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Geography Paper 1 > SectionC: Physical Landscapes of the UK-Coasts > Flashcards

SectionC: Physical Landscapes of the UK-Coasts Flashcards

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1
Q

backwash definition

A

the water that rolls back down a beach after a wave has broken

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2
Q

fetch definition

A

the distance in the direction of the prevailing wind that air or water can travel continuously without obstruction

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3
Q

swash definition

A

the waves washing up the beach

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4
Q

waves definition

A

formed when wind blows over the sea

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5
Q

what are coasts

A

coasts are where the sand meets the sea. The fetch of the waves cause the swash and backwash

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6
Q

characteristics of a constructive wave

A

created in calm weather, strong swash, these waves build up the beach

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7
Q

characteristics of a destructive wave

A

created in stormy conditions, this wave drags material away from the beach eroding it, they are created when the wind is strong and has been blowing for a LONG time, strong backwash, these waves have lots of energy

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8
Q

erosion definition

A

erosion involves the removal of material and the haping of landforms

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9
Q

abrasion coasts

A

is the sandpaper effect of the material rubbing agaisnt the cliff-face

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10
Q

hydraulic action coasts

A

the sheer force of the waves smashing into the cliff, trapped air forced into cracks so rock will fall

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11
Q

attrition coasts

A

rock fragments carried by the sea knock against each other causing them to become smaller and rounder

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12
Q

traction

A

large pebbles rolling along the seabed

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13
Q

saltation

A

small pebbles bouncing along the seabed

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14
Q

solution

A

dissolved chemicals often derived from limestone or chalk

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15
Q

suspension

A

particles carried within the water

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16
Q

if sub-aerial processes are greater than cliff-foot processes then the cliff will have…

A

a more gentle gradient as the mechanical/chemical weathering acting on the top of the cliff is acting faster than the waves at the bottom

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17
Q

if sub-aerial processes are weaker than cliff-foot processes then the cliff will have…

A

a steeper gradient as the sea is wearing the cliff away faster than the mechanical or chemical weathering

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18
Q

mechanical weathering

A

this is the process of breaking big rocks into little ones

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19
Q

chemical weathering

A

this is when there is a chemical change on rocks usually as a result of rainwater being acidic

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20
Q

biological weathering

A

this would include the effect of animals and plants on the landscape

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21
Q

example of mechanical weathering

A

freeze-thaw

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22
Q

how does freeze-thaw work

A

water collects into the small cracks in the surface when the temperature drops the ice expands by 9% which widens the cracks in the rocks, this is called freeze-thawing where eventually the rocks will break away from the cliff

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23
Q

example of chemical weathering

A

acid rain

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24
Q

where has acid rain occurred - case study

A

white cliffs of dover

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25
Q

what are the white cliffs of dover made from

A

limestone

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26
Q

how does acid rain work

A

rainwater becomes slightly acidic as carbon dioxide dissolves in it, some rocks are easily chemically weathered e.g. limestone and chalk

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27
Q

why are limestone and chalk easily chemically weathered

A

as they are made up of calcium carbonate

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28
Q

Beachy Head case study

A

wet winter of 2000 chalk became saturated with water, the water froze as the temperature dropped, in April 2001 this caused a rockfall

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29
Q

mass movement definition

A

mass movement is the downward movement or sliding of material under the influence of gravity

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30
Q

what do mass movement and weathering have an impact on

A

the coastal system

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31
Q

where does the material from mass movement go

A

it is carried away by waves and deposited further along the coast

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32
Q

what are the three types of mass movement

A

rock fall, landslide, rotational slip

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33
Q

rock fall description

A

fragments of rock break away from the cliff face, usually in glaciated areas due to freeze-thaw

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34
Q

landslide description

A

occurs when the land is sloped, bands of rock are layered diagonally along the slope, when the ground is saturated/weathered material can be weakened, this will result in the rock sliding downwards due to gravity

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35
Q

rotational slip description

A

permeable rock (gravel) sits on top of the impermeable rock (clay), the gravel allows water to soak into the ground which adds weight to the boulder clay, weathering such as freeze-thaw weakens the cliff, the cliff collapses in a rotational movement and slumps downwards

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36
Q

another name for rotational slip

A

slumping

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37
Q

why does deposition take place

A

waves enter an area of shallow water, little wind, waves enter a shallow area e.g. a bay, there is a good supply of material

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38
Q

what is wave refraction

A

where friction with the sea bed causes the wavefront to become distorted (bending and changing direction)

