Sand dunes

Question 1

Optimum conditions for sand dunes to form?(5)

Answer 1

• sufficient land
• strong onshore winds
• plentiful supplies of sand
• vegetation to colonise
• low gradient beach and high tidal range

Question 2

What does sand become trapped by?

Answer 2

obstacles like seaweed

Question 3

First set of dunes which establish?

Answer 3

embryo dunes which pioneer species take root and the presence plants adds organic matter to the dunes which aids water retention

Question 4

Second set of dunes?

Answer 4

foredunes - mobile - contain little organic matter - more vegetation grows more humus added giving them a greyer colour

Question 5

What are dune slacks?

Answer 5

depressions within dunes where water table is on or near the surface and conditions are often damp

Question 6

What are the difficulties with plants colonising?

Answer 6

liability of blow outs and human acitivities

Question 7

What happens when blow outs occur?

Answer 7

50% of sand in dune may be lost

Question 8

Where are Fylde Sand Dunes?

Answer 8

Lancashire, Lytham in south and Fleetwood in north

Question 9

Why has their been a loss of dunes at Fylde dunes?

Answer 9

Expansion of Blackpool and building of St Annes

Question 10

What has been set up to protect sand dunes at Fylde?

Answer 10

A nature reserve which includes 50 hectares of SSSI