Coastal Landscapes and Change

Question 1

What are rocky coastlines

Answer 1

Cliffs varying in height from a few meters to hundreds of meters; cliffs are formed from rock but the hardness of the rock varies

Question 2

What are coastal plains

Answer 2

Land gradually slopes towards the sea across an area of deposited sediment, with sand dunes and mud flats being the most common example

Question 3

What are joints

Answer 3

These divide rock strata up in blocks with a regular shape

Question 4

What are fissures

Answer 4

Smaller cracks in rocks. often they are only a fe cms long

Question 5

What is a fault

Answer 5

A major line of weakness within the rock. This causes large fractures

Question 6

What 3 factors affect wave size

Answer 6

Fetch
Strength of wind and how long its been blowing for
Depth of water

Question 7

What is a concordant coast

Answer 7

These coastlines have alternating layers of hard and soft rock that run parallel to the coast

Question 8

What is a discordant coast

Answer 8

Coasts have alternating layers of hard and soft rock that are perpendicular to the coast

Question 9

What are the 4 dips of cliff profiles

Answer 9

Horizontal dip
Seaward dip (High angle)
Seaward dip (Low angle)
Landward dip

Question 10

What does the dip profile show

Answer 10

How the angle of the cliff dip profile can cause erosion to occur at different rates along the coastline

Question 11

What is a constructive wave

Answer 11

Has a swash that is stronger than the backwash. This therefore builds up the coast

Question 12

What are destructive waves

Answer 12

Has a backwash that is stronger than the swash. This therefore erodes the coast

Question 13

How does vegetation stabilise sediment

Answer 13

Roots bind sediment together
Provides a protective layer to prevent exposure
Protection from wind erosion

Question 14

Depositional features at a bayhead beach

Answer 14

Waves break at 90 degrees to the shoreline and moves sediment into a bay

Question 15

Depositional features of a tombolo

Answer 15

A sand or shingle bar that links the coastline to an offshore island

Question 16

Depositional features of a barrier beach/bar

Answer 16

A sand or shingle beach connecting two areas of land with a lagoon behind

Question 17

Depositional features of a cuspate foreland

Answer 17

Triangular-shaped features extending out from a shoreline

Question 18

What are the 3 Types of geology

Answer 18

Sedimentary
Igneous
Metamorphic

Question 19

What is attrition

Answer 19

Rocks that bash together to become smooth/smaller

Question 20

What is Solution

Answer 20

A chemical reaction that dissolved rocks

Question 21

What is abrasion

Answer 21

Rocks hurled at the base of a cliff to break pieces apart

Question 22

What is Hydraulic action

Answer 22

Water enters cracks in the cliff, air compresses, causing the crack to expand

Question 23

What is erosion

Answer 23

Breaking down and removal of material by the movement of wind and water

Question 24

What is suspension

Answer 24

Sediment is carried along in the flow of the water

Question 25

What is saltation

Answer 25

Pebbles that bounce along the seabed

Question 26

What is Traction

Answer 26

Boulders that roll along a seabed by the force of the flowing water

Question 27

What are the 4 types of erosion

Answer 27

Attrition Solution Abrasion Hydraulic action

Question 28

What are the 4 types of transportation

Answer 28

Solution Suspension Saltation Traction

Question 29

What are Synclines

Answer 29

A downward, U-shaped fold in the layers of rock in the Earths surface

Question 30

What’s a Anticline

Answer 30

An upward, curved fold in the layers of rock in the Earths surface

Question 31

What is weathering

Answer 31

An alteration or breakdown of rock when they are exposed to the atmosphere

Question 32

What’s the 3 types of weathering

Answer 32

Carbonation Mechanical Biological

Question 33

What is a sedimentary rock

Answer 33

Weathering and erosion of rocks exposed at the surface e.g sandstone

Question 34

What is a metamorphic rock

Answer 34

Rocks under high temperatures and pressures change composition e.g slate

Question 35

What is a igneous rock

Answer 35

Formed by the cooling and solidifying of molten rock e.g granite

Question 36

Examples of hard engineering defences

Answer 36

Groynes Sea walls Rip rap Gabions

Question 37

Examples of soft engineering defences

Answer 37

Beach nourishment | Managed retreat

Question 38

Benefits of hard engineering

Answer 38

Quick/one-off solution Reassure coastal communities security of properties Reduce insurance costs of homes

Question 39

Negatives of hard engineering

Answer 39

Cost very high and requires maintenance Unattractive and unappealing to tourists Needs of environment often overlooked

Question 40

Positives if soft engineering

Answer 40

Low cost Less impact on environment Natural appearance

Question 41

Negatives of soft engineering

Answer 41

Regular maintenance Less effective against extreme storm events May have to compensate for property loss

Question 42

What are isostatic changes

Answer 42

Local changes in land and sea levels

Question 43

What are eustatic changes

Answer 43

Worldwide changes in sea levels

Question 44

What are emergent coastlines

Answer 44

Formed as a result of a fall in sea level

Question 45

What are raised beaches

Answer 45

As coastline rises (or sea level falls) beaches which were once at sea level are left high up in the cliffs

Question 46

What are relict cliffs

Answer 46

Caves, arches and stacks formed when they were at sea level are now left high up on the cliff face today

Question 47

Causes of coastal flooding

Answer 47

- Severe weather events drive up water level, creating a storm surge such as hurricanes - Large waves (driven by local winds or swell from distant storms, raise coastal water levels which creates large waves) - Flooding from storm surge combine with river flooding from rain in upland water shed - When a severe storm hits during high tide, risk of flood increases - Flooding from a

Question 48

What is a sediment cell

Answer 48

A section of coast that has been controlled for management purposes (where shingle and sandstone is contains and regulated to keep a healthy sediment budget )

Question 49

What is a sediment budget

Answer 49

Amount of sediment available within a sediment cell

Question 50

What is carbonation weathering

Answer 50

Breakdown of rock by changing its chemical composition

Question 51

What is mechanical weathering

Answer 51

A physical change caused by the movement of water or wind

Question 52

What is biological weathering

Answer 52

Rocks that have been broken down by living organisms