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39
Q

give two ways that wave refraction occurs at headlands and bays

A

the waves converge at headlands and diverge at bays

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40
Q

what is longshore drift

A

longshore drift is the movement of material along the beach. The prevailing wind makes the waves hit the beach at an angle. The waves pick up the material and the swash is at a 45-degree angle. Gravity deposits the material then the force of the backwash dragged by the wave back into the sea at 90 degrees. This process is repeated and builds up the beach but occurs in a zig-zag motion

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41
Q

discordant coastline

A

bands of different rock type

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42
Q

concordant coastline

A

bands of the same rock type

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43
Q

differential erosion

A

rocks eroding at different rates

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44
Q

EXAM QUESTION- Explain the formation of headlands and bays (6 marks)

A

headlands and bays are formed on a discordant coastline which is where bands of hard and soft rock e.g. chalk and clay create a coastline. Destructive waves erode the less resistant rock first then followed by the more resistant rock- this is called differential erosion. The processes of erosion that occur are hydraulic action (sheer force of the water eroding the cliff-face) and abrasion (the sandpaper effect where rocks rub against the cliff-face). The more resistant bands are now left as headlands and the less resistant are bays. The less resistant bands erode at a faster rate will retreat backwards. As constructive waves hit the newly-formed bay they will lose their energy as they have entered a sheltered area and deposit materials to build up the beach

45
Q

how is a wave-cut platform formed

A

on a concordant coastline destructive waves attack the cliff between the low and high tide mark, a wave cut notch is created which undercuts the cliff, weathering (freeze-thaw) weakens the top of the cliff, the over-hanging rock will collapse, the backwash carries the rubble towards the sea forming a wave cut platfomr, this process repeats and the cliff continues to retreat

46
Q

formation of headlands, caves, arches, stacks and stumps

A

on a concordant coastline a large crack is opened up by hydraulic action, the crack grows into a cave by hydraulic action and abrasion, the cave becomes larger, the cave breaks through the headland forming a natural arch, the arch is eroded and collapses, this leaves a tall rock stack, the stack is eroded forming a stumps

47
Q

what is coastal deposition

A

where the sea loses energy it drops the material it has been carrying. Deposition occurs when the swash is stronger than the backwash and is associated with constructive waves

48
Q

how is a beach formed

A

beaches are a build-up of sand, pebbles and cobbles on a wave-cut platform and they are formed by the transportation and deposition of beach material

49
Q

how is material sorted along the beach

A

by longshore drift

50
Q

what is a berm

A

ridges of material deposited at high tide

51
Q

what is a storm beach

A

a ridge of beach material deposited during storm conditions

52
Q

how is material sorted along with the beach profile

A

by wave energy

53
Q

spit- case study

A

Spurn Head, East Riding of Yorkshire

54
Q

what is a spit

A

a narrow band of sand which extends out to sea

55
Q

how is a spit formed

A

longshore drift moves sediment along the coast in the direction of the prevailing wind, a change in the coastlines shape causes the waves to lose their energy and deposit the sediment, the deposited material form a band of land called a spit that extends out to sea, as the end of the spit reaches deeper water it is more affected by strong winds and sea currents which curve the end of the spit into a hook, the area behind the spit is sheltered meaning the waters are calm so deposit all their fine material making salt marshes

56
Q

what is a bar

A

a band of sand which has joined two headlands, this is formed when a spit has built up across a bay

57
Q

example of a bar

A

Orford Ness, Suffolk

58
Q

what type of coastline must a bar occur on

A

a discordant, as a bar is sand joining two headlands

59
Q

vegetation at an embryo dune

A

sea couch

60
Q

vegetation at a foredune/yellow dune

A

marram grass, lyme grass

61
Q

vegetation at a grey dune

A

heather, legumes

62
Q

vegetation at a shrub and woodland

A

brambles and wild roses

63
Q

how are sand dunes formed

A

embryo dunes are formed around deposited obstacles such as seaweed, wood and rocks. When sand is transported up the beach it gets trapped in these obstacles, the dune will develop and become colonised by pioneer plant species which are able to survive the harsh conditions, as conditions become less harsh species begin to grow these dunes are more protected due to new dunes in front, rotting vegetation adds organic matter to the sand making it more fertile, sand dunes develop into shrubs then woodland, the ground is now nutrient-rich

