the coastline of Durlston so discordant?

Durlston Head (limestone) to Handfast Point (chalk), with Peveril Point (limestone) dividing Durlston Bay from Swanage Bay. A discordant coastline occurs where bands of different rock type run perpendicular to the coast. The differing resistance to erosion leads to the formation of headlands and bays.

What are the names of the bays on the Dorset coast?

The areas where the soft rock has eroded away, next to the headland, are called bays. This process created Swanage Bay, Studland Bay and two headlands, including Durlston Head. Coastlines where the geology alternates between bands of hard and soft rock which are perpendicular to the shore are called discordant coastlines.

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