Landforms- formations and examples

Question 1

spit definition

Answer 1

is a long narrow feature that extends from the mainland at the end of a drift aligned beach

Question 2

formation of a spit

Answer 2

the process of LSD will move material along a coastline determined by the prevailing wind
coastline changes direction so the finer material will continue to be transported out to sea
this will be upwards and outwards to develop into a permanent feature
won’t be able to extend across to meet the mainland due to the strong current in the estuary and deep water
wave refraction and a second dominant wind direction forces the material in a different direction, resulting in a curved end
low energy waves enter behind the spit where silt and mud is deposited, then colonised by vegetation=salt marsh

Question 3

what is a compound spit

Answer 3

spits with barbs or hooks on their landward side

Question 4

simple spits

Answer 4

a bar of sand without barbs or hooks

Question 5

what is needed for a tombolo to form

Answer 5

drift aligned beach (waves approach beach at an angle so LSD can then happen)
dominant wind
prevailing wind
supply of sediment
low energy coastline
an island

Question 6

example of a barrier island

Answer 6

north Carolina – Cape Fear

Question 7

example of bar/barrier beach

Answer 7

slapton sands devon

Question 8

sand dune definition

Answer 8

sand dunes are accumulations of sand blown into mounds by wind (Aeolian landforms)

Question 9

how to work out the age of a dune

Answer 9

look at the size of a dune
type of vegetation
amount of vegetation
luminescent dating

Question 10

what do sand dunes need in order to form

Answer 10

ample supply of sand
strong prevailing wind
strong onshore wind
large inter tidal zone

Question 11

how does a sand dune form

Answer 11

sand accumulates on the beach through LSD
at low tide the sand dries out and wind suspends the sand in the air when the wind reaches a certain level (fluid threshold velocity).
wind blows the sand up the beach and deposits it around an obstacle (as wind loses energy when it hits it- so is deposited). when debris on the beach traps sand this is called a strand line.
sand dunes take a long time to form but over time grass, mainly Lyme Grass, will form on the dunes and stabilise them

Question 12

life cycle of a dune (the order they go in)

Answer 12

embroyo dune– fore dune— yellow dune– grey dune– dune slack- mature dune

Question 13

examples of landforms on a submergent coastline

Answer 13

fjords

rias

Question 14

examples of landforms on an emergent coastline

Answer 14

raised beaches

relict/fossil cliffs

Question 15

example of a fjord

Answer 15

milford sound

Question 16

example of a raised beach

Answer 16

isle arran

Question 17

example of a fossil cliff

Answer 17

north west scotland

Question 18

example of dalmation coast

Answer 18

along the coast of Croatia

Question 19

example of rias

Answer 19

Kingsbridge estuary, Devon

Question 20

example of marine platform

Answer 20

santa cruz marine terraces

Question 21

description of the formation of a fjord

Answer 21

is formed when a glacier retreats after carving its typical U-shaped valley-sea fills the resulting valley floor
forms a narrow steep sided inlet (sometimes deeper than 1300m) connected to the sea
the terminal moraine pushed down the valley by the glacier is left underwater at the fjord entrance- so water at the neck is shallower than main body of fjord

Question 22

description of the formation of rias

Answer 22

is a river valley next to the coast that has been ‘drowned’ as sea levels rise. a ria can be equal to the size of the valley that was submerged
a substantial rise in sea level can form a ria. a fall of landmass on a coastline can also permit water to entre a valley and form a ria

Question 23

what they are and description of the formation of raised beaches

Answer 23

are areas of former wave cut platforms and their beaches which are left at a higher level than the present coastline
formed by sea levels dropping- their beaches are at a higher level

Question 24

description of the formation of relict/fossil cliffs in scotland

Answer 24

the last ice age 10,000 years ago - land became depressed due to the weight of the ice (isostatic). when the ice melted it caused isostatic uplift- causing regression

Question 25

what is a relict cliff

Answer 25

is an old cliff displaying features such as caves, arches and stacks. feature no longer experiences coastal erosion but are still weathered biologically and chemically.

Question 26

where are marine platforms formed

Answer 26

where a sea cliff with a wave cut platform before it, is raised above sea level (often uplifted by large scale tectonic movements)

Question 27

how are Dalmatian coasts formed

Answer 27

form in areas where valleys (especially glacial valleys) lie parallel to one another. when the valleys are flooded by the rise in sea level, the tops of valleys remain above the surface of the sea and appear to be a series of islands that run parallel to the coast