Environmental Change and Management

Question 1

Source

Answer 1

The natural resources that have originated directly from the biophysical environment
e.g Precipitation in the Ganges River
Melted snow from the Himalayas
Melting glaciers

Question 2

Sink

Answer 2

The ability of the earth and the general environment to absorb the waste and pollution that is created in the natural process of life
e.g. Large population living on the Ganges River
Settlements on the Ganges River
Irrigation using the river water

Question 3

Service

Answer 3

The ability of the environment to sustain human life by providing various services without the intervention of human action
e.g. Using water for drinking, washing, bathing
Using the water for agricultural purposes

Question 4

Spiritual

Answer 4

The ability of the environment to provide for human’s spiritual needs, creating spiritual value in certain environments for different people
e.g. Significance of Ganges River to Hindu people

Question 5

How are waves formed?

Answer 5

Waves are formed as a result of friction between the wind and the sea. The size of a wave depends on the strength of the wind, how long the wind has been blowing for and the fetch

Question 6

Define fetch

Answer 6

Fetch is the amount of sea the wind has blown across; the distance

Question 7

Destructive waves

Answer 7

Destructive waves are steep and high, and their wavelength is small. They are formed either when the fetch is short or from local storms, and comb material down a beach. They have high energy, break further away from the beach and are most likely to occur on beaches with steep angles. Additionally, they typically occur close together, with a stronger backwash and a weaker swash

Question 8

Constructive waves

Answer 8

Constructive waves build sediment about the low water mark, and result from swell, when the fetch is generally large. They form far out at sea and are flat and low, with a large wavelength in comparison to the height. They have a low frequency, and typically occur on beaches with a shallow angle, and are wide and long meaning the energy from the swash is quickly lost creating a weak backwash

Question 9

Aeolian process

Answer 9

The aeolian process involves the erosion, transportation and deposition of sediment by the wind

Question 10

Swash

Answer 10

The waves moving up the beach, it carries material up and along the beach

Question 11

Backwash

Answer 11

The waves retreating back down the beach, carrying material back down at right angles. This is the result of gravity

Question 12

Longshore drift

Answer 12

Longshore drift happens when waves move up the coast at an angle, providing a link between erosion and deposition. Material is eroded in one place, and then transported and deposited elsewhere

Question 13

Deposition

Answer 13

When the sea drops and deposits material onto the beach, including sand, sediment and shingle

Question 14

Erosion

Answer 14

The geological process by which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as water and wind

Question 15

Hydraulic action

Answer 15

The erosion that occurs as a result of water hitting the coast and dislodging small rock particles, therefore transporting them

Question 16

Corrosion

Answer 16

The chemical action of sea water, with acids in the salt water slowly dissolving rocks on the coast. Limestone and chalk are particularly susceptible to this

Question 17

Corrasion

Answer 17

The process of the coast being worn down by the materials carried in waves, with these materials often being thrown at the coast at a high velocity

Question 18

Attrition

Answer 18

Materials carried by waves bump into one another and as such the particles are smoothed and further broken down