Coasts (20 Markers)

Question 1

Evaluate the contribution that changes in sea level make to the formation of coastal landscapes - Intro

Answer 1

Intro - Coastal landscapes are made up of an assemblage of landforms that have developed over time - short term such as beach cusps and long term such as headlands and bays. Influenced by many factors such as topography and lithology. Sea level change is another factor, the change in the relative levels of the sea and the land. Major causes of sea level changes include, eustatic isostatic and tectonic movements.

Question 2

Evaluate the contribution that changes in sea level make to the formation of coastal landscapes - Para 1

Answer 2

A key contribution that changes in sea level make to the formation of coastal landscapes are through eustatic changes. Ice sheets from the last ice age have melted due to a change in global climate. This results in the sea levels rising by 120 meters. Furthermore, thermal expansion has lead to the sea levels increasing further. Sea levels rising leads to submergent coastlines, with distinct features such as Rias, Fjords and Fjards. Examples of which include Sweden, known for its fjords. And Dalmatian coasts seen in Croatia where rising sea levels cover lots of the land near the coast.

Question 3

Evaluate the contribution that changes in sea level make to the formation of coastal landscapes - Para 2

Answer 3

As well as eustatic change, which is global. More localised changes in sea level can be result of isostatic change. Isostatic readjustment occurs when during glaciation, the extra weight of the ice on the land forces the earth to tilt down, so corrected when the ice is melted. Areas in Scotland are still undergoing isostatic uplift to this day. It was said that ice sheets covered the UK up to Finchley Road tube station in London. This causes coastal landscapes such as fossil cliffs and raised beaches. However it is not only sea level change that has caused these features, deposition and erosion can create coastline features.

Question 4

Evaluate the contribution that changes in sea level make to the formation of coastal landscapes - Para 3

Answer 4

However, it could be argued that a more significant factor in forming coastal landscapes is marine processes. Processes such as hydraulic action, attrition, and abrasion will apply force onto a cliff face and cause cliffs to break down. These can lead to the formation of wave cut notches and platforms, caves, arch, stack and stump sequences, such as old Harry and his wife along the Jurassic coast. Moreover mass movement processes such as sub aerial weathering, rotational slumping, rock fall ect also produce distinct landforms observed along the Holderness coast for example.

Question 5

Evaluate the contribution that changes in sea level make to the formation of coastal landscapes - Para 4

Answer 5

Also, it may be argued that the wave type is a more important factor in producing landforms. Then talk about destructive and constructive waves.