Coast

• What is a landform?


  A landform is a feature created by natural processes.
• How do landscapes differ from landforms?

  Landscapes include all the visible features in an area, while landforms are specific features created by natural processes.
• What processes create landforms in an area?


  Landforms are created by a combination of weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition.
• What factors influence the impact of weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition in an area?


  The impact of these processes depends on factors such as geology and climate.
• What characterizes desert landscapes?

  Desert landscapes are influenced by arid environments and dominated by landforms such as sand dunes and rock formations carved by windblown sand.
• Why are coastal landscapes distinctive?


  Coastal landscapes are distinctive because they occur on the interface between the land and the sea.
• What role does geology play in coastal landscapes?

  Geology plays a significant role in influencing the characteristics of coastal landscapes.
• What is a coastal system in physical geography?

  A coastal system is a natural system that helps simplify the complexity of coastal processes.
• What does it mean for a coastal system to be in a state of dynamic equilibrium?

  A coastal system is in a state of dynamic equilibrium when the inputs and outputs are balanced.
• What do systems models illustrate in geography?

  Systems models show the components of an aspect of geography and how these components are linked through flows.
• What is an isolated system?

  An isolated system has no inputs or outputs and is rare in nature.
• What is a closed system?

  A closed system has inputs and outputs of energy, but not matter.
• What is an open system?


  An open system has inputs and outputs of both energy and matter.
• Why are coastal environments considered open systems?

  Coastal environments are open systems because they have inputs, stores, flows, and outputs that create characteristic landscapes.
• What is negative feedback in a coastal system?

  Negative feedback stabilizes the system, allowing it to maintain its dynamic equilibrium.
• Give an example of negative feedback in a coastal system.


  If a beach is eroded during a storm, the sediment may form an offshore bar, which reduces further erosion.
• What is positive feedback in a coastal system?

  Positive feedback means that the system experiences further change, continuing the disruption to the equilibrium.
• Provide an example of positive feedback in a coastal system.

  At Porlock in Somerset, regular flooding has widened a breach, leading to the formation of a salt marsh.
• What factors influence coastal landscapes?

  Coastal landscapes are influenced by long and short-term factors, including geology and vegetation.
• What is the littoral zone?

  The littoral zone is a series of sub-zones representing the features of the wider coastline from sea to land.
• What are the four key sub-zones of the littoral zone?

  The four key sub-zones are offshore, nearshore, foreshore, and backshore.
• What is the significance of the littoral zone reaching dynamic equilibrium?

  The littoral zone reaches dynamic equilibrium when there is a balance between inputs and outputs.
• What is the key input and output of the littoral zone system?

  Sediment is the key input and output of the littoral zone system.
• What determines the sediment input in the littoral zone?

  The sediment input is determined by the action of waves, currents, and wind.
• What happens to sediment in the littoral zone?


  Sediment is washed out into the sea by deposition.
• What characterizes high energy coasts?

  High energy coasts are characterized by destructive waves, long fetches, and high rates of erosion.
• What features are common on high energy coasts?

  Common features include caves, arches, stacks, stumps, cliffs, and wave-cut platforms.
• What characterizes low energy coasts?

  Low energy coasts are characterized by constructive waves, shorter fetches, and higher rates of deposition.
• What features are common on low energy coasts?

  Common features include spits, bars, beaches, sand dunes, and salt marshes.
• What are destructive waves responsible for?

  Destructive waves are responsible for erosional processes.
• What is the frequency of destructive waves?

  Destructive waves occur at a high frequency of 10-15 waves per minute.
• Describe the characteristics of destructive waves.

  Destructive waves are steep and high, with a circular motion causing them to break at a greater height.
• How do destructive waves affect material on coasts?

  Destructive waves remove material from coasts because the swash is less powerful than the backwash.
• What are constructive waves responsible for?

  Constructive waves are responsible for deposition on coasts.
• What is the frequency of constructive waves?

  Constructive waves occur at a low frequency of 6-9 waves per minute.
• Describe the characteristics of constructive waves.


  Constructive waves are long and low, forming gently sloping beaches over time.
• How do constructive waves affect material on coasts?

  Constructive waves deposit material on coasts because the backwash is less powerful than the swash.
• What are longshore currents?

  Longshore currents happen when a flow of water runs parallel to the shoreline, moving both water and sediment along the coast.
• What are rip currents?

  Rip currents are strong currents that flow away from the shoreline and can be dangerous for swimmers.
• What is upwelling?


  Upwelling is the movement of cold water from the deep ocean to the surface as part of global ocean circulation currents.