4.3 B - How climate affects coastal landscapes/retreat

Question 1

What three factors affect wave energy?

Answer 1

Fetch (distance travelled) higher = more energy
Wind speed. higher = more energy
storm frequency from atlantic

Question 2

Where in the UK has the biggest waves? Why?

Answer 2

South West coast. Large fetch across atlantic, most frequent storms from atlantic and very high wind speed around UK

Question 3

Compare constructive and destructive waves in terms of:

a) Wavelength
b) Frequency
c) Swash and Backwash strength
d) Erosion or depositional

Answer 3

Wavelength. Constructive have longer
Frequency. Destructive have more
Destructive waves= more backwash
Constructive waves = more swash
Destructive= erosional
Constructive= depositional

Question 4

Explain how rotational slumping mass movement breaks down the cliff.

Answer 4

Material is already fairly weak/ loose. Heavy rain creates a lubricant. Material becomes so heavy it shifts down with rotation. Causes cliff to retreat rapidly

Question 5

Explain how rockfall mass movement breaks down the cliff.

Answer 5

Lots of loose material on cliff gets wet and suddenly it all slides over one another down the cliff

Question 6

Compare biological, freeze-thaw and chemical weathering.

Answer 6

Biological: roots get into gpcrack and expand them
Freeze thaw: water gets in cracks, freezes, expands, melts and repeats
Chemical weathering: seawater and rain water have carbon dioxide in them which reacts with calcium in some rocks like limestone

Question 7

Define: abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition, solution.

Answer 7

Abrasion-rock particles in water rub against rock and break small bits.
Hydraulic action is the force of water and air being forced into cracks
Attrition is particles in water smashing into each other
Solution is soluble materials that are dissolved in the water