The Coastal Zone

Question 1

What is Mechanical Weathering?

Answer 1

Is the breakdown of rock without changing its chemical composition. E’g Freeze Thaw Weathering

Question 2

What is chemical weathering?

Answer 2

The breakdown of rock by changing its chemical composition. Happens in warm,wet conditions.

Question 3

What is Mass Movement?

Answer 3

The shifting of rocks and loose material down a slope-e.g a cliff.

Question 4

What are the two types of mass movement?

Answer 4

Slides-where material slumps in a straight line.

Slumps-where material shits with a rotation.

Question 5

What are the properties of destructive waves?

Answer 5

Have a high frequency (10-14 waves per minute)
High and steep
Their backwash is more powerful than their swash,so more material is removed from the coast.

Question 6

Where do Headlands and Bays form?

Answer 6

Where erosion resistance is different. This is where there are alternating bands of resistant and less resistant rock along the coast.

Question 7

What are headlands eroded to form?

Answer 7

Caves,Arches and stacks

Question 8

How is material transported along coasts?

Answer 8

By longshore drift

Question 9

What are the properties of constructive waves?

Answer 9

Have a low frequency (6-8 waves per minute)
They’re low and long
The swash is powerful,and it carries material up the coast
The backwash is weaker,so material is deposited

Question 10

What are beaches formed by?

Answer 10

Deposition.

Question 11

What are the two types of beaches?

Answer 11

Sand beaches-which are flat and wide. The sand particles are weak and the weak backwash can move them back down a beach,creating a long,gentle slope.

Shingle Beaches-steep and narrow. Shingle particles are large,and the weak backwash can’t move them-so they build up and create a steep slope.

Question 12

What can longshore drift form?

Answer 12

Spits and Bars

Question 13

Why are sea levels rising?

Answer 13

As a result of global warming which:
Melts ice-which increases the volume of water in oceans.
Heats oceans-causes the oceans to get warmer and expand,increasing the volume of water.

Question 14

What are three hard engineering strategies for Coastal Flooding?

Answer 14

Sea Wall
Rock Armour
Grounded

Question 15

What are the four soft engineering methods for coastal flooding?

Answer 15

Beach Nourishment
Dune Regeneration
Marsh Creation
Managed Retreat