Coastal Change And Conflict

Question 1

Describe the process of abrasion.

Answer 1

Waves pick up stones and hurl them against the cliff which wears away the rock.

Question 2

Describe the process of attrition.

Answer 2

Pebbles carried by waves become rounder and smaller as the collide with each other.

Question 3

How is a cave formed?

Answer 3

When the waves erode a weakness in the rock such as a joint or a fault.

Question 4

How is an arch formed?

Answer 4

When two caves erode back from either side of the headland and meet in the middle.

Question 5

How is a stack formed?

Answer 5

Formed when an arch collapses.

Question 6

How is a stump formed?

Answer 6

When a stack is eroded by wind and water.

Question 7

Explain how a wave cut platform is formed.

Answer 7

The rock gave over hangs the sea, a wave-cut notch is under utter by waves.

The cliff then retreats inland and the overhanging rock has collapsed and a wave cut platform is formed.

Question 8

Destructive waves erode the coast because they have…

Answer 8

A weak awash and a strong backwash.

Question 9

What are the properties of constructive waves?

Answer 9

They have a long wavelength, a strong swash and a weak backwash.

Question 10

Describe longshore drift.

Answer 10

Waves approach the coast at an angle.

Swash pushes sand and gravel up the beach at the same angle.

Backwash carries sand and gravel back down the beach at 90 degrees under the force of gravity.

Sand and gravel move along the beach in a zig zag fashion.

Sand is lighter than gravel so moves further up the beach.

Question 11

Explain how a sand spit is formed.

Answer 11

When there is a bend in the coastline, longshore drift carries the sand beyond the bend to form a sand spit.

Behind it sheltered water becomes a marsh.

The end of the spit is curved where it meets strong winds and waves.

Question 12

How is a bar formed?

Answer 12

After a spit has been formed longshore drift may continue up the spit and join with the other end of the coastline forming a bar.

Question 13

Give an example of a soft rock.

Answer 13

Clay.

Question 14

What coastline is a soft rock coastline?

Answer 14

The holderness coast in Yorkshire.

Question 15

What are the properties of a soft rock coast?

Answer 15

• high but less rigged and less steep than hard rock coasts
• piles of mud and clay on the face and at the bottom of cliff
• few hard rocks at foot of cliff

Question 16

Give an example of a hard rock.

Answer 16

Granite

Question 17

What is an example of a hard rock coast?

Answer 17

Land’s end, Cornwall

Question 18

What are the properties of a hard rock coast?

Answer 18

• high, steep and rugged
• bare cliff face
• some rocks and boulders at foot of cliff
• has erosion features such as caves, arches and stacks.

Question 19

Describe the formation of lulworth cove.

Answer 19

Waves slowly cut through a weakness in the band of limestone cause by a river cutting a valley through the limestone. This formed the entrance.

Waves eroded the soft band of clay fast.

The chalk behind the clay is more resistant so is currently eroding slower but the cove is still wording side ways.

Question 20

What is a concordant coastline?

Answer 20

Where the same rock type runs along the coastline.

Question 21

What is a discordant coastline?

Answer 21

Where the rock type alternates in bands along the coastline.

Question 22

two land forms formed on a discordant coastline?

Answer 22

Headlands and bays.

Question 23

How does rock type Effect coastal retreat?

Answer 23

Hard rocks erode more slowly than soft rocks.

Question 24

How does the number of joints And faults effect coastal retreat?

Answer 24

Rocks with more faults and joints erode more quickly thank rocks with fewer joints and faults.

Question 25

How does fetch effect coastal retreat?

Answer 25

If the wind blows over a wide area of sea(fetch), the waves are stronger and will have a greater impact on the cliffs.

Question 26

How does cliff exposure effect coastal retreat?

Answer 26

Cliffs exposed to strong wind and weather will erode more quickly than sheltered cliffs.

Question 27

How do storms effect coastal retreat?

Answer 27

Cliffs exposed to frequent storms will erode more quickly.

Question 28

How do sea defences affect coastal retreat?

Answer 28

Some cliffs are protected by sea defences which slow retreat down.

Question 29

List the consequences of coastal erosion.

Answer 29

Houses destroyed
Farmland lost
Hotels and caravan parks abandoned
Loss of roads
Loss of income

Question 30

Positive and negative of a sea wall?

Answer 30

+protects cliff and buildings

-expensive

Question 31

Positive and negative of groynes?

Answer 31

+prevents sea removing sand

-exposes other areas of coastline

Question 32

Positive and negative of rip rap?

Answer 32

+rocks absorb wave energy

-expensive

Question 33

Positive and negative of off-shore reef?

Answer 33

+waves break on reef and lose power

-expensive and interfere with fishing

Question 34

Positive and negative of beach replenishment?

Answer 34

+sand reduces wave energy and maintains tourism

-expensive

Question 35

Positive and negative of managed retreat?

Answer 35

+people and activities avoid erosion by moving inland

-expensive

Question 36

Positive and negative of cliff regrading?

Answer 36

+reduces slippage

-foot of cliff isn’t protected from waves

Question 37

How fast is the holderness coast retreating?

Answer 37

2m every year

Question 38

What are the management strategies for the holderness coast?

Answer 38

Groynes and rock armour in mappleton.

Some areas are undefended.

Question 39

How long is the holderness coast?

Answer 39

60km

Question 40

Describe the process of hydraulic action.

Answer 40

Waves hitting the rock forces pockets of air into cracks. Trapped air, release quickly, breaks up the rock.