Beaches

Question 1

Berms

Answer 1

A near flat plane on a beach, formed by the deposition of beach material by wave action

Question 2

Ridges

Answer 2

A beach ridge is a ridge running parallel to the shoreline, created by wave deposition. It is commonly composed of sand and underlying beach material

Question 3

Runnels

Answer 3

Depressions preceding ridges, formed by the spreading out of a wave’s energy across a wide area

Question 4

Storm beach

Answer 4

A very steep beach, generally primarily composed of shingle, affected by fierce waves during a storm. These beaches have a very long fetch

Question 5

Sandy beaches have flatter gradients than shingle beaches because… (percolation/compaction/volume of water)

Answer 5

• Sand particles are compressed by the water
• Less percolation on sandy beaches due to lack of space between individual sand particles
• Volume of water not reduced, so swash and backwash are similar
• Material brought back out to sea on sandy beaches, therefore a flat gradient is the result

Question 6

On shingle beaches…

Answer 6

• High level of percolation
• Volume of water decreases
• Strength of backwash less than strength of swash
• Much of the deposited sediment is not removed, resulting in a steeper gradient

Question 7

Sweep zone

Answer 7

Changes in profile/gradient and amount of sediment

Question 8

In summer…

Answer 8

Constructive waves, therefore more sediment, so erosion < deposition (Steeper gradient)

Question 9

In winter…

Answer 9

Destructive waves, therefore less sediment, so erosion > deposition (Flatter gradient)