From 1-5 rank how confident you are for each question. 5 = very confident. Before After

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I can explain the differences between soft and hard rock coastlines (including landforms and cliff profiles).

I can describe the 4 types of erosion.

I can explain the formation of wave-cut platforms, and stumps.

I can explain the process of rotational cliff slumping.

I can explain the process of longshore drift.

I can explain the formation of a spit and bar.

I can explain how climate change may affect coastal erosion and deposition in the UK.I can, using examples, explain why different coastlines eroded at different rates.I can, using examples, explain the impacts of erosion using SEEP.I can evaluate at least 2 types of hard engineering used to defend coastal zones.I can evaluate at least 2 types of soft engineering used to defend coastal zones.I can explain the conflicting viewpoints about how coastlines should be managed.I can explain radical approaches to coastal management such as 'do nothing' and 'strategic realignment'.

Coasts Revision Booklet

Section 1: Processes

Types of Erosion

Abrasion

Hydraulic Action

Solution

Attrition

Longshore Drift

Rotational Cliff Slumping e.g. Walton-on-the-Naze

Explain how the following influence the erosion of coastline:

1) Geology

2) Gradient (how steep a cliff is):

3) Human Activity:

Types of WaveSketch

Destructive Waves

(Common in Winter)

High wave compared to length. Tall breaking wave.

Strong backwash > takes sediment off the beach into the sea.

Steeply sloping beach.

Constructive Waves

(Common in Summer)

Low wave compared to length.

Strong swash > takes sediment up the beach.

Gently sloping beach.

Section 2: Landforms

Formation of wave-cut platforms

a) Explain how 1 type of erosion may create wave cut notches.

Formation of arches, stacks and stumps

1 Large crack opens in an area of weakness due to hydraulic action

3

5

The arch erodes even more and collapses

7

2 4 6

Formation of bays and headlands

Explain the formation of Swanage Bay. Use the following terms: erosion, hydraulic action, abrasion, hard rock, soft rock.

Formation of spits and salt marshes

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2

3

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When a spit joins an island it is called a tombolo. When a spit joins the other river bank it is called a bar.

Hard rock coastlines such as that found in South Cornwall tend to be formed of rock such as limestone and granite. They have high steep cliffs. What landforms can you along these types of coasts?

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2

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Soft rock coastlines such as that by Walton-on-the-Naze tend to be formed of rock such as clay and gravels. They have lower and less steep cliffs. What landforms can you along these types of coasts?

1

2

3

Section 3: Defending the Coastline

When engaging in coastal management, there’s four key approaches that can be taken:

Hold the line - Where existing coastal defences are maintained but no new defences are set up.

Advance the line - New defences are built further out in the sea in an attempt to reduce the stress on current defences and possibly extend the coastline slightly.

Strategic Realignment (surrender) - Move people out of danger zones and let mother nature unleash take control.

Do nothing - The easy option, deal with the effects of flooding and erosion as they come or just ignore them. This is generally what happens in areas where there’s no people, and so nothing of “value” (to the government) to protect.

What option was taken for the following fieldwork sites?

Site 1: Site 2: Site 3: Site 4:

Why might we protect an area against erosion?

Social

Economic

Environmental

Political

Method of Protection How does it work? Advantages DisadvantagesH

ard

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inee

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Concrete Wall, curved under the side to deflect the power of the waves.

Sea walls reflect rather than absorb wave energy

Most effective means of preventing erosion

A promenade can be built behind the sea wall for tourists to walk along. More tourists means more money for local people.

Most expensive (up to £2.5 million /km)

Reflected waves often scour the base, undermining the wall (may eventually collapse)

Large boulders on the beach - lesson the force of the waves by absorbing the wave energy within the gaps between the rocks.

Relatively Cheap Uses natural materials /

rocks

Environmentally ugly Can be undermined

and removed by waves due to washing away of sand and shingle beneath.

Cages of boulders built into the cliff face - small rocks help to absorb the wave energy.

Effective where severe erosion and cheaper than sea walls.

Environmentally ugly (usually used in large numbers)

Cost: approx £350 per metre

Method of Protection How does it work? Advantages Disadvantages

Wooden structures break the force of the waves and trap beach material behind them.

Much cheaper than a sea wall

Effective at breaking the force of the waves

Less durable than a sea wall – may need replacing quicker.

Don't give total protection to base of cliff

Environmentally ugly Cost: approx £1,000

per metre

Wooden or in some cases rock fences which reduce longshore drift and make the beach larger which protects the coastline.

