Geography - UK Physical Landscape: Coasts

Question 1

Fetch

Answer 1

The distance over which wind has blown

Question 2

Constructive Waves

Answer 2

Build a beach

Strong swash

Wave crests far apart

Question 3

Destructive Waves

Answer 3

Destroy a beach

Strong backwash

Wave crest close together

Question 4

Mechanical Weathering

Answer 4

The breaking of rocks at the base of the cliff

Question 5

Chemical Weathering

Answer 5

Acidic rainwater dissolving rock

Question 6

Biological Weathering

Answer 6

Plant roots grow into rocks, animals burrow into rocks

Question 7

Rockfall

Answer 7

Fragments of rock break away from cliff face

Question 8

Landslide

Answer 8

Blocks of rocks slide downhill

Question 9

Mud flow

Answer 9

Saturated soil and weak rock flows down a slope

Question 10

Rotational slip

Answer 10

Saturated soil and weak rock flow along a curved surface

Question 11

Hydraulic action

Answer 11

Power of waves as they smash into rocks

Question 12

Abrasion

Answer 12

Pebbles grinding over a rocky platform, making it smooth

Question 13

Attrition

Answer 13

Rock fragments knocking against one and other, therefore smaller and rounded.

Question 14

Solution (erosion)

Answer 14

The dissolving of soluble chemicals in rocks

Question 15

Suspension

Answer 15

Particles suspended in water

Question 16

Traction

Answer 16

Large pebbles rolled along the seabed

Question 17

Saltation

Answer 17

‘Bouncing’ of particles too heavy to be suspended

Question 18

Solution (transportation)

Answer 18

Dissolved chemicals

Question 19

Long Shore Drift (LSD)

Answer 19

The movement of material in a zig zag motion along the coast is usually in the direction of the prevailing winds.

Question 20

Headlands

Answer 20

Formed on dis-concordant coastlines. Hard rock cannot be worn away leaving hard rock sticking out.

Question 21

Bays

Answer 21

Formed on dis-concordant coastlines. Destructive waves erode soft rock to leave an indent on cliff face

Question 22

Beach

Answer 22

Landform of deposition created with sand, shingle and slit

Question 23

Wave-cut platform & notch

Answer 23

Sea attacks the base of the cliff through destructive waves, creating a wave cut notch until the cliff collapses into a wave cut platform.

Question 24

Spit

Answer 24

Erosion occurs further up the coastline, prevailing winds change direction causing LSD, the river mouth stops spit from growing

Question 25

Sand dunes

Answer 25

Small hills behind the beach, to form there must be a good supply of dry sand, wide and vegetation.

Question 26

Bar

Answer 26

When ridges of sand stretch from one bay to another, forming a lagoon behind it

Question 27

Sea walls - disadvantages

Answer 27

Expensive

Damages landscape

Question 28

Sea walls - advantages

Answer 28

Prevents flooding

Creates a promenade

Question 29

Groynes - advantages

Answer 29

Cheap

Builds up beach

Counteracts LSD

Question 30

Groynes - disadvantages

Answer 30

Starve other places of sand

Question 31

Rock armour - advantages

Answer 31

Cheap

Easy to maintain

Used for fishing

Question 32

Rock armour - disadvantages

Answer 32

Expensive to transport materials

Obtrusive

Question 33

Gabions - advantages

Answer 33

Cheap to produce

Merge with landscape

Improve drainage of cliffs

Question 34

Gabions - disadvantages

Answer 34

Looks unattractive

Only lasts 5 - 10 years

Question 35

Beach nourishment - disadvantages

Answer 35

Needs maintenance unless structures are built

Question 36

Beach nourishment - advantages

Answer 36

Cheap

Blends in with the beach

Increases tourism

Question 37

Dune regeneration - advantages

Answer 37

Coastal environment is maintained

Cheap

Question 38

Dune regeneration - disadvantages

Answer 38

Time consuming to plant marram grass

Can be damaged by storms

Question 39

Dune fencing - advantages

Answer 39

Can control access to other ecosystems

Question 40

Dune fencing - disadvantages

Answer 40

Unsightly

Maintenance needed after storms