Coasts - High Energy And Low Energy Coastlines

Question 1

Describe a high-energy coastline

Answer 1

• stronger waves
• destructive waves
• high rates of erosional processes (> deposition)
• higher fetch

Question 2

Describe a low energy coastline

Answer 2

• less powerful waves
• constructive waves
• shorter fetch
• deposition exceeds erosion

Question 3

Describe wave refraction at a headland and bay

Answer 3

• the change in the depth of water causes waves to refract
• the waves refract towards headlands, because the water is more shallow there
• results in the formation of caves, arches, stacks and stumps
• waves have much lower energy when they reach the bay, so they lose their energy and beaches are formed