Coastlines + Wave Refraction

Question 1

Discordant coastline

Answer 1

Alternating hard and soft rock
90° to coast
Waves erode soft rock - elongated, narrow bays
Hard rock not eroded - headlands
Particularly hard resistant areas - detached islands

Question 2

Rivers in discordant coastline

Answer 2

Erode the soft rock to make valleys
High sea level floods valley - waves hit soft rock and erode backwards
Exaggerated headlands and bays

Question 3

Wave refraction

Answer 3

Ocean water crests parallel to coast
Slow and gain height as approach shallow offshore
Refract + concentrate on headlands
Spread out in bays
Erosion at headlands, deposition at bays

Question 4

Cork Coastline (SW or Ireland)

Answer 4

Limestone/sandstone
Discordant coastline - parallel layers, 90° to sea
Detached islands
More exposed, higher fetch, more storms + precipitation, rivers