Coastal Processes

Question 1

What are the inputs into the coastal system?

Answer 1

Sediment from landforms/cliffs
Geology of the coastline
Sea level change
Tides
Wind energy
Wave energy

Question 2

What are the outputs of a coastal system?

Answer 2

Sediment taken above the tidal system (usually by wind or storms)
Sediment taken to a sediment sink (out of the sediment cell)
Dissipation of wave energy

Question 3

What are the stores of the coastal system?

Answer 3

Erosional landforms and landscapes (cliffs, stacks, arches)

Depositional landforms and landscapes (spits, beaches, tómbolas)

Question 4

What are the flows/transfers of a coastal system?

Answer 4

Longshore drift
Erosional processes (wave quarrying, abrasion/corrasion, hydraulic action, solution, attrition)
Wave transport (traction, saltation, suspension, solution)
Aeolian/wind transport (saltation, suspension)

Question 5

What is an example of negative feedback in a coastal system?

Answer 5

Waves erode a cliff
Cliff collapse occurs
The debris at the base of the cliff
Absorbs the wave energy
Reducing erosion of the cliff

Question 6

What is an example of positive feedback in a coastal system?

Answer 6

Wave erodes a cliff
Cliff collapse occurs
Debris at the base of the cliff
Is picked up by the waves
And used for corrasion
Increasing erosion of the cliff

Question 7

What are the sources of energy at a coastline?

Answer 7

Wave energy
Tidal energy
Wind energy
Sea currents

Question 8

Which factors affect wave energy?

Answer 8

Fetch
Strength
Duration of wind

Question 9

What is the definition of wind?

Answer 9

Movement of air from one place to another (due to air moving from a high atmospheric pressure to a lower atmospheric pressure)

Question 10

How does wind affect sediment?

Answer 10

Agent of erosion (picks up sand and uses it to erode other landforms by abrasion)
Moves sediment (picks it up and drops it elsewhere)

Question 11

What are the three different types of currents?

Answer 11

Longshore currents (also known as littoral drift)
Upwelling
Rip currents

Question 12

What do longshore currents do?

Answer 12

Moves water (and transports sediment) parallel to a shoreline

Question 13

What is the definition of rip currents?

Answer 13

Strong localised currents that move water away from the shoreline (occur on some beaches)

Question 14

What is the definition of upwelling?

Answer 14

Movement of cold water from deep in the ocean towards the surface

Question 15

What does upwelling do?

Answer 15

Forms part of the pattern of the global circulation system

Question 16

What are the characteristics of a high energy coastline?

Answer 16

Powerful waves
Long fetch and strong prevailing winds= high energy waves
Often dynamic equilibrium
More erosion than deposition= erosion landforms
Often Atlantic Ocean facing (Cornwall)

Question 17

What are the characteristics of a low energy coastline?

Answer 17

Less powerful waves
Wave energy is low
Often stable equilibrium
More deposition than erosion = deposition landforms
Often in sheltered bays or estuaries (Lincolnshire)

Question 18

What are the opportunities for human development in Odisha?

Answer 18

Has potential for offshore wind energy, or offshore oil and gas

Large fish stocks, so people can be fishermen, or work in aquaculture

Chilika Lake has over 150 species of birds so attracts tourists

People in forests can work with coir (coconut husk) in textile industries

Alternative industry of poultry farming (away from coastline)

Question 19

What are the risks for human occupation in Odisha?

Answer 19

Coastal erosion and flooding have increased as sea levels are rising

Storm surges and tsunamis makes coastal communities particularly vulnerable

The majority of Odisha’s population live on or near the coast

Rising sea levels, storm surges, and tsunamis are all increased by climate change

Any attempt to stop coastal erosion will only increase it elsewhere

Question 20

What are examples of human resilience in Odisha?

Answer 20

Replanting mangroves, and rebuilding buildings after storms

Question 21

What are examples of mitigation in Odisha?

Answer 21

Before 2013 tropical storm:

• 1 million people were evacuated
• warnings were broadcast to the most vulnerable areas

Multi-purpose cyclone shelters have been built

Mangroves have been planted to try to slow coastal erosion

Question 22

What are examples of adaptation in Odisha?

Answer 22

Mangroves have been planted

Industry has been diversified (people becoming poultry farmers which can be done further inland)

Question 23

What is the aim of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management?

Answer 23

Coordinate activities of all the stakeholders into an integrated approach to use the natural resources of the coast sustainably and maintain the natural environment

Question 24

What is the aim of the Shoreline Management Plans?

Answer 24

To consider the entire coastal zone and achieve a balance between natural processes and human needs