ENQ1:Why are coastal landscapes different and what processes causes
these differences
2.1: Coast, Wider Littoral Zone has distinctive features and landscapes.
2B.1a The littoral zone consists of backshore, nearshore and offshore 2B.1b Coasts can be classified by using longer-term criteria such as geology
zones, includes a wide variety of coastal types and is a dynamic zone of and changes of sea level or shorter-term processes such as inputs from
rapid change. rivers, waves and tides.
Long term processes:
- Sea level change: submergent and emergent.
- Geology: less resistant more resistant etc.
Short term:
- Sediment transportation.
o Inputs from rivers rivers deposit sediment at estuaries etc.
- Current/tidal types:
o Micro tidal range – less than 0 to 2m different between low and
high tide.
o Macro tidal range – more than 4m difference between high and
Littoral Zone: low tide.
- Littoral zone is an open system and coastal margin between ocean - Wave energy:
land. o High energy:
- Extends from offshore to the backshore. Destructive waves
- Dynamic equilibrium – balance between inputs, outputs and flows Erosion > than deposition.
between stores. More resistant geology
Zones: Headlands, bays etc.
Backshore - Area above high tide mark – around the cliff. o Low energy:
- Vegetation/terrestrial processes. Constructive waves.
- Wave action during storm surges. Deposition > erosion.
Foreshore - Inter tidal, surf zone. Sand dunes, wider beaches etc.
- Area between high and low tide. Less resistant geology.
- Depositional processes (sand ridges), LD drift etc.
- Marine erosion.
- Affected by tides, wind etc.
Nearshore - Area between low tide mark and when the wave
breaks.
- Sediment transport, LD drift.
- Human activites – surfing, fishing.
Offshore - Beyond the low tide mark.
- Only deep water action takes places.
- Limited sediment transport.
2B.1bc Rocky coasts (high and low relief) result from resistant geology (to
-
the erosive forces of sea, rain and wind), often in a high-energy
environment, whereas coastal plain landscapes (sandy and estuarine
coasts) are found near areas of low relief and result from supply of
sediment from different terrestrial and offshore sources, often in a low-
energy environments
Rocky coastline:
- Steep gradient, high relief – varying from few metres to hundred
metres.
- High energy coastline – destructive waves.
- Erosion > deposition.
- More resistant geology = igneous etc
Sandy coastline:
- Gentle gradient, low relief.
- Lo energy coastline – constructive waves
- Deposition > erosion.
- Longshore drift
- Wide beaches sand dunes berms.
- Low sheltered areas.
- Aeoline winds from sand dunes.
Estuarine coastlines:
- Develop around estuaries where fresh where freshwater from rivers
meets seawater from ocean.
- Low energy environment.
- Low lying, flat region.
- Mud flats, salt marshes etc.
- Deposition > than erosion.
- Flocculation – clay and silt particles clump and deposited.
, 2.2 Geological Structures Influences the development of coastal landscapes
at a variety of scales
2B.2a Geological structure is responsible for the formation of 2B.2b Geological structure influences coastal morphology:
concordant and discordant coasts. Dalmatian and Haff type concordant coasts and headlands and bays
on discordant coasts.
Concordant:
Concordant coastlines: Dalmatian - Formed as a result of sea level rise.
- Rock strata runs parallel to the coastline in alternating bands of more coasts - Geology = limestone.
resistant and less resistant rocks. - Limestone folded and compressed by tectonic activity
into a series of anticlines and synclines that are parrell
to coastline.
- But submerged by rising sea levels and low narrow
Discordant Coastline: islands line up offshore.
- When rock strata intersects the coastline at a right angle. Haff - Large bays are crossed by spits, creatin lagoons
- Can cause differential erosion. coastline aligned Parrella to coast.
- Form in low energy environments where deposition of
muds and sands.
- Large lagoons found behind depositions parallel to
shoreline.
- Southern Edge of Baltic Sea such s Vistula Haff = large
lagoon 91km long and 9km width
CASE STUDY: ISLE OF PURBECK:
- East Dorset Coast.
- Opening to Jurassic Coastline.
- More resistant rock, Purbeck limestone, is eroded over time by abrasion
+ HA, leading to the opening of Lulworth cove.
- Less resistant rock of clay behind this is eroded at greater rate, leading
to formation of bays/coves such as Swanage bay.
CASE STUDY: DALMATION COAST
- Limestone has been folded into a series of anticline and synclines due to
tectonic compression.
- Anticlines form crests whilst synclines form troughs.
- 79 individual islands.
CASE STUDY: HAFF COASTLINE
Discordant Coasts:
Headlands - Waves approaching coast become curved or refracted
and Bays - Spreads energy out in bays, concentrating wave
energy on headlands.
- Concentration of energy = more intense erosion whilst
divering low energy waves in bays so encouraging
deposition.
these differences
2.1: Coast, Wider Littoral Zone has distinctive features and landscapes.
2B.1a The littoral zone consists of backshore, nearshore and offshore 2B.1b Coasts can be classified by using longer-term criteria such as geology
zones, includes a wide variety of coastal types and is a dynamic zone of and changes of sea level or shorter-term processes such as inputs from
rapid change. rivers, waves and tides.
Long term processes:
- Sea level change: submergent and emergent.
- Geology: less resistant more resistant etc.
Short term:
- Sediment transportation.
o Inputs from rivers rivers deposit sediment at estuaries etc.
- Current/tidal types:
o Micro tidal range – less than 0 to 2m different between low and
high tide.
o Macro tidal range – more than 4m difference between high and
Littoral Zone: low tide.
- Littoral zone is an open system and coastal margin between ocean - Wave energy:
land. o High energy:
- Extends from offshore to the backshore. Destructive waves
- Dynamic equilibrium – balance between inputs, outputs and flows Erosion > than deposition.
between stores. More resistant geology
Zones: Headlands, bays etc.
Backshore - Area above high tide mark – around the cliff. o Low energy:
- Vegetation/terrestrial processes. Constructive waves.
- Wave action during storm surges. Deposition > erosion.
Foreshore - Inter tidal, surf zone. Sand dunes, wider beaches etc.
- Area between high and low tide. Less resistant geology.
- Depositional processes (sand ridges), LD drift etc.
- Marine erosion.
- Affected by tides, wind etc.
Nearshore - Area between low tide mark and when the wave
breaks.
- Sediment transport, LD drift.
- Human activites – surfing, fishing.
Offshore - Beyond the low tide mark.
- Only deep water action takes places.
- Limited sediment transport.
2B.1bc Rocky coasts (high and low relief) result from resistant geology (to
-
the erosive forces of sea, rain and wind), often in a high-energy
environment, whereas coastal plain landscapes (sandy and estuarine
coasts) are found near areas of low relief and result from supply of
sediment from different terrestrial and offshore sources, often in a low-
energy environments
Rocky coastline:
- Steep gradient, high relief – varying from few metres to hundred
metres.
- High energy coastline – destructive waves.
- Erosion > deposition.
- More resistant geology = igneous etc
Sandy coastline:
- Gentle gradient, low relief.
- Lo energy coastline – constructive waves
- Deposition > erosion.
- Longshore drift
- Wide beaches sand dunes berms.
- Low sheltered areas.
- Aeoline winds from sand dunes.
Estuarine coastlines:
- Develop around estuaries where fresh where freshwater from rivers
meets seawater from ocean.
- Low energy environment.
- Low lying, flat region.
