3.4 - Coastal landscape development

Question 1

What is a swash aligned beach?

Answer 1

Wave crest approaches parallel to shore in a low-energy environment. Swash and backwash follow same path and no net lateral transportation. Fully attached to coastline

Question 2

What is a drift-aligned beach?

Answer 2

Open, lowland coastline, dominant waves approach at an angle and generated long-shore movement. Detached beach

Question 3

What is a simple spit?

Answer 3

Straight or recurved - no minor spits

Question 4

What is a compound spit?

Answer 4

Number of hooks and happens when transport processes vary over time

Question 5

Sand dune formation (6)

Answer 5

Sand is trapped
Embry dune - colonised by grass
Hummocky dune - marram grass
Embryo dune rises in height until taller than highest tide
Mobile dune
Slack then blowout

Question 6

Define saltmarsh

Answer 6

Coastal ecosystem formed on mudflats and comprising of halophytic plants

Question 7

Name 3 distinctive features at the Holderness Coast

Answer 7

Spurn point
Flamborough Head
Retreating bay cliffs

Question 8

Marine processes vs human factors that are important in landform formation

Answer 8

Marine - wave refraction, hydraulic action, subaerial (MM)

Human - People presence, interfere with natural processes, global warming

Question 9

Define relic

Answer 9

No longer impacted by marine processes

Question 10

Define isostatic change

Answer 10

Land rises and falls

Question 11

Define eustatic change

Answer 11

Global sea levels changing

Question 12

Sea level change case studies (2)

Answer 12

The Maldives and London

Question 13

How are the Maldives impacted by sea level change? (4)

Answer 13

Highest point is 2.4m above sea level
Coral reefs are being eroded
Sea water infiltrates fresh water
Salt is contaminating the soil

Question 14

How the Maldives reacting to sea level change? (4)

Answer 14

Land claim - mitigation
$60m sea wall around Male
Mangrove nurseries
Clean lagoons of rubbish

Question 15

How WILL London impacted by sea level change? (4)

Answer 15

Houses of Parliament is on the estuary - cost £10m a day if flooded

Businesses - help economy by £250b per annum

Thames gateway - regeneration project by building

200,000 houses in flood plain areas

Question 16

How is Kiribati impacted by sea level change?

Answer 16

In next 50 years, it could disappear

Question 17

How are Kiribati acting to sea level change? (2)

Answer 17

President bought 20km2 of land in Fiji so plants can be grown there
Mitigation with dignity - move to Indonesia, NZ, Australia for jobs

Question 18

How is a spit formed?

Answer 18

There is a change in coastline direction with constant LSD
The movement of sediment extends from the shore
Extends and curves due to change in prevailing wind direction
Break in direction of coast so a salt marsh is formed

Question 19

What is a barrier island?

Answer 19

Depositional islands parallel to the shore. Has a limited tidal range so high rates of deposition