Cliff profiles

Question 1

What is the ‘relief’ and what direct relationship is it included in?

Answer 1

Relief is the height and slope of the land which may also be affected by geology. There is a direct relationship between rock type, lithology and cliff profiles

Question 2

What are cliff profiles subjected to?

Answer 2

Marine processes e.g. wave erosion and sub-aerial processes e.g. mass movement and weathering

Question 3

Give an example of where glacial till rock can be found and its erosion rate

Answer 3

Holderness coast

1-10m/yr

Question 4

Give an example of where sandstone can be found and its erosion rate

Answer 4

Devon

1cm-1m/yr

Question 5

Give an example of where limestone can be found and its erosion rate

Answer 5

Dorset

1mm-1cm/yr

Question 6

Give an example of where granite can be found and its erosion rate

Answer 6

Cornwall

1mm/yr

Question 7

Name three igneous rocks

Answer 7

Granite, Basalt and Felsite

Question 8

Name three sedimentary rocks

Answer 8

Sandstone, Shale and Limestone

Question 9

Name three metamorphic rocks

Answer 9

Slate, Marble and Quartzite

Question 10

Name four factors that affect erosion rate excluding geology and lithology

Answer 10

High energy waves
Absence of a beach
Rising sea levels
Coastal management

Question 11

Name ten mass movements

Answer 11

Rotational and Translational landslides
Block slide, Rockfall, Topple
Debris avalanche and debris flow
Earthflow, Creep 
Lateral spread

Question 12

Name eight methods of weathering

Answer 12

Carbonation, Oxidation, Hydrolysis, Freeze-thaw
Exfoliation, Aeoliation
Burrowing and roots

Question 13

Define ‘concordant coastline’

Answer 13

Bands of rock that run parallel to the coast

Question 14

Define ‘discordant coastline’

Answer 14

Bands of rock that run perpendicular to the coast

Question 15

Name two formations of concordant and discordant coastlines

Answer 15

C - Dalmation and Haff coasts

D - Headlands and Bays

Question 16

How do dalmation coasts form?

Answer 16

• Result of sea level rise
• Valleys and ridges run parallel to each other
• Valleys flood but the top of the ridges are still visible
• Series of offshore islands parallel to the coast

Question 17

What features appear in haff coasts?

Answer 17

Long spits and lagoons aligned parallel to the coast

Question 18

Headlands force incoming waves to (1) which concentrates their energy (2) increasing erosive power which steepens the cliff and forms (3)

Answer 18

Retract
At the headland
Caves and arches

Question 19

When waves enter a bay (1) which causes deposition to form (2)

Answer 19

Their energy dissipates as it spreads

Sand or shingle beaches

Question 20

Why is granite resistant to erosion?

Answer 20

Impermeable and interlocking crystals make them strong as they have few joints and lines of weakness

Question 21

Describe the resistance of sedimentary rocks

Answer 21

Joints make them permeable, the younger the rock the more easy it is to erode especially with bedding planes and fractures

Question 22

Describe the resistance of chalk

Answer 22

Porous due to air spaces

Question 23

Describe the resistance of unconsolidated rock (boulder clay)

Answer 23

Not cemented and so easy to erode

Question 24

Describe the resistance of metamorphic rock

Answer 24

Resistant and impermeable, crystals orientate in one direction which is a weakness