Coastal Management

Question 1

What is erosion?

Answer 1

Erosion is the process by which the land is worn away by forces such as water or wind.

Question 2

What is deposition?

Answer 2

Deposition is the process by which material is dropped in a new place having been eroded and then transported from someplace else

Question 3

What is transportation?

Answer 3

Transportation is the process by which eroded materials is moved to a new place.

Question 4

Name some examples of erosional landforms.

Answer 4

Bay, Sea caves, Blowholes, Arch, Stacks, Cliff, Rock platform

Question 5

Name some examples of depositional landforms

Answer 5

Mangroves, Sand dunes, Beach, Lagoon, Inlet

Question 6

Describe Longshore Drift.

Answer 6

Longshore Drift is a natural process by which sand is transported along a shoreline in a particular direction.

Question 7

Describe some solutions to rapid erosion.

Answer 7

A solution to rapid erosion is…
1) A sand by-pass system; where sand is vacuumed and pumped onto the beach.
2) Building groynes
3) Planting coastal vegetation (sand and vegetation dunes)
4) Building sea walls
5) Retreat from the shoreline

Question 8

What causes waves?

Answer 8

Waves are generated by strong winds. In exposed areas with high winds, waves have more energy and are destructive. In protected areas with less winds, waves have less energy and are constructive.

Question 9

What are destructive waves?

Answer 9

Destructive waves are waves with a strong backwash and a weak swash. These waves erode the coastline and DO NOT build the beach.

Question 10

What are constructive waves?

Answer 10

Constructive waves have weak backwash and a strong swash. These waves push material onto the beach.

Question 11

Describe the parts of a wave

Answer 11

The wave crest is the top of the wave
The trough is the lowest point between two crests
The wave height is the height between the trough and the crest
The wave length is the distance between two crests

Question 12

Describe mechanical weathering.

Answer 12

Mechanical weathering occurs when waves crack onto the rocks and water is forced into small cracks. This compresses the air inside the cracks and the pressure can split the rocks.

Question 13

Describe abrasion

Answer 13

Abrasion occurs when waves pick up sand and small rocks. The water can act as sandpaper and speed up erosion.

Question 14

Describe wave refraction.

Answer 14

Wave refraction is the bending of a wave-front onto the headland. When the waves approach the headland, they wrap around the headland which concentrates the wave energy onto the headland.

Question 15

Describe wave diffraction

Answer 15

Wave refraction occurs between headlands when wave energy is spread out.

Question 16

What is plant succession?

Answer 16

Plant succession is the process by which plants move inland from the beach.

Question 17

Describe Collaroy Beach, Sydent 2016

Answer 17

In Collaroy Beach, Sydney, properties on the coastline began to fall into the sea due to erosion.

Question 18

What are the negatives of sea walls?

Answer 18

While sea walls do protect properties from erosion, they do not absorb the wave energy. The waves “bounce” off the walls and cause more erosion.