Topic 2.1 - Coastal Landscapes and Change

Question 1

What is the littoral zone?

Answer 1

A dynamic zone of rapid change due to natural processes and human activities within it.

Question 2

Describe the backshore on a beach profile.

Answer 2

Area near the back of the beach which is usually above the influence of the waves.

Question 3

Describe the foreshore of a beach profile.

Answer 3

The inter-tidal or surf zone which is exposed at low tide and covered at high tide.

Question 4

Describe the nearshore of a beach profile.

Answer 4

The area covered at all tides which is known as the breaker zone.

Question 5

Describe the offshore of a beach profile.

Answer 5

The area beyond the influence of the wanes furthest away from the back of the beach.

Question 6

Name some features of a beach

Answer 6

• Longshore bars
• Sand runnels and ridges
• Berms
• Storm beach
• Shingle ridges
• Cliffs
• Dunes
• Breakpoint bar (zone of breaking waves)

Question 7

Outline a system

Answer 7

Input - raw material supplied

Processes - material changed/ modified by processes

Output - produce taken out/ away from the system

Question 8

What are the two main types of coasts?

And describe them

Answer 8

Coastal Plains

• land gradually slopes towards sea across area of deposited sediment
• e.g. Sandy coastlines and estuarine coastlines

Rocky/Cliff Coasts

• cliffs varying in height
• cliffs formed from rocks but hardness is variable

Question 9

Outline features of low energy coats

Answer 9

• less powerful constructive waves
• calmer conditions
• shorter fetches
• deposition and transport
• sediment from rivers
• longshore drift, nearshore currents
• sheltered from large waves
• lowland coasts
• coastal plain landscape

Examples:

• Coastal Lincolnshire
• Northumberland
• East Anglia

Question 10

Outline features of high energy coasts

Answer 10

• powerful destructive waves
• storm conditions
• long fetches
• erosion and transport
• sediment from eroded land, mass movement & weathering, offshore currents
• cliffs, wave cut platforms, arches, caves etc
• exposed to largest waves
• highland & lowland coasts
• rocky landscape

Examples:

• Cornwall
• North West Scotland
• Atlantic facing coast

Question 11

What is an isolated system?

Answer 11

Where there is no output or input of energy or matter