Swanage Case Study

Question 1

Is Dorset a high or low energy coastline? Why? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 1

Dorset is a high energy coastline due to the 6000km fetch across the Atlantic.

Question 2

Where is Dorset located? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 2

Dorset is located along the South-West coast of the UK.

Question 3

Describe the geology of the Swanage coastline. What rocks compose this section of coast? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 3

The Swanage coastline is discordant from the East, whereas from the south it is concordant. Made up of limestone, clay and sands and chalk.

Question 4

What/Where is the Foreland? What rock is it made up from? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 4

The Foreland is a headland on the East Dorset Coast. Made up of chalk.

Question 5

What marine processes and sub-aerial processes take place at the Foreland? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 5

Marine - wave refraction, hydraulic action and wave quarrying gently channel away at the sides of the headland.
Sub-aerial - biological weathering (roots and plants) takes place at the top of the cliff while carbonation dissolves CaCO3 cliffs.

Question 6

What/Where is Old Harry Rocks? What rock is this made up of? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 6

Old Harry Rocks are a series of stumps, caves and arches protruding from the Foreland. This is made up from chalk.

Question 7

What marine processes and sub-aerial processes take place at Old Harry Rocks? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 7

Marine - hydraulic action exploits weaknesses in rock, wave quarrying, cavitation, corrasion and abrasion.
Sub-aerial - CaCO3 vulnerable to chemical weathering by carbonation. Freeze-thaw weathering also exploits cracks in rocks.

Question 8

What/Where is Swanage Bay? What rock is it composed of? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 8

Swanage Bay is a Bay located on Dorset’s East Coast, between Ballard Point and Peveril Point. Composed of clay and sands.

Question 9

What type of energy environment is Swanage Bay? What sits behind the bay? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 9

Swanage Bay is a low energy environment, making this conducive to deposition. Behind the bay sits a built up urban area.

Question 10

What marine processes/deposition takes place at Swanage Bay? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 10

Marine - wave refraction and light wave quarrying/hydraulic action/attrition.
Deposition - deposition of sediment to form a wide beach.

Question 11

What/Where is Peveril Point? What rock is this built upon? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 11

Peveril Point is a sloped landform, a boundary formed between limestone and clay.

Question 12

Describe the landform at Peveril Point. What processes develop this landform? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 12

Peveril Point is a sloped landform with a seaward dip. Rockfalls and rockslides (mass movement) result in the development of this landform.

Question 13

What/Where is Durleston Head? What rock is this composed of? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 13

Durleston Head is a Headland/Cliff formed on the South Coast at Dorset. Composed of Purbeck Limestone.

Question 14

Describe the landform at Durleston Head. What other landforms develop here/what processes occur? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 14

Durleston Head has a landward dip. Wave-cut platform has developed at the base with a wave-cut notch.

Question 15

What/Where is Mupe Rocks? What rock type is it composed of? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 15

Mupe Rocks is where cliffs have retreated on the South Coast at Dorset. They are composed of Portland Limestone.

Question 16

What mass movement processes take place at Mupe Rocks? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 16

Mupe Rocks is prone to rockfalls and landslides due to the steep cliff profile there and the landward dip.

Question 17

What landform has been created at Mupe Rocks and through what processes? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 17

Wave cut platform created by wave quarrying/hydraulic action/cavitation.

Question 18

What/Where is Lulworth Cove? What rock type is this made up of? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 18

Lulworth Cove is a bay formed on the South Coast at Dorset, made up of eroded sections of limestone, clay and sands and chalk.

Question 19

What wave type forms the beach at Lulworth Cove? What process creates the wide and curved landscape at the cove? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 19

Constructive waves form the beach at Lulworth Cove, with low energy allowing accretion to occur. Wave refraction channels the most potent waves towards the edges of the bay, creating the curved landscape.

Question 20

What/where is Stair Hole? What rock type is this composed of? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 20

Stair Hole is a sea arch on the South Dorset coast, made up of sedimentary rocks which have become folded by tectonic activities.

Question 21

What marine/sub-aerial processes have contributed to the creation of Stair Hole? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 21

Marine: hydraulic action, wave quarrying, cavitation

Sub-aerial: roots and plants, mass movement (rockfalls)

Question 22

What/where is Durdle Door? What rock type is this composed of? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 22

Durdle Door is a cliff arch on the South Dorset coast, formed in the side of a limestone headland.

Question 23

What marine/sub-aerial processes result in the creation of Durdle Door? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 23

Marine: Cavitation, hydraulic action, wave quarrying, wave refraction, attrition, etc.
Sub-aerial: Durdle Door is shaped by freeze-thaw weathering, roots and plants, animals, CARBONATION.

Question 24

What/where is Poole Harbour? What has led to the formation of this? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 24

Poole Harbour is a natural harbour formed at the North-East side of the Dorset Coast. This has been created by a wind-blown spit forming across the harbour, allowing the deposition of sediment at a place where 4 rivers converge.

Question 25

What has formed behind Poole Harbour’s spit? Why? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 25

A salt marsh has formed directly behind the spit at Poole Harbour due to the reduction in wave energy at this point. The positioning of the wind-blown spit has created a sheltered area, allowing the stagnation of water and the accumulation of marine plants and life.

Question 26

What is Studland Bay? - Swanage Case Study

Answer 26

Studland Bay is a Dorset Coast example of a dune succession.