Costal Landscapes

Question 1

Characteristics of a constructive wave

Answer 1

• A low gentle wave
• Builds beaches
• Strong swash weak backwash
• Long wave length (8-10 per minute)
• Wave spreads a long way up the gently sloping beach

Question 2

Characteristics of a Destructive wave

Answer 2

• Tall, high energy wave
• Erodes beach material
• Shortwave length frequency (10-14 per min)
• Strong backwash weak swash
• Wave plunges onto steep beach directed downwards

Question 3

Wave

Answer 3

Caused by energy transfer from the wind to the sea. As wind blows over and causes friction forming waves

Question 4

What is the energy of the wave determined by (3)

Answer 4

• Strength of wind
• Duration of wind
• The distance of open water is has travelled (fetch)

Question 5

Types of erosion

Answer 5

• Abrasion - Rocks carries along/thrown at cliff side
• Hydraulic Action - The force of water compressing air cracks within cliffside
• Chemical - water washing the rock away slowly
• Attrition - (not with the cliff) Rocks transported by waves bashing into each other causing them to get more rounded and smaller

Question 6

Types of Transportation

Answer 6

• Traction - Large rocks roll along the sea bed
• Saltation - Bouncing
• Suspension - Sediment carried within waves
• Solution - Dissolved into the water and transported by sea

Question 7

Beach Nourishment

Answer 7

• Soft
• Adding sand and shingle to an existing beach - sediment usually found from off shore
• Adv - Blend in / Increases tourist potential
• Dis - Needs constant maintenance / Expensive - boat and machinery
  Cost - 500,000 per 100m

Question 8

Beach re-profiling

Answer 8

• Soft
• Artificial shaping of sediment in the beach further up the beach to ensure that there is a large enough barrier between sea and land
• Adv - Looks natural / protects residents
• Dis - Expensive / Steep beach may look uninviting
  Cost - 200,000 per year

Question 9

Dune regeneration

Answer 9

• soft
• Dunes can be used as barrier yet easily destroyed but the roots of marram grass can bind the sand together
• Adv - Natural and encourages wildlife / relatively cheap
• Dis - Time consuming / easily damaged / tourists can destroy easily
  Cost - 200 - 2000 per 100m

Question 10

Manages retreat

Answer 10

• Soft
• To deliberately let nature take its course and flood the given area
• Adv - Cheaper / sustainable / conserves natural habitats e.g mud flats
• Dis - Compensation to agriculturists - relocation

Question 11

Sea Walls

Answer 11

• Hard
• Concrete or rock barrier against sea, placed at the foot of cliff. Usually curved to redirect water/waves back to sea
• Adv - Effective / could also provide side walk
• Dis - Can look obtrusive or unnatural / incredibly expensive and high maintenance
  Cost - 15,000 - 10,000 per m
  Time - 100 years +

Question 12

Rock armour

Answer 12

• Hard
• Pile of boulders at foot of cliff
• Adv - relatively cheap / easy to maintain
• Dis - Rocks have to sourced / expensive transport / very obtrusive
  Cost - 200,000 per 100m
  Long lasting

Question 13

Gabions

Answer 13

• Hard
• Wire cadges filled with rocks filled as a buffer
• Adv - Cheap / flexible / introduce vegetation
• Dis - Do not blend well / rust
  Cost - 50,000 per 100m
  Time - 20-25 years

Question 14

Groynes

Answer 14

• Hard
• Timber roch structure sopping LSD causes wider beach
• Adv - Aids fishing / less fishing
• Dis - Interrupting LSD can starve beach later on leading to more erosion further down the coast
  Cost - 150,000 each
  Time - Up to 40 years