The Costal Landscape

Monaco is mostly all coastal landscape. Most of all the forms and processes found here are mostly driven by its location bordering the sea.  

Just in this one picture we can see several different forms and processes. 

We can see the waives, which are formed out in deep water in circular motion. The close they are to the coast the higher the crest of the wave will be. Once it starts hitting the sea floor and the wavelength is half  the depth of the wave, that is when water actually starts moving towards the cost and the wave of translation is created. 

Beaches in Moaco, created by deposition.
http://www.avsim.com/pages/0607/MonacoX/MonacoX.htm

The beaches in Monaco are depositional landforms created by waves bringing in smaller sand particles and depositing them. Some are deposited in patterns due to long shore drifts. 

Sand is deposited on the right side of the bars as the long shore drift moves down the coast line.
http://www.avsim.com/pages/0607/MonacoX/MonacoX.htm 

Other land forms are created by coastal erosion instead. some are caused by waives and some are created by weathering created by the salt water of the sea.  Notches are cut into bottom of rock faces by persistent waves over a long time. 

castle built into cliff in Monaco,cliff"s  base is being notched by waives
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goedel/33899149/

Climate and Basic Processes

Monaco is considered to have Subtropical/Mediterranean climate which is characterized by warm to hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. Mediterranean climate zones are associated with the five large subtropical high pressure cells of the oceans, the Azores High, South Atlantic High, North Pacific High, South Pacific High, and Indian Ocean High.

Areas with Mediterranean climate around the world http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Medclim.png  

During the Summer season warmer air is pushed in from the south and the west going form the high pressure zone to the low pressure zone. During the winter, the cold air moves down from the north along with the pressure zones.  Most of the precipitations that Monaco gets come in the form or rain from Moisture carried north from the Mediterranean sea. When the due point reaches a 100 % due to low temperature fronts  from the north Monaco gets its winter wet season. The temperature usually does not get low enough for precipitation in the form of snow although it does happen one or twice a decade.

Winter pressure patterns

Summer pressure patterns

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Daily temperatures however are more controlled by the latitudinal region that Monaco is found in. Monaco is located at 43 degrees north and at this latitude the radiation pattern controls the daily highs as discussed in previous blog.  Although it sees a considerable change in yearly temperature, Monaco is not very susceptible to storms. The major cyclones and hurricanes that form in the Atlantic Ocean dissipate due to lack of moisture once they make landfall on the western coasts of Europe. By the time the hurricane get close to the western coast of France and Portugal, the water temperature cools taking away the latent heat needed to drive them further. a On a smaller scale however, Monaco is affect by major currents in the Mediterranean Sea

Major hurricane tracks in Atlantic 1851-20005 (http://symonsez.wordpress.com/)

Earth, Wind and Water

The weather in Monaco is highly affected  by its location on the Mediterranean cost. Located at latitude 43 degrees north, It is considered to be located in a Latitiude of Deficit, because it does not get any vertical direct sunlight. Its highest average temperature is in july at about 71 degrees.  Most of its  Average Annual precipitation of 30 In can be attributed to the hydrological cycle that it takes a part in.  The water that evaporates from the sea is blown inland by winds and causes rain in the hills of Monaco. 

Clouds Moving Inland (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g19040Monaco)

Rain In the City (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g19040Monaco)

Whenever the precipitation rate exceeds the infiltration of the ground overland flow is formed.  This is especially noticeable in urban areas where the built environment has low permeability which does not allow the water to percolate into the ground.

Overland water flow https://picasaweb.google.com/deejaytonic/Formula#

The precipitation combined with the slopes from the hills creates an ideal structure for mass wasting. This can cause flows of rocks or soil aided by the lubrications from the water. Another factor that makes Monaco susseptable to mass wasting is undercutting. Construction of roads and building at the bottom of the hills make the area susceptible to rock falls and slides. 

 

Undercutting http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigantill/2422842887/in/

Undercutting http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigantill/2422842887/in

Land Forms In Monaco

"The Rock" Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelfowler/4517004501/

 

 

Monaco has many interesting Land forms. Perhaps the most famous is "The Rock of Monaco" which is  located on the Mediteranin cost of Monaco. This monolithic formation was created by the exposition of the hard igneous rock through erosion. 

Rock climbing in Monaco Image from http://www.coronn.com/TOPOS/france/

Monaco also has a great rock climbing scene which is made ideal by the Joints and cracks found in the rocks.  These are cracks created by weathering that create space within it. Most of the weathering in these rocks is most likely created by salt weathering which is indicated by isolated white streaks in the rock surface. We can also see the root wedging weathering process as well which separates the rocks particles as the plant grows and the roots expand with it.

Basal Weathering  Image from http://www.coronn.com/TOPOS/france

Basal Weathering  Image from http://www.coronn.com/TOPOS/france

Basal weathering creates an overhanging rock formations which are great challenges for climbers.  These are NOT created by wind but by salt weathering.  The water containing the salt percolates to the bottom of the rock and crystallizes or expands there creating more breakout at the bottom of the rock. If we cook closely at the second picture we can also see Alveoli that are finger size corrosions in the rock which are also formed by weathering of the rock.

Hello,
My name Is Misgana Yifru, and for this exercise I chose Monaco. 

This micro-state officially known as the Principality of Monaco is located in South Western Europe on the northern central coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is surrounded on three sides by its neighbor France and on the fourth by the sea into which its maritime claims extend to 13.8 mi. Its center is about 9.9 mi from Italy. Its area is 0.78 sq mi with an estimated population of almost 33,000. The Principality of Monaco is the second-smallest independent state in the world, after the Vatican City.