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

What is longshore drift?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

3 Coastal deposition landforms

Answer 18

Spits, beaches and bars

Question 19

5 erosional landforms

Answer 19

Wave cut platform, cave, arch, stack, stump

Question 20

Spit definition

Answer 20

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

Question 21

How is a spit formed?

Answer 21

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 22

Bar definition

Answer 22

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

Question 23

How is a bar formed?

Answer 23

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 24

4 Ways humans use the coast, and their negative effects

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Hard engineering definition?
4 types?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Soft engineering definition
3 types?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Sea wall
Def, ad, dis

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Rock armour
Def, ad, dis

Answer 28

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 29

Groynes
Def, ad, dis

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Gabions
Def, ad, dis

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Beach replenishment
Def, ad, dis

Answer 31

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 32

Dune stabilisation
Def, ad, dis

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Managed retreat
Def, ad, dis

Answer 33

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