10- Coastal Risks

Question 1

Difference between isostatic and eustatic change

Answer 1

Isostatic- LOCAL rise or fall in land level

Eustatic- rise or fall in GLOBAL sea level

Question 2

Cause of isostatic rise in sea level?

Answer 2

Land sinking due to deposition of sediment in a river delta

Question 3

Cause of isostatic fall in sea level?

Answer 3

Slow Rising of land as ice sheets melt

Question 4

Coastal features created by rising sea level

Answer 4

Ria
Fjord
Barrier islands
Parallel lines of hilly islands- Dalmatian coastb

Question 5

Why is it difficult to predict future sea levels with accuracy

Answer 5

Predictions based on passed data

Lots of components that vary- eg extent of global warming will determine level of thermal expansion

Question 6

How can tectonic activity affect sea level

Answer 6

Earthquakes can cause isostatic change which has localised impact on sea level
Earthquakes cause tsunamis which can cause temporary change in sea level

Question 7

What is a storm surge

Answer 7

Sudden short term change caused by low pressure system such as tropical cyclone or depression
Fall in air pressure of of 1 millibar= 1cm increase in local sea level

Question 8

How does coastal topography contribute to imapact of storm surge

Answer 8

Narrowing of North Sea towards English Channel has funnelling effect

Question 9

What does mitigation mean in terms of coastal management

Answer 9

Taking positive actions which aim to stop coastal erosion

Eg hard engineering

Question 10

What does adaption mean in terms of coastal management

Answer 10

Accommodating or living with erosion and risk of flooding

Eg planned retreat