Coasts

Question 1

What is the littoral zone and name the 4 features

Answer 1

The littoral zone is a zone of dynamic equilibrium with inputs, outputs and processes and it’s an open system.

4 features:
- offshore
-nearshore
-backshore
-foreshore

Question 2

What is a high energy coast and what are the landforms associated with it?

Answer 2

A high energy coast has powerful and strong waves with landforms of cliffs and wave cut platforms.

Question 3

What is a low energy coast and what are the landforms associated with it?

Answer 3

Low energy costs has less powerful and slower waves with landforms of spits, bays and sand dunes

Question 4

What is a Concordant coast?

Answer 4

A concordant coast occurs when there are alternating hard and soft rock which are parallel to the coast - Haff coastlines

Question 5

What is a discordant coast?

Answer 5

A discordant coast is when there are alternating hard and soft rock which are at a 90* angle to the beach

Question 6

Features of destructive wave?

Answer 6

• 13/15 per minute
• high and powerful waves

Question 7

Features of constructive waves?

Answer 7

6-8 per minute
Lower waves and less powerful

Question 8

Wave erosion processes

Attrition=
Abrasion=
Corrosion=
Hydraulic action=

Answer 8

Attrition= waves continually move rocks and pebbles which cause corners to get knocked away

Abrasion= destructive waves pick up sand and pebbles and throw them against other rocks which abraded them

Corrosion= water from waves may react with minerals which dissolve them

Hydraulic action= when the pressure inside the rock increases it causes the rock to shatter

Question 9

What is longshore drift?

Answer 9

Longshore drift occurs when eroded material gets carried away

• strongest longshore drift occurs when waves approach the beach at a 90* angle

Question 10

3 types of weathering

Answer 10

Mechanical
Chemical
Biological

Question 11

What is eustatic change?

Answer 11

Eustatic change is when the ice in the land melts which causes sea levels to rise

Question 12

What is isostatic change?

Answer 12

Isostatic change occurs when land levels sinks causing the sea level to go up

Question 13

What is an emergent coastline

Answer 13

Emergent coastlines are often the result of isostatic rebound

-raised beach
-fossil cliffs

Question 14

What is a submergent coastline?

Answer 14

Often the result of isostatic sinking or sea level rise

-fjords
-rias

Question 15

What is hard engineering and name some types of it?

Answer 15

Hard engineering are psychical processes and systems but are costly

Groynes- wooden structure on beach to stop longshore drift

Sea walls- curved wall to reflect waves and absorb energy

Rip rap- boulders which don’t erode take in wave energy

Question 16

What is soft engineering hand name some types?

Answer 16

Soft engineering works with physical processes to protect coasts

Beach nourishment- replaces beach sediments eroded or transported by longshore drift

Cliff regrading= regrading the cliff by creating a new slope

Cliff drainage= adding pipes to get any water out of cliffs to stop erosion

Question 17

What is ICZM?

Answer 17

Integrated coastal zone management is a process for planning and co-ordinating how coastal resources are used and developed