Coasts A Level Geography
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_gaqaao
1. Coast as an open - Inputs from outside the system (sediment carried into coasts by rivers)
system - Outputs to other systems (eroded rock material transported offshore to ocean.)
- Coast has links with other systems: atmosphere (wind generating waves), tec-
tonics, ecosystems, oceanic systems
- Linked by flows of energy and transfer of material
2. Coastal Systems NOTE: See phone for Selwicks Bay, Flamborough Head case study diagram
- Sediment cells are an important application of systems concept to the coast.
- 11 major sediment cells in England and Wales - basis for coastal management.
INPUTS: ppt., wind
OUTPUTS: ocean currents, rip tides, sediment transfer, evaporation
ENERGY: energy associated with flowing water, the effects of gravity on cliffs and
moving air (wind energy to wave energy)
STORES: Beach, sand dunes, spits
TRANSFERS: Wind-blown sand, mass movement processes, longshore drift
3. Coastal systems - - Groynes trap sediment, depriving areas further down-drift of beach replenish-
positive feedback ment
- This can increase erosion elsewhere.
- Sea walls have the same effect by transferring high energy waves elsewhere
along the coast
(Coastal management can lead to an increase in erosion elsewhere)
, Coasts A Level Geography
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_gaqaao
4. Coastal systems - When rate of weathering + mass movement exceeds rate of cliff-foot erosion, a
- negative feed- scree slope is formed.
back - Over time this material extends up the cliff face protecting the cliff face from
subaerial processes.
(eg: less freeze-thaw weathering as less water can enter the cracks on the cliff as
it is covered by scree slope)
- Leads to a reduction in the effectiveness of weathering and mass movement.
5. Coastal systems - - Constructive waves build up a beach making it steeper.
dynamic equilib- - Encourages the formation of destructive waves that plunge rather than surge.
rium - Redistribution of sediment offshore by destructive waves reduces the beach
gradient, encouraging the waves to be more constructive.
6. Links between - During quaternary glacial and interglacial periods, sea levels rose and fell several
the coast and times.
other systems - Consequently, the changing sea levels affected the precise locations of coastal
processes at the edge of land masses - several landforms developed due to
changes in sea level.
- Global warming is affecting sea levels which will in turn affect coastal ecosys-
, Coasts A Level Geography
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_gaqaao
tems
Coastal regions suffering more flooding and greater risk of storm surges.
Shows human + natural systems are linked
7. Estuarine and Human systems: Towns, cities, dairy farming
coastal system in Biosphere: Mangroves, salt marshes, sandflats, seagrass (Biosphere depends on
New Zealand coastal system to grow) (biogenic habitats protect snapper fish)
Ecosystems: Kingfish in coastal areas but Blue cod in estuarine areas (protected
by mangroves)
- Linked to atmosphere. Changes in atm. lead to changes in cryosphere leading
to changes in sea level.
Sea levels fell in glacial periods, and more land appeared.
8. Dyrholaey, Ice- - Small peninsula on South coast of Iceland.
land Intro - Famous for its coastal landscape + Puffins in the summer
- Waves driven over the vast area of ocean transfers lots of energy into the
coastal system in southern Iceland - responsible for the extremely active erosion
+ significant transfers of sediment
- The landforms of erosion and deposition combine to create this very distinctive
coastal landscape
, Coasts A Level Geography
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_gaqaao
9. Dyrholaey, Ice- - Black sand and pebbles are volcanic basalt formed by tectonic activity over
land millions of years + transported to the coast by rivers and wind
- Shows links between other physical systems
- Much of the landscape is the result of sea level change triggered by long term
changes in the water cycle:
- Recent times, relative sea levels have dropped, creating vast coastal plains +
isolated remnants of coastal landforms (eg: isolated stack)
- Vegetation has developed on the newly exposed surfaces - area known for
abundant wildlife especially birds
- Shows links between coastal and ecosystems
10. The sun and wind - Primary source of energy for all natural systems in the sun.
- the energy be- - At coast the main form of energy is derived from the sea in the form of waves
hind the waves - Waves can be generated by tectonic activity/ underwater landslides creating
tsunamis, but mostly formed by wind.
- Wind is movement of air from high to low pressure.
- Variations in atmospheric pressure mainly from differences in surface heating
by the sun.
- In UK, the prevailing winds come from the S.W, result of air moving from
subtropical high pressure belt at 30N to the subpolar low pressure at 60N. These
winds blow over a broad expanse of the Atlantic ocean and have potential to
transfer a great deal of energy to the waves that approach the UK
11. Factors affecting - Strength of wind - determined by the pressure gradient.
wave energy - Duration of wind - longer the wind blows, more powerful the waves become.
