Coasts

Question 1

What type of system is a coast

Answer 1

open system

Question 2

what is an open system

Answer 2

one that has inputs that originate form outside the system and outputs that link to other systems

Question 3

where is Selwicks bay

Answer 3

Flamborough Head

Question 4

what happens at Selwicks bay?

Answer 4

a small stream discharges water and inputs sediment into the bay (input)

Question 5

How do the waves function at selwicks bay

Answer 5

normally driven by north Atlantic storms that pass into the N of the North Sea

Question 6

where does sediment go from Selwicks bay

Answer 6

southwards along the coast and deposited in the S of the North Sea (outpu)

Question 7

What links does a coastal open system have

Answer 7

links with other natural systems like the atmosphere, tectonics, ecosystems and oceanic

Question 8

how are all natural systems linked

Answer 8

transfers of energy and materials

Question 9

how are chalk cliffs susceptible to erosion

Answer 9

they are prone to carbonation which is a key part of the carbon cycle
Dissolved salts can be carried deep into the ocean away from the coast

Question 10

how many sediment cells in England and Wales

Answer 10

11

Question 11

define input

Answer 11

material or energy moving into the system from outside

Question 12

define output

Answer 12

material or energy moving from the system to outside

Question 13

Define energy

Answer 13

power or driving force

Question 14

define stores/components

Answer 14

individual parts of a system

Question 15

define a flow/transfer

Answer 15

links or relationships between components

Question 16

define positive feedback

Answer 16

A flow or transfer leads to increase or growth

Question 17

Define negative feedback

Answer 17

where a flow or transfer leads to decrease or decline

Question 18

define dynamic equilibrium

Answer 18

represents a state of balance within a constantly changing system

Question 19

What happened to sea levels in the quaternary glacial and interglacial periods

Answer 19

They rose and fell several times (so did the land) in response to global water cycle changes

Question 20

what did changing sea levels do to land

Answer 20

affected exactly where coastal processes occurred (some landforms owe their existence to this)

Question 21

where is Dyrholaey

Answer 21

Iceland

Question 22

what is Dyrholaey

Answer 22

a small peninsula on the South coast famous for its dramatic landscapes and puffins in summer

Question 23

what is the fetch towards Dyrholaey

Answer 23

no land mass south until Antarctica so massive

Question 24

what do the strong waves cause in Dyrholaey

Answer 24

extremely active erosion and deposition to create the distinctive landscape

Question 25

What is the geology in Dyrholaey

Answer 25

black sand a pebbles form volcanic basalt formed by millions of years of tectonic activity and transportation to the coast by rivers, glaciers and the wind

Question 26

what does the basalt in Dyrholaey show

Answer 26

linkages with other physical systems

Question 27

what examples of emergent landforms are there in Dyrholaey

Answer 27

isolated stacks and new vegetation on land that the tide no longer reaches

Question 28

where is known for its massive waves that attract surfers from across the world

Answer 28

Nazare in Portugal

Question 29

what is the tallest wave surfed in Nazare

Answer 29

nearly 30m high

Question 30

what is the main source of energy for all natural systems

Answer 30

the Sun

Question 31

What is the main source of energy at the coast

Answer 31

waves from the sea

Question 32

what is wind

Answer 32

the movement of air form one place to another

Question 33

what causes variation in atmospheric pressure

Answer 33

differences in surface heating by the Sun

Question 34

what alters the speed of wind

Answer 34

the greater the pressure gradient, the faster the wind

Question 35

what does the prevailing wind in the UK mean

Answer 35

air moves from subtropical high pressure belt at 30N to subpolar low pressure belt at 60N

Question 36

why does the prevailing wind carry so much energy

Answer 36

it blows over a large expanse of the Atlantic and can transfer a lot of energy to waves that hit the UK

Question 37

what affects wave energy

Answer 37

strength of wind Duration of wind Fetch

Question 38

What causes waves to form

Answer 38

frictional drag on the surface that forms ripples that eventually causes orbital motion of the water

Question 39

what is the form of constructive waves (wavelength)

Answer 39

low, surging waves with a long wavelength

Question 40

What is the beach profile from constructive waves

Answer 40

gentle profile that builds up the beach over time (can make it steeper by deposition)

Question 41

what is the form of destructive waves (wavelength)

Answer 41

high, plunging waves with a short wavelength

Question 42

what is the beach profile of destructive waves

Answer 42

steeper beach profile initially that gets flattened by erosion

Question 43

What is a tide

Answer 43

changes in water level in seas and oceans caused by the gravitational pull of the moon (and sun a bit)

Question 44

what is the tidal range

Answer 44

range between the height of high and low tides

Question 45

what is a spring tide

Answer 45

when the sun, moon and earth align so maximal coefficient of tide

Question 46

what is a neap tide

Answer 46

where the moon and sun are perpendicular to the earth so the coefficient is lowest of the tide

Question 47

what do the tide and tidal range affect the coast

Answer 47

it determines the precise height and duration of wave processes on beaches or a cliff

Question 48

Example of tide and tidal range affecting the coast

Answer 48

erosion of a cliff face is concentrated on a small section of a cliff for a long time if the tidal rage is small, but with a high tidal range, the waves only break at a specific point on the cliff for a short period of time

Question 49

what is a rip current

Answer 49

Strong localised underwater currents that occur on some beaches that pose considerable danger to swimmers and surfers

Question 50

what forms a rip current

Answer 50

a series of plunging waves cause a temporary build up of water at the top of the beach Mamet with resistance from breaking waves, backwash is forced below the surface which can drag people into deep waters

Question 51

what is a common characteristic of a high-energy coastline

Answer 51

rocky coasts

Question 52

where do you typically find High-Energy Environments on the coast

Answer 52

Atlantic facing coasts where the waves are powerful for much of ht year like NW Scotland or Cornwall

Question 53

What landforms do you typically find in High-energy coastlines

Answer 53

erosional landforms like headlands, cliffs and wave-cut platforms

Question 54

what is a common characteristic of a low energy coastline

Answer 54

sandy beaches and estuarine coasts

Question 55

where do you typically find low energy coastal environments

Answer 55

Stretches of coast where waves are less powerful or the coast is sheltered form large waves such as Lincolnshire

Question 56

what landforms do you get at low-energy coastal environments

Answer 56

beaches, spits and coastal plains Due to deposition rates being higher than erosion rates