The Hydrologic Cycle and Coastal Geology

Hydrologic Cycle

Describe the path water moves land, ocean, atmosphere

Seawater

97.2%

Stream

Zone of Saturation

Point where 100% of the pore spaces are filled with water

Best Aquitard

Shale material

Connection Between Climate and Geologic Process

Heavy rainfall triggers debris flow

Cryosphere

Ice and snow existed on Earth

Shells

Made out of CaCO3

Shore and Coast

Shore: area from lowest tide to highest elevation

Coast: area of ocean-related features from the water inland

Coastline

Marks the seaward edge of the coast

Waves and Shoreline

Wave Height

Vertical distance between trough and crest

Wavelength

Horizontal distance between successive crests

Shoreline

Marks the contact between land and sea

Bending of Waves

Refraction

Aquifers and Hot Springs

Aquitard

Impermeable layer that prevents flow

Confined Aquifer

Rock or regolith store and transmit water, but it is contained between two impermeable layers

Unconfined Aquifer

Receives its recharge directly from the atmosphere

Geyser

Intermittent hot springs

Mudspot

Type of hot spring containing boiling mud

Hot Spring

Water in a basin that is 6-9 degrees warmer than the mean annual temperature of the location

Sediment Deposition

Dissolved Load

Ions dispersed throughout the flow

Bedload

Larger sediments that bounce, roll, or slide along the bottom

Delta

Formed where streams enter large lakes or oceans

Levee

Formed by floodwaters on either side of a stream

Alluvial Fan

Formed by mountain streams emerging onto a flat plain

Bar

Small deposits that form in the stream channel

Atmosphere

Nitrogen and oxygen make up the majority of the atmosphere