Factors Affecting Coastal Processes And Landforms

Question 1

What 3 things does wave type depend on?

Answer 1

Wind velocity - faster means bigger waves
Length of time wind blows across water - longer periods means bigger waves
Fetch - longer fetch means bigger waves

Question 2

4 parts of wave refraction

Answer 2

The depth of water around a coastline varies. Friction from the sea bed in shallow water slows the process of waves.

Waves change direction, so that they approach the coastline aligned parallel to it.

This distorts the spread of energy - concentrated at headlands and dissipated in bays.

Concentrated energy at headlands encourages erosion. Lower energy in bays results in sediments deposited, creating beaches.

Question 3

Wave reflection

Answer 3

A wave hitting a vertical surface such as a cliff face or sea wall bounces back without breaking or losing its energy.

The lines of incoming and outgoing waves are called standing waves

Question 4

How does hardness affect processes and landforms created?

Answer 4

Harder more resistant rock, such as granite, eroded slowly often producing high cliffs.

Ricks such as slays and sandstone have less structural strength and erode quicker. Slumping can be a dominant feature.

Question 5

How does structure affect processes and landforms created?

Answer 5

Ricks with many joints and bedding planes are weaker and more vulnerable to weathering and erosion.

Faults are major lines of weakness where erosion processes can have every greater impact.

Folding weekend rocks and affects the dip of rock strata, Influencing the rate of erosion and cliff profiles