AQA A-LEVE GEGRAPHY PAPER 1 SET OF QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GARANTEED SUCCESS
What are rip currents?
Strong currents moving away from the shoreline. Develop when seawater 'piles up'
along coastline. Extremely hazardous to swimmers and small boats.
How many sediment cells are there in the UK?
11
How do salt marshes form?
- Mud is deposited the by a process called FLOCCULATION
It involves tiny particles of clay slicking together so their mass allows them to sink
to the seabed
- Pioneer plants start to colonise (Eel grass) between the high and low tide
- Mud levels rise above the high tide mark and a lower salt marsh develops with a
wider range of plants
- Soil conditions improve and vegetation succession continues to form a meadow
- Shrubs and trees will colonise the area and the succession has reached its
climactic climax
Flows/transfers into a pond system
Infiltration, photosynthesis, transpiration
Stores in a pond system
Water, soil, plants
Outputs in a pond system
Water infiltrating soil, evaporation, seed dispersal
Dynamic equilibrium meaning
,Balance between inputs + outputs, stores stay the same
Positive feedback definition
The effects of an action are amplified by its knock-on effects.
Negative feedback definition
The effects of an action are nullified by its knock-on effects
Inputs into a coastal system
Waves, wind, tides, sediment, currents, sea level change, biogenic inputs
Processes within a coastal system
LSD, deposition, erosion
Outputs within a coastal system
Spits, headlands, stacks, cliffs, sand dunes, salt marshes, beaches, arches, loss of
wave energy
Erosion definition
The wearing away of the Earth's surface by the mechanical action of processes
such as glaciers, wind, rivers, marine waves and wind.
Fetch definition
The distance of open water which a wind blows uninterrupted by major land
obstacles. This determine the magnitude and energy of a wave reaching shore.
Mass movement definition
The movement of material downhill under the influence of gravity.
Weathering definition
The disintegration of rocks in situ until it is moved by later erosional processes.
Can be mechanical, biological or chemical.
Sources of energy (wind)
Movement of air from high pressure to low pressure (greater pressure gradient,
greater wind speed). Wind direction= where wind is blowing from, prevailling
wind= main wind direction in an area.
, Sources of energy (waves)
Wind causes waves on ocean surface, wind transfers energy to the water through
friction between air molecules + water molecules .
Wave refraction
Waves approach shore at an angle, this can change the direction of wave travel.
One end of wave feels bottom (sea floor), slows down whilst rest of wave
continues at its deep water speed.
More of wave comes into contact with sea floor and slows down. As this happens,
the wave crest changes direction and becomes more perpendicular to the shoreline.
Wave refraction (irregular coast)
Wave nears coast and drags the shallow water
Wave becomes higher and steeper with shorter wavelength
Part of wave in deeper water moves faster, causing wave to bend
Overall effect= wave energy concentrated on headland, therefore leading to greater
erosion, leading to development of cliffs, caves and arches.
Where waves diverge, they lose power and deposit sediment, forming beaches.
Currents definition
Permanent or seasonal movement of surface water in the sea and oceans
Tides definition
CORRECT ANSWERS GARANTEED SUCCESS
What are rip currents?
Strong currents moving away from the shoreline. Develop when seawater 'piles up'
along coastline. Extremely hazardous to swimmers and small boats.
How many sediment cells are there in the UK?
11
How do salt marshes form?
- Mud is deposited the by a process called FLOCCULATION
It involves tiny particles of clay slicking together so their mass allows them to sink
to the seabed
- Pioneer plants start to colonise (Eel grass) between the high and low tide
- Mud levels rise above the high tide mark and a lower salt marsh develops with a
wider range of plants
- Soil conditions improve and vegetation succession continues to form a meadow
- Shrubs and trees will colonise the area and the succession has reached its
climactic climax
Flows/transfers into a pond system
Infiltration, photosynthesis, transpiration
Stores in a pond system
Water, soil, plants
Outputs in a pond system
Water infiltrating soil, evaporation, seed dispersal
Dynamic equilibrium meaning
,Balance between inputs + outputs, stores stay the same
Positive feedback definition
The effects of an action are amplified by its knock-on effects.
Negative feedback definition
The effects of an action are nullified by its knock-on effects
Inputs into a coastal system
Waves, wind, tides, sediment, currents, sea level change, biogenic inputs
Processes within a coastal system
LSD, deposition, erosion
Outputs within a coastal system
Spits, headlands, stacks, cliffs, sand dunes, salt marshes, beaches, arches, loss of
wave energy
Erosion definition
The wearing away of the Earth's surface by the mechanical action of processes
such as glaciers, wind, rivers, marine waves and wind.
Fetch definition
The distance of open water which a wind blows uninterrupted by major land
obstacles. This determine the magnitude and energy of a wave reaching shore.
Mass movement definition
The movement of material downhill under the influence of gravity.
Weathering definition
The disintegration of rocks in situ until it is moved by later erosional processes.
Can be mechanical, biological or chemical.
Sources of energy (wind)
Movement of air from high pressure to low pressure (greater pressure gradient,
greater wind speed). Wind direction= where wind is blowing from, prevailling
wind= main wind direction in an area.
, Sources of energy (waves)
Wind causes waves on ocean surface, wind transfers energy to the water through
friction between air molecules + water molecules .
Wave refraction
Waves approach shore at an angle, this can change the direction of wave travel.
One end of wave feels bottom (sea floor), slows down whilst rest of wave
continues at its deep water speed.
More of wave comes into contact with sea floor and slows down. As this happens,
the wave crest changes direction and becomes more perpendicular to the shoreline.
Wave refraction (irregular coast)
Wave nears coast and drags the shallow water
Wave becomes higher and steeper with shorter wavelength
Part of wave in deeper water moves faster, causing wave to bend
Overall effect= wave energy concentrated on headland, therefore leading to greater
erosion, leading to development of cliffs, caves and arches.
Where waves diverge, they lose power and deposit sediment, forming beaches.
Currents definition
Permanent or seasonal movement of surface water in the sea and oceans
Tides definition
