Coastal Landforms and Processes

Question 1

Where is the Sundarbans

Answer 1

South India & Bangladesh on the Bay of Bengal, covering the worlds largest delta

Question 2

How many people live in the Sundarbans?

Answer 2

4 million people

Question 3

What challenges do people living in the currently Sundarbans face?

Answer 3

Salinisation - sea level rise has lead to more areas becoming affected by salt-water which is more difficult for crops to grow in
Coastal flooding + cyclones - 90% of energy is absorbed by forest but deforestation…
Conversion of wetland to high intensive farmland - people who rely on wetlands for income lose income / RESOURCE CONFLICT

Question 4

What challenges will people in the Sundarbans face in the future? + responses

Answer 4

Increased freq of floods / NGO’s providing education to locals so they know what to do
Changes to seasonal rainfall / water tanks in area @ risk, NGO’s build important facilities on higher ground

Question 5

What are some opportunities in the Sundarbans

Answer 5

Eco-tourism
Natural products (crab, fish, honey, wood)

Question 6

What adaptations that people in the Sundarbans have made?

Answer 6

Higher ground housing - stilts
Ducks instead of chickens - which can swim

Question 7

What 3 rivers major flow through the Sundarbans?

Answer 7

Gnges, Brahmaputra, & Meghna

Question 8

Where is the Holderness Coast?

Answer 8

East coast of England

Question 9

What shoreline management plan is in place on the Holderness Coast?

Answer 9

Majority of the coastline is ‘No active intervention’ with 4 areas having a ‘Hold the line’

Question 10

Which areas on the Holderness coast have the ‘Hold the line’ in place?

Answer 10

Mappleton, Bridlington, Hornsea, and Withernsea (B+H+W all have 6000+ population)

Question 11

Why does Mappleton qualify for Hold the Line intervention? + what did it receive

Answer 11

The village has a main coastal road linking the 3 main towns in the area together
In 1991, a £3.5 million coastal defence was put in place - granite groynes, rock armour, & seeding of cliff surfaces

Question 12

What did the 3 coastal town receive?

Answer 12

Bridlington, Hornsea, and Withernsea all received hard engineering measures including a concrete sea wall and groynes

Question 13

Why is there protection around Easington

Answer 13

Easington has a major gas terminal for gas coming in from the Northern Sea. It accounts for 20% of UK gas imports
Protected by rip-rap, gabions, and concrete blocks

Question 14

How fast does the Holderness coastline erode?

Answer 14

Up to 2m a year - the fastest eroding coast in Europe

Question 15

Example of negative feedback

Answer 15

Erosion at bottom of cliff
Mass movement creates a barrier at base of cliff
Cliff base is protected from further erosion for a period

Question 16

How does a spit form?

Answer 16

A spit forms when LSD causes the beach to extend out towards the sea. This is usually due to a change in the direction of the coastline. Wind direction is a major factor

Question 17

How does a salt marsh form?

Answer 17

A salt marsh forms behind a spit due to the sheltered, saline environment where the speed of water flow is significantly reduced. This allows for the deposition of finer sediment to be deposited.

Question 18

How does a barrier beach form?

Answer 18

A barrier beach forms when a spit extends across 2 headlands.

Question 19

How does a tombolo form?

Answer 19

A tombolo is formed by a spit extending out and joining the mainland with an island.

Question 20

How does an offshore bar form?

Answer 20

An offshore bar is formed when the waves carrying the sediment do not have enough energy to carry the sediment to shore so is deposited. A destructive wave could get sediment from the beach, and then deposits it offshore.

Question 21

How does a sand dune form?

Answer 21

1. Dry sand accumulates around an object (rock, branch etc)
2. As more sand accumulates, the dune grows and vegetation may grow on the surface. The roots may stabilise the dune (marram grass)
3. Sand develops into soil, with lots of moisture and nutrients available from the short-lived plants.
4. As the water rises towards the sand dune, water will become trapped in the sand. This promotes growth of more plants
5. As the sand dune develops it will become larger and will be able to support larger plants.

Question 22

How does a mudflat form?

Answer 22

A mudflat is formed by a positive feedback loop.
1. Initial deposition of fine silt
2. Submerged and semi-submerged plants grow in the silt
3. The plants trap more silt/sediment + reduce water velocity so more deposition occurs
4. Plants decay & add to the sediment
5. Gradual increase in height
6. As height increases, saline conditions decrease

Question 23

How does a ria form?

Answer 23

Flooded river valley - sea level rise

Question 24

How does a fjord form?

Answer 24

Flood glacial valley - sea level rise

Question 25

What is a dalmation coastline?

Answer 25

A flooded valley parallel to the coast creating a series of elongated islands offshore

Question 26

What is isostatic change?

Answer 26

Isostatic change occurs when land rises or falls relative to the sea. It is a local change
For example, during the last glacial period, the UK sunk into the mantle. After the ice melted/retreated the UK has gradually risen

Question 27

What is eustatic change?

Answer 27

Eustatic change affects the sea level globally. (eustatic = everywhere) It can be caused by thermal expansion / contraction

Question 28

How many people are at risk from coastal flooding?

Answer 28

410 million at risk (1 billion people live in a “coastal area”)