Coats

Question 1

What is a Destructive Wave?

Answer 1

• A destructive wave is created in stormy conditions. They are big, strong and high energy. They have a stronger backwash than a swash.

Question 2

What is a Constructive Wave?

Answer 2

• A constructive wave is created in cool and calm conditions. It deposits material along the shore and has a stronger swash than a backwash.

Question 3

Explain the Four Erosional Processes

Answer 3

• Corrosion is when the rocks are thrown at the cliff face and it wears it away like sandpaper.
• Attrition is where the rocks bash together and makes smaller and rounder rocks.
• Solution is where the water dissolves the rock like a tablet in water.
• Hydraulic Action is where the water gets into the cracks of rocks and the pressure of the water breaks them open.

Question 4

Explain the Formation of a Headland + Bay

Answer 4

• Headland and Bays form along coasts that have alternating bands of hard rock and soft rock.
• Hard rock is more resistant to the Four Erosional Processes leaving a headland and soft rock is less resistant, leaving a bay.

Question 5

Explain the Formation of a Wave Cut Notch + Platform

Answer 5

• Weather weakens the top of the cliff.
• The sea attacks the base of the cliff, forming a wave-cut notch.
• This notch increases in size, causing the cliff to collapse.
• The backwash pushes the rubble towards the sea, forming a wave-cut platform.
• This process repeats and the cliff continues to retreat.

Question 6

Explain the Formation of Caves, Arches and Stacks

Answer 6

• Sea attacks the base of the cliff, and opens up small cracks and weaknesses in the rock.
• Further wave erosion will widen the crack until a cave forms.

Question 7

Explain the Formation of Caves, Arches and Stacks (2)

Answer 7

• A blowhole may be created when compressed and pushed upwards by the power of the waves and wave erosion occurs.
• The cave widens and deepens until it cuts through the headland to make an arch.
• Further erosion causes the roof of the arch to collapse. This leaves a stack behind. Eg - Old Man of Hay in Orkney

Question 8

Explain the Formation of a Spit

Answer 8

• A spit is a long, narrow accumulation of sand or shingle.
• Spits form where the coastline dramatically changes direction. The area needs to be sheltered with calm water to allow the spit to accumulate.
• The spit may have a hooked end and this could be due to a change in the prevailing wind.
• The shadowed, sheltered area behind the spit fills with mud, leaving a salt marsh.

Question 9

Explain the Formation of a Sandbar

Answer 9

• A sandbar forms when the longshore drift transports materials across a bay, joining one headland to another. Eg - Slapton Sands
• A lagoon is a body of brackish water, part salty and part fresh. It often supports specialised plants and animals and is protected as a nature reserve.

Question 10

Explain the Formation of a Tombolo

Answer 10

• A tombolo is a spit connecting an island to the mainland.