3 - landforms and landscapes

Question 1

describe the difference between rocky and sandy coastlines

Answer 1

ROCKY dominated by EROSION

SANDY/ESTUARINE by DEPOSITION

Question 2

differences between high and low energy coastlines in terms of sediment budget

Answer 2

deposition = low energy and this has sediment surplus as as production and delivery of sediment exceeds rates of removal

erosion = high energy and high wave activity. sediment budget deficit as removal exceeds accumulation

Question 3

what are main processes involved with a rocky coastline

Answer 3

1) MASS MOVEMENTS (falls/landslides)
2) ROCK BREAKDOWN PROCESSES (physical/chemical/biological weathering)
3) ROCK REMOVAL PROCESSES (wave action)

Question 4

explain wave refraction

Answer 4

high energy waves concentrated on headland with water depth decreasing, waves getting higher/steeper, velocity decreasing and shorter wavelength

low energy waves come into bays but waves in deeper water not losing velocity as rapidly and are lower and less steep than those off headland

Question 5

what is an orthogonal

Answer 5

ORTHOGONALS are lines running perpendicular to wave crest and energy of wave will follow its direction of orthogonal (lines of equal wave energy)

Question 6

which landforms are formed in low energy (sandy) coastlines

Answer 6

• produce largely depositional landforms with sandy beaches and dunes
• dramatic storm events can upset dynamic equilibrium of environment
• both wave dominated stretches of beaches, barriers and dunes and tide-dominated stretches of coast around estuaries

Question 7

difference between high and low energy coasts in terms of formation and control

Answer 7

wave power strong in HE and lower in sheltered environments in LE
HE controlled by fetch and coast alignment but coasts with limited fetch = LE eg east coast
west coast = HE due to fetch