Geography - Physical Landscapes - Coasts (Long Questions)

The type of waves which likely led to the landscape in the image are constructive waves. These waves are small in height, having less energy gently spilling over. They have a strong forward 'swash' movement, building up the beachwith sand, as well as a weak 'backwash' movement. These waves shape the landscape by creating wide beaches that have built up over time. These beaches, like the one in the image, have a gradual flat slope due to how gentle these waves normally are.

The waves which most likely led to the landscape in the image are destructive waves. These waves are tall in height having lots of energy while crashing and breaking. They have a weak 'swash' movement but have a strong 'backwash' movement - removing material from the beach. These waves shape the landscape by having narrow beaches due to the removal of material overtime. These beaches like in the image show taht destructive waves erode the coastline due to the strong 'backwash' of the wave.

In the image I can see that a rock fall has happened. I can tell this because rock falls are usually vertical movement unlike other mass-movements. This is could have been caused by freeze-thaw weathering. This is when water collects in cracks in the rocks. The water then freezes and expands in colder conditions. This leads to pressure being put on the rock, widening the crack and then repeating.

<p>In this image, I can see a cave. This could have been formed by the process of hydraulic action. This is when the force of the waves push air into cracks, creating pressure which leads to the rock breaking.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Firstly, a large crack is opened up due to corrosion. This happens due to the chemicals in seawater that dissolve the rock overtime. Then the crack grows into a cave due to abrasion. This happens because rocks are thrown against the cliff face, acting like sandpaper, which causes the rocks to break apart. Overtime the cave breaks through the headland creating a natural arch. This happens due to more abrasion and hydraulic action which is when the force of the water pushes air into the rocks cracks, building pressure, pushing open the cracks and eroding the rock. Eventually the top of the arch collapses due to biological weathering from plants as well as erosion - leaving a stack.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In the image I can see that bays and headlands have formed. Firstly, the bay begins to form in the coastline due to corrosion. This happens due to the chemicals in seawater dissolving the rock. The bay becomes bigger overtime due other processes of erosion. This happens because in the coastline there is softer rock which is easier to erode. Overtime, the harder rock, which is much harder to erode, begins to form headlands while the sea continues to erode the softer rock. There are two types of coastline, in the image I can see a discordant coastline: bands of alternating hard and soft rock. A concordent coastline consists off one rock type along the coast. Eventually, a clear representation of where there is harder and softer rock becomes visible with the formation of headlands and bays.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>There are two types of coastline, a discordant coastline can be defined as bands of alternating hard and soft rock. The soft rock is eroded faster than the hard rock and this eventually creates headlands and bays along the coastline. A concordent coastline consists off one rock type along the coast. When the sea erodes a portion of hard rock and leaves the soft rock behind exposed the sea begins to erode this softer rock faster than the hard rock. Overtime, the sea erdodes more of the softer creating crab-shaped like bays which are unique to concordent coastlines.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Firstly, weathering (e.g. Freeze-thaw) weakens the top of the cliff. This is when water freezes in cracks within the rocks, expands to crack and then repeats. At low tide, the water cannot reach the cliff. At high tide, the water rises to the wave attack zone. Then the weight of the unsupported cliff causes it to collapse. The sea creates a wave cut notch at the base of the cliff through hydraulic action and abrasion. This is when the force of the water and thr throwing of rocks against the cliff face erodes the rocks. The new cliff is further from the sea. At the base is a flat platform where it used to reach.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Firstly, the waves approach the beach at an angle. This happens due to the angle of the prevailing wind. Then the 'backwash' movement of the waves retreats back to the sea at a right angle. The happns because of gravity. Overtime, the strong 'swash' and the weak 'backwash' moves material across the beach in a zigzag pattern (in the direction of the prevailing wind).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A spit forms when longshore drift carries material along a length of coastline, where there is a change in the shape of the coastline. Firstly, the prevailing wind direction, causes constructive waves with a strong swash and a weak backwash to move material along the coastline. This happens in a zig-zag pattern as waves go up the beach at an angle due to the prevailing wind, but fall back down the beach at a right-angle to the sea due to gravity. Then the process continues along the coastline until there is a bend in the shape of the coast. As a result, longshore drift continues transporting material parallel to the previous coast which means it carries material into open water. Low energy waves deposit this material. Overtime, transportation and deposition continue in this way until a long, narrow strip of land protrudes from the coastline into the water. This is called a spit. In the sheltered waters behind the spit, further deposition occours along with evaporation, which can lead to the formation or salt marshes. Sometimes the tip of the spit will curve (a hook) if the wind direction changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In order to form, dunes require a large supply of sediment, a stong onshore wind and an obstacle around which material can start to gather. Firstly, at a beach where there is sand and a large tidal range, wind blows dry sand from the foreshore to the backshore Beyond the backshore is an obstacle which begins to trap the sand. Overtime, sand builds up against this obstacle, such as a fallen tree, and begins to form a crest. More sand blows in via saltation (bouncing) or rolling (creeping) depending on the strength of the wind. Finally, once more sand has built up it cannot be supported and so begins to collapse on the leeward side, creating a steep slope whilst the side facing he wind is gently sloping.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The new beaches have increased visitor numbers and seafront businesses are thriving</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increased visitor numbers have led to conflicts with some local people who think traffic congestion and litter have increased</p> Signup and view all the answers