First Batch: 1.1 - 1.7

Question 1

1.1: Littoral Zone

Answer 1

• The Littoral zone is the beach zone

- Consists of backshore, nearshore and offshore zones

Question 2

1.1: Offshore

Answer 2

The area further seaward than the nearshore

Question 3

1.1: Near shore

Answer 3

• The area from the mean high tide mark to beyond where waves break
• It includes all areas affected by currents due to proximity to land

Question 4

1.1: Backshore

Answer 4

• The upper beach closest to land
  OR
• Area from mean high water mark up to a change in physiography such a sand dune or cliff

Question 5

1.1: Primary Coasts

Answer 5

A type of coast dominated by land-based processes

e.g. Zavodovski Island

Question 6

1.1: Secondary Coasts

Answer 6

A type of coast dominated by marine erosion/ deposition

e.g. Slapton

Question 7

1.2: Constructive Wave Type (Summer)

Answer 7

• Low Height
• 6-8 per minute
• Uninterrupted swash, starts at nearshore
• Strong swash results in sediment berm (raised area)

Question 8

1.2: Destructive Wave Type (Winter)

Answer 8

• High height, short wavelength
• 13-15 per minute
• Slower waves approach steep/beach

Question 9

1.2: Percolation

Answer 9

Downward movement of water through …

• soil
• sand
• pebbles

Question 10

1.2 Do shingle beaches have more percolation than sandy beaches?

Answer 10

Yes, they do.
This is because shingle beaches have gaps between the pebbles allowing water to penetrate and move down through the ground

Question 11

1.3: Where does wave energy converge on a beach?

Answer 11

Converges on headlands

Question 12

1.3: How does wave refraction affect a beach?

Answer 12

• Refraction leads to waves concentrating on a headland accelerating the rate of erosion
• This material is then deposited in the bay

Question 13

1.4: What are Dalmatian Coasts?

Answer 13

• A type of concordant coastline
• An example of a tectonically formed submerged valley

The name is taken from Dalmatia, Croatia:

• Geology of Dalmatia is limestone
• Subsequently subjected to tectonic activity

Question 14

1.4: Define strata:

Answer 14

Refers to rocks arranged in layers

Question 15

1.4: Define Deformation:

Answer 15

How the strata are folded by tectonics

Question 16

1.4: Define Faulting:

Answer 16

Fractures that occur when rock is folded

Question 17

1.4: What is the role of geological structure at concordant coasts?

Answer 17

• Strata runs parallel to the coastline

- Rock strata may be folded into a series of anticlines and synclines

Question 18

1.5: What is Isostatic sea level change?

Answer 18

A local change in sea level due to a change in local coastline or land height

Question 19

1.5: Why does Isostatic sea level change occur?

Answer 19

• Heavy ice pushes land downwards
• When this ice melts, the land rebounds back
• Giving the perception that sea level is changing

Question 20

1.5: Tectonic Influence on Isostatic sea level change?

Answer 20

• Plate convergence/ subduction causes a sudden thrust

- Which can lead to upwards/ downwards movements of the sea bed

Question 21

1.5: Features of an Emergent Coast:

Answer 21

• Characterised by raised beaches/ relict fossil fuel cliffs
• Have moved away from marine processes
• Terrestrial processes operate instead

Question 22

1.5: What is an emergent coastline?

Answer 22

A coastline that is advancing relative to sea level at the time

Question 23

1.5: Features of a raised beach:

Answer 23

• Found above high-tide
• Reflects a series of stages of uplift
• Smaller particles are removed by waves, leaving rounded pebbles/ boulders

Question 24

1.5: Features of Fossil Cliffs:

Answer 24

• Found near vertical cliffs, but inland

- Sometimes near old sea caves/ wave cut platforms

Question 25

1.6: What is a Fjord?

Answer 25

• Submerged U-shaped valley that has been over deepened inland
• Rock lip threshold exists at the seaward entrance

Question 26

1.6: What is a Fjord? (PMT)

Answer 26

• Long narrow inlet of sea water which is between steep mountains
• They are created when sea levels rise relative to the land, flooding coastal glacial valleys

Question 27

1.6: What is a ria?

Answer 27

• A drowned valley that exists due to river erosion

Question 28

1.6: What is a rias? (PMT)

Answer 28

• Narrow winding inlet which is deepest at the mouth

- Formed when sea levels rise causing coastal valleys to flood

Question 29

1.6: What is Eustatic Sea level change?

Answer 29

Global changes to sea level

• Sea level has risen approximately 125m from the Last Glacial Maximum
• Most ice melted around 6000 years ago and sea level is now only slowly rising

Question 30

1.6: How can Tectonics affect Eustatic SL change?

Answer 30

Faulting and folding of crust can create displacement of seabed

Question 31

1.7: Describe/ Explain Eustatic Fall:

Answer 31

• Happens during glacial periods
• Ice sheets are formed on high-latitude land
• Evaporated water is locked up as ice
• Less water in the sea

Question 32

1.7: Describe/ Explain Isostatic Fall:

Answer 32

• Icy sheet melt, and land surface slowly rebounds upwards:

- lifting the land surface out of the sea - sea level appears to fall

Question 33

1.7: Describe/ Explain Eustatic Rise:

Answer 33

• Interglacial periods - ice sheets on land melt
• Melted water returns to the sea, so sea-level rises
• Global temperature also causes THERMAL EXPANSION as water particles more faster taking up move space

Question 34

1.7: Describe/ Explain Isostatic Rise:

Answer 34

• During glacials: Land is compressed by the weight of glaciers, causing sea level to appear to rise
• During interglacials: ice melts leads to sediment being deposited in large river deltas
• This leads to increased weight and delta subsidence - sea level appears to rise

Question 35

1.7: What is subsidence?

Answer 35

Sinking of ground/crust