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_gaqaao
1. Coast as an open - Inputs from outside the system (sediment carried into coasts by rivers)
system - Outputs to other systems (eroded rock material transported offshore to ocean.)
- Coast has links with other systems: atmosphere (wind generating waves), tec-
tonics, ecosystems, oceanic systems
- Linked by flows of energy and transfer of material
2. Coastal Systems NOTE: See phone for Selwicks Bay, Flamborough Head case study diagram
- Sediment cells are an important application of systems concept to the coast.
- 11 major sediment cells in England and Wales - basis for coastal management.
INPUTS: ppt., wind
OUTPUTS: ocean currents, rip tides, sediment transfer, evaporation
ENERGY: energy associated with flowing water, the effects of gravity on cliffs and
moving air (wind energy to wave energy)
STORES: Beach, sand dunes, spits
TRANSFERS: Wind-blown sand, mass movement processes, longshore drift
3. Coastal systems - - Groynes trap sediment, depriving areas further down-drift of beach replenish-
positive feedback ment
- This can increase erosion elsewhere.
- Sea walls have the same effect by transferring high energy waves elsewhere
along the coast
(Coastal management can lead to an increase in erosion elsewhere)
, Coasts A Level Geography
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_gaqaao
4. Coastal systems - When rate of weathering + mass movement exceeds rate of cliff-foot erosion, a
- negative feed- scree slope is formed.
back - Over time this material extends up the cliff face protecting the cliff face from
subaerial processes.
(eg: less freeze-thaw weathering as less water can enter the cracks on the cliff as
it is covered by scree slope)
- Leads to a reduction in the effectiveness of weathering and mass movement.
5. Coastal systems - - Constructive waves build up a beach making it steeper.
dynamic equilib- - Encourages the formation of destructive waves that plunge rather than surge.
rium - Redistribution of sediment offshore by destructive waves reduces the beach
gradient, encouraging the waves to be more constructive.
6. Links between - During quaternary glacial and interglacial periods, sea levels rose and fell several
the coast and times.
other systems - Consequently, the changing sea levels affected the precise locations of coastal
processes at the edge of land masses - several landforms developed due to
changes in sea level.
- Global warming is affecting sea levels which will in turn affect coastal ecosys-
, Coasts A Level Geography
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_gaqaao
tems
Coastal regions suffering more flooding and greater risk of storm surges.
Shows human + natural systems are linked
7. Estuarine and Human systems: Towns, cities, dairy farming
coastal system in Biosphere: Mangroves, salt marshes, sandflats, seagrass (Biosphere depends on
New Zealand coastal system to grow) (biogenic habitats protect snapper fish)
Ecosystems: Kingfish in coastal areas but Blue cod in estuarine areas (protected
by mangroves)
- Linked to atmosphere. Changes in atm. lead to changes in cryosphere leading
to changes in sea level.
Sea levels fell in glacial periods, and more land appeared.
8. Dyrholaey, Ice- - Small peninsula on South coast of Iceland.
land Intro - Famous for its coastal landscape + Puffins in the summer
- Waves driven over the vast area of ocean transfers lots of energy into the
coastal system in southern Iceland - responsible for the extremely active erosion
+ significant transfers of sediment
- The landforms of erosion and deposition combine to create this very distinctive
coastal landscape
, Coasts A Level Geography
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_gaqaao
9. Dyrholaey, Ice- - Black sand and pebbles are volcanic basalt formed by tectonic activity over
land millions of years + transported to the coast by rivers and wind
- Shows links between other physical systems
- Much of the landscape is the result of sea level change triggered by long term
changes in the water cycle:
- Recent times, relative sea levels have dropped, creating vast coastal plains +
isolated remnants of coastal landforms (eg: isolated stack)
- Vegetation has developed on the newly exposed surfaces - area known for
abundant wildlife especially birds
- Shows links between coastal and ecosystems
10. The sun and wind - Primary source of energy for all natural systems in the sun.
- the energy be- - At coast the main form of energy is derived from the sea in the form of waves
hind the waves - Waves can be generated by tectonic activity/ underwater landslides creating
tsunamis, but mostly formed by wind.
- Wind is movement of air from high to low pressure.
- Variations in atmospheric pressure mainly from differences in surface heating
by the sun.
- In UK, the prevailing winds come from the S.W, result of air moving from
subtropical high pressure belt at 30N to the subpolar low pressure at 60N. These
winds blow over a broad expanse of the Atlantic ocean and have potential to
transfer a great deal of energy to the waves that approach the UK
11. Factors affecting - Strength of wind - determined by the pressure gradient.
wave energy - Duration of wind - longer the wind blows, more powerful the waves become.
