Coastal Landscapes and Processes

Question 1

Coastal erosion def?
Weathering?
Mass movement def?

Answer 1

Waves wearing away and removing sediment
Breakdown of rocks at the surface of the ground
Downslope movement of rocks from cliff due to gravity

Question 2

3 Types of weathering and definitions

Answer 2

Mechanical (freeze-thaw)–>Repeated freezing and thawing expands cracks
Chemical (acid rain)–> Slightly acidic rain breaks down weak rocks
Biological–>Plants and animals can widen cracks / weaken rocks

Question 3

4 Types of erosion and description

Answer 3

Hydraulic action–> water into cracks of cliff
Abrasion–> rocks thrown at cliff face
Attrition–> rocks bash into each other
Solution–> weak rocks being eroded by the salt

Question 4

3 Types of mass movement and description

Answer 4

Slumping–> rotation of cliffs along a curved surface
Sliding–> movement of large rocks along a flat surface
Rock falls–> smaller pieces of a cliff falling

Question 5

4 Types of transportation and description

Answer 5

Traction–> rolling
Saltation–> bouncing
Suspension–> floating
Solution–> dissolving

Question 6

Fetch

Answer 6

The distance of open water the wave has travelled

Question 7

Constructive wave characteristics

Answer 7

-Lower height
-Less energy
-Less frequent
-Strong swash, weak backwash

Question 8

Destructive wave characteristics

Answer 8

-Taller height
-More energy
-More frequent
-Weak swash, strong backwash

Question 9

Discordant coast definition

Answer 9

Bands of different types of rock perpendicular to the coastline

Question 10

Concordant coastline definition

Answer 10

Bands of different types of rock parallel to the coastline

Question 11

Joint

Answer 11

Vertical crack caused by sediment drying out or stress on the rock

Question 12

Fault

Answer 12

Formed by stress or pressure on rock causing joint to move

Question 13

3 Ways UK climate affects coastline

Answer 13

Storms, seasonality, prevailing wind direction

Question 14

Storms
Seasonality
Prevailing wind direction
How they affect UK coastline?

Answer 14

Storms- Increase wave energy and erosion such as abrasion
Seasonality- More freezing temps, more mechanical weathering
Prevailing wind direction- Longer fetch, stronger wind, more powerful waves

Question 15

How is a wave-cut platform formed?

Answer 15

Wave hits the base of cliff, forms wave-cut notch. Notch gets bigger, overhang collapses and cliff retreats.

Question 16

How is a stump formed?

Answer 16

A crack in a cliff creates a weakness which is eroded to form a cave. Erosion continues until an arch is formed. Weathering from above and erosion causes the top to fall in, creating a stack. This is then eroded to form a stump.

Question 17

How are headlands and bays formed?

Answer 17

On a discordant coastline bands of more and less resistant rock lie perpendicular to the coast. The less resistant rock is eroded at a faster rate on either side of the more resistant band of rock. This erodes at a slower rate so is left sticking out of the coastline creating a headland with a bay on either side.

Question 18

What is longshore drift?

Answer 18

Swash depositing sediment on the beach in direction of prevailing wind. Backwash occurs perpendicular to the shore. Sediment moves down the beach.

Question 19

3 Coastal deposition landforms

Answer 19

Spits, beaches and bars

Question 20

5 erosional landforms

Answer 20

Wave cut platform, cave, arch, stack, stump

Question 21

Spit definition

Answer 21

Long and narrow ridge of sediment with one end attached to land and the other sticking out into the sea

Question 22

How is a spit formed?

Answer 22

Erosion- erosion at the coast, waves collect sediment
Transportation- longshore drift moves sediment along a coast
Deposition- change in coast direction or a river mouth causes sediment to be deposited in a spit

Question 23

Bar definition

Answer 23

Ridge of sediment across the entrance of a bay or river mouth

Question 24

How is a bar formed?

Answer 24

Erosion- erosion at the coast, waves collect sediment
Transportation- longshore drift moves sediment along the spit
Deposition- deposits sediment at end of spit, lengthens until it reaches land again

Question 25

3 Ways humans use the coast, and their negative effects

Answer 25

Urbanisation-> Settlements near the coast, could be damaged Industry-> Used for trade, disturb wildlife Agriculture-> Fertile land used for farming, erosion destroys farmland, loss of money

Question 26

Hard engineering definition? 4 types?

Answer 26

Man-made structures designed to stop erosion Sea wall, rock armour, gabions, groynes

Question 27

Soft engineering definition 3 types?

Answer 27

Sustainable, natural methods to reduce the rate of erosion Managed retreat, dune nourishment, beach replenishment

Question 28

Sea wall Def, ad, dis

Answer 28

Concrete wall built at the foot of the cliff Ad- effective, provides walkway Dis- expensive, unnatural

Question 29

Rock armour Def, ad, dis

Answer 29

Large boulders placed at foot of the cliff Ad- easy to maintain, quick to install Dis- high transportation costs, doesn't fit in natural landscape

Question 30

Groynes Def, ad, dis

Answer 30

Structures built at right angles to coast Ad- quick to build, bigger beaches Dis- unsightly, have further impacts down coast

Question 31

Gabions Def, ad, dis

Answer 31

Rocks in mesh cages Ad- absorbs wave energy, cheap Dis- unnatural, not very strong

Question 32

Beach replenishment Def, ad, dis

Answer 32

Sand added to a beach to make it wider Ad- attracts tourists, cheap to maintain Dis- causes disruption to beach users, needs constant maintenance

Question 33

Dune stabilisation Def, ad, dis

Answer 33

Planting shrubs and bushes to stabilise dunes Ad- natural, cheap Dis- takes time to grow, areas are fenced off

Question 34

Managed retreat Def, ad, dis

Answer 34

Controlled flooding of coastal areas Ad- cheap, provides habitats for animals Dis- owners need compensation, land is lost