Reduces longshore drift Encouraging the build-up

of the beach and effectively reducing erosion.

A larger beach also encourages tourism as more people will come to visit. This will benefit local shops and hotels. This leads to higher employment and businesses will have money to invest in the local area. This is known as the positive multiplier effect.

Can increase erosion further down the coast by stopping longshore drift and starving areas further down the coast of sediment.

If beaches down the coast become smaller there will be fewer tourists. This leads to higher unemployment and businesses will have less money to invest in the local area. This is known as the negative multiplier effect.

Cost: approx £5,000-6000 each

Method of Protection How does it work? Advantages DisadvantagesSof

t

Drains cliffs of water and reduces rotational cliff slumping.

Cheap. Is underground so doesn’t

spoil aesthetic view.

Doesn’t protect the cliff from wave action.

Looks ugly when cliff erodes.

Soft

Adds more sediment to the beach. The larger the width of the beach the less erosion of the cliff line.

Works with longshore drift which transports the sediment along the beach over time.

Cheap Protects that particular

location. Larger beach = more

tourists?

Sediment was taken from elsewhere increasing erosion along other coastlines.

Explain why different groups of people have different opinions about how we should protect the coastline.

Named Group 1:

Named Group 2:

Named Group 3:

Section 4: Questions

a) Suggest what landform is found at X (1 mark)

b) Explain the formation of this landform (3 marks)

b) Outline how this section of the coastline is protected from erosion (3 marks)

Questions to try at home

Q1) Examine the importance of geology in influencing the erosion of the coastline (8)

Q2) Examine the importance of destructive waves in the formation of coastal landforms. (8)

Q3) Examine the conflicting viewpoints to managing the coastline. (8)

Q4) Examine the importance of managing the coastline. (8)

Descriptor

L1(1-3)

Response identifies one aspect Limited details about the aspect. Writing may be generalised. Simple explanations. Basic use of terminology.

L2(4-6)

Describes 2 aspects. At least 1 aspect has some details. Explanations are not developed. Limited use of terminology.

L3(7-8)

Describes +2 aspects with good details. Explanations are detailed and balanced. Examples use detail. Sound use of terminology.

Glossary: CoastsBackwash The movement of a wave down the beach towards the

sea.

Bay Sheltered area of coastline made from soft rock

Coastal Flooding When areas of land are flooded by the sea.

Coastal Management

The processes and plans applied to coastal areas by local authorities and agencies

Concordant Coast Layers of hard and soft rock which lay parallel against the coastline.

Constructive Wave A wave which has a larger swash than backwash

Deposition Placing sand and sediment in a certain place by a wave erosion transportation or humans.

Destructive Wave A wave which has a larger backwash than swash

Discordant Layers of hard and soft rock which run vertically against the coastline forming headlands and bays.

Do Nothing An approach that allows natural processes to take their course without any intervention

Erosion Breaking down of rock and sediment

Fetch The distance a wave travels before hitting the coastline

Geological Structure The way in which the rocks are arranged both vertically and horizontally

Hard Engineering A heavily managed area of the coastline e.g. sea wall, groyne

Hard rock Resistant rock which is harder to erode or weather e.g. granite

Headland Outcrop of land at sea made from hard rock

Holistic An approach to environmental management that threats the whole area as an interrelated system

ICZM(Integrated Coastal Zone Management)

A sustainable method of coastal management managing the whole coastal area from the shoreline to several kilometres inland as one area.

Longshore Drift The process of sediment moving along the coastline.

Mass Movement

Rock fall: When fragments or weathered rock fall under gravity to the base of the cliff.

Slumping: When the bottom of a cliff is eroded by waves it makes the cliff steeper. The cliff often slides downward in a rotational manner, usually triggered by saturation due to rain.

Soft rock Coast less resistant rock which is easily eroded or weathered e.g. limestone

Spit Sand and sediment which is attached to the coastline but sticks out at sea

Stack A detached column of rock located just offshore

Strategic Realignment

The reorganisation of coastal defences that is often part of managed retreat

Stump A stack that has collapsed leaving a small area of rock above sea-level

Sub-aerialErosive processes which alter the shape of a coastline. They’re a combination of both weathering and mass movement.

Swash The movement of a wave up the beach towards the land.

Weathering

Mechanical: Salt crystal growth. Sea spray evaporates leaving salt behind. The crystals grow causing stress in the rock. Eventually breaks the rock down.

Chemical: Solution, all rain is a weak acid. This reacts with weak minerals in the rock causing the rock to decay and break down.

Biological: Roots from vegetation grow into cracks and slowly split the rock apart.