coasts L4 marine processes, waves, and vegetation

Question 1

How does vegetation stabilise Low Energy Coastlines? (3 answers)

Answer 1

1. Roots bind the sediment together (FLOCCULATION)
2. Plants shelter sediment and act as a WIND BREAKER, creates more stable ground for plants to grown on
3. SHIELDS soil behind plants from SALT SPRAY from the sea

Question 2

Why is Marram Grass effective against salt spray?

Answer 2

It’s a Halophyte - a plant that can tolerate salt water

Question 3

What is the maximum wave energy?

Answer 3

30 tonnes/m^2

Question 4

What are the most common coastal ecosystems in the UK?

Answer 4

Sand dunes and Salt marshes

Question 5

What are the most crucial natural coastal defences globally?

Answer 5

Coral reefs and Mangrove forests

Question 6

Where is the fastest receding coastline in Europe?

Answer 6

Lincolnshire - Gibraltar Point specifically
receded by 400-800 metres over the last 500 years

Question 7

List the order of dune development

Answer 7

1. Embryo Dunes
2. Fore Dunes
3. Yellow Dunes
4. Grey Dunes

Question 8

Embryo Dunes

Answer 8

• Take 2-4 months to grow
• Formed when wind builds up sediment over obstacles
• Prickly Saltwort grows
• MOBILE

Question 9

Fore Dunes

Answer 9

• Take 1-2 years to form
• Salt tolerant vegetation - Marram grass, Lyme grass
• MOBILE

Question 10

Yellow Dunes

Answer 10

• Take 30-40 years to form
• Marram Grass, Sea Holly
• MOBILE

Question 11

Grey Dunes

Answer 11

• 250 years old
• organic matter in sand/soil
• Sea Buck Thorn, Dewberry
• FIXED

Question 12

how many CONSTRUCTIVE WAVES per minute

Answer 12

6 to 9

Question 13

how many DESTRUCTIVE WAVES per minute

Answer 13

11 to 15

Question 14

Summer and Winter beach profiles

Answer 14

Summer:
- Berms (beach)

Winter:
- Off shore ridges/bars - from erosion

Question 15

The Dalmation Coastline

Answer 15

• CONCORDANT
• folds parallel to the coast
  (anticline (PEAK)) (syncline (LOW))
• tectonic forces produced by the collision of African and Eurasian plates compressed carboniferous limestone 50 million years ago.
• SUBMERGENT landscape

Question 16

The Haff Coastline (Poland)

Answer 16

• 20-40m deep - shallow coastline
• form where deposition produces unconsolidated geological structures parallel to the coastline
• sand ridge formed bars across some bays and river mouths, with trapped river water forming a lagoon behind