Coast Inputs

Question 1

Define Tides

Answer 1

Periodic rise and fall of the ocean surface

Question 2

What causes the formation of tides?

Answer 2

Gravitational pull of sun & moon (more significant - X2 effect of sun)

Question 3

Define Spring Tides

Answer 3

Twice a month - Moon, Sun, and Earth align - tidal force strongest - highest monthly tidal ranges

Question 4

Define Neap Tides

Answer 4

Twice a month - Moon and Sun at right angles in relation to Earth - lowest tidal ranges

Question 5

Outline how high tides and low tides are made (per day)

Answer 5

Moon pulls H2O towards it = high tide
Compensatory bulge on opposite side of Earth

Area between 2 bulges = low tide

Earth spinning = 2 high/low tides per day

Question 6

Outline the 3 sources of sediment

Answer 6

Cliff erosion - 5%
Offshore areas - 5%
Rivers - 90%

Question 7

Define a sediment cell

Answer 7

Well-defined stretch of coastline - little movement of sediment to adjacent cells

Question 8

How many sediment cells are in England & Wales and why are they important?

Answer 8

11 - forms basis of coastal management

Question 9

Define currents

Answer 9

Permanent or seasonal movement of surface water in the seas and oceans

Question 10

Define longshore currents

Answer 10

Waves hit coastline at an angle to shoreline
H2O flows running parallel to shoreline - transports sediment parallel to shoreline

Question 11

Define rip currents

Answer 11

Strong currents moving away from shoreline
Seawater piles up along the coastline by incoming waves
May run parallel to coast before flowing out through breaker zone

Question 12

Define Upwelling currents

Answer 12

Movement of cold water from deep ocean
More dense cold H2O replaces surface H2O and creates nutrient rich cold currents