64
Q

where is Swanage

A

a seaside town in Dorset on the South coast of England

65
Q

what is Swanage

A

a seaside town

66
Q

erosional landforms in Swanage

A

headlands and bays (discordant), headlands, caves, arches, stacks and stumps (concordant)

67
Q

depositional landforms in Swanage

A

Spit, beach, sand dunes

68
Q

4 hard engineering strategies for coasts

A

gabions, sea walls, groynes, rock armour

69
Q

what are gabions

A

rock-filled wire cages that support the base of the cliff and a buffer against the sea

70
Q

gabions cost

A

5,000-10,000 per metre

71
Q

gabions advantages

A

wire cages force the waves to break, increased sediment will slow down the waves

72
Q

gabions disadvantages

A

will rust in 5-10 years, look ugly

73
Q

what are groynes

A

wooden barriers built at right-angles to the beach to stop longshore drift, this creates a wider beach to absorb wave energy

74
Q

advantages of groynes

A

traps sediment from longshore drift, wider beach will reduce wave energy so will have less impact on the cliffs

75
Q

disadvantages of groynes

A

can starve areas from other coasts, problem has shifted rather than solved, ugly

76
Q

groynes cost

A

£1500 each

77
Q

what are sea walls

A

concrete walls. straight walls absorb the wave energy, curved walls reflect the wave energy back to the sea

78
Q

sea walls cost

A

£5000-£10,000 per metre

79
Q

sea walls advantages

A

the cliffs will be protected, curved reflects, straight absorbs

80
Q

sea walls disadvantages

A

expensive, need to constantly be maintained

81
Q

what is rock armour

A

large boulders piled on the beach absorb the wave energy so reduces the erosion of the beach pr cliffs

82
Q

rock armour cost

A

£200,000 per 100 metres

83
Q

rock armour advantages

A

rocks force the waves to break and they absorb the wave’s energy, the increased sediment will slow down the waves

84
Q

rock armour disadvantages

A

rocks can be taken from other parts of the coastline or abroad, transport is expensive, the beach isn’t authentic

85
Q

what are the four soft engineering strategies for coastal management

A

dune fencing, beach nourishment, dune regeneration, managed retreat

86
Q

what is dune fencing

A

fences are constructed along the seaward side of existing dunes to encourage new dune formation

87
Q

dune fencing cost

A

£400-£2000 per 100 metres

88
Q

dune fencing advantages

A

little impact on nature controls access and protects the ecosystem

89
Q

dune fencing disadvantages

A

unsightly, regular maintenance

90
Q

what is dune regeneration

A

dunes are covered in matting and vegetation planted to make them more stable

91
Q

dune regeneration cost

A

£200-£2000 per 100 metres

92
Q

advantages of dune regeneration

A

sand dunes are effective buffers, creates habitats

93
Q

disadvantages of dune regeneration

A

damaged by nature and people, time-consuming to plant marram grass

94
Q

what is beach nourishment

A

sand is added to the beach to replace sand washed away

95
Q

advantages of beach nourishment

A

increase of sediment on the beach so waves will lose energy before reaching the cliff

96
Q

disadvantages of beach nourishment

A

needs constant maintenance, short term fix

97
Q

beach nourishment cost

A

£500,000 per 100 metres

98
Q

what is managed retreat

A

this doesn’t stop coastal erosion, it allows coastal areas to erode and flood naturally, this is usually areas of low- value land

99
Q

cost of managed retreat

A

varies

100
Q

advantages of managed retreat

A

create wetland habitats, maintain the natural environment, last forever

101
Q

disadvantages of managed retreat

A

often unpopular as most of the land flooded is rural and attractive so popular for walking and bird watching etc.

102
Q

case study for coastal management

A

Lyme Regis

103
Q

where is Lyme Regis

A

South coast of England

104
Q

how many phases of the Lyme Regis scheme

A

4 but only 3 went through

105
Q

what was the main idea of the Lyme Regis scheme

A

to provide long term protection and reduce the threat of landslides and reduce conflict between property owners and fishermen

106
Q

what coastal management did they use in the Lyme Regis scheme

A

emergency nailing, sea walls, beach nourishment, nailing, piling and drainage

107
Q

how much did the Lyme Regis scheme cost

A

£43.4 million

108
Q

positives of the Lyme Regis scheme

A

more visitors, the harbour is protected

109
Q

negatives of the Lyme Regis scheme

A

traffic congestion has increased, spoilt the natural environment

Geography Paper 1 (8 decks)

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