Coasts Edexcel A Level Study Guide Rated A+
1). The littoral zone
Ans: Backshore, Foreshore, Nearshore and Offshore.
2). Backshore
Ans: Above high tide, only affected by waves during exceptionally high tides and during
major storms.
3). Foreshore
Ans: Wave processes are usually confined to the .... between high and low tide marks
4). Nearshore
Ans: Is one of often intense human activity
5). Types of coasts
Ans: Rocky (Cliffed) - Coastlines with cliffs varying in height
Coastal plains - Land gradually slopes towards the sea across an area of deposited
sediment
6). Classification of coasts
Ans: Formation process
Relative sea level change
Tidal Range
Wave energy
7). Primary coasts
Ans: Dominated by land-based processes for example deposition
8). Secondary coasts
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, Ans: Dominated by marine or deposition processes
9). Emergent coasts
Ans: Coasts are rising relative to sea level
10). Submergent coasts
Ans: Are being flooded by the sea levels or subsiding land
11). Low energy
Ans: Sheltered coasts, limited fetch and low wind speeds resulting in small waves
12). High energy
Ans: Exposed coasts facing prevailing winds and long wave fetches resulting in
powerful waves
13). Cliffed coastline
Ans: Chalk cliffs at flamborough head in Yorkshire, transition from land to sea is
abrupt. Low tide the foreshore is exposed as rocky platform. Cliffs here are vertical
14). Sandy coastline
Ans: Sand dunes fringe many coastal plains. At high tide the sandy beach is inundated,
but the vegetated dunes are not. Dune vegetation plays a crucial role in stabilising the
coast preventing erosion.
15). Esturaine coastline
Ans: Estuaries are formed at mouth of rivers. Extensive mudflats, act by channels, are
exposed at low tide but inundated at high tide.
Closer to the back shore the mudflats are vegetated forming a salt march. This type of
coastline gradually transition from land to sea.
16). Geological structure
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1). The littoral zone
Ans: Backshore, Foreshore, Nearshore and Offshore.
2). Backshore
Ans: Above high tide, only affected by waves during exceptionally high tides and during
major storms.
3). Foreshore
Ans: Wave processes are usually confined to the .... between high and low tide marks
4). Nearshore
Ans: Is one of often intense human activity
5). Types of coasts
Ans: Rocky (Cliffed) - Coastlines with cliffs varying in height
Coastal plains - Land gradually slopes towards the sea across an area of deposited
sediment
6). Classification of coasts
Ans: Formation process
Relative sea level change
Tidal Range
Wave energy
7). Primary coasts
Ans: Dominated by land-based processes for example deposition
8). Secondary coasts
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, Ans: Dominated by marine or deposition processes
9). Emergent coasts
Ans: Coasts are rising relative to sea level
10). Submergent coasts
Ans: Are being flooded by the sea levels or subsiding land
11). Low energy
Ans: Sheltered coasts, limited fetch and low wind speeds resulting in small waves
12). High energy
Ans: Exposed coasts facing prevailing winds and long wave fetches resulting in
powerful waves
13). Cliffed coastline
Ans: Chalk cliffs at flamborough head in Yorkshire, transition from land to sea is
abrupt. Low tide the foreshore is exposed as rocky platform. Cliffs here are vertical
14). Sandy coastline
Ans: Sand dunes fringe many coastal plains. At high tide the sandy beach is inundated,
but the vegetated dunes are not. Dune vegetation plays a crucial role in stabilising the
coast preventing erosion.
15). Esturaine coastline
Ans: Estuaries are formed at mouth of rivers. Extensive mudflats, act by channels, are
exposed at low tide but inundated at high tide.
Closer to the back shore the mudflats are vegetated forming a salt march. This type of
coastline gradually transition from land to sea.
16). Geological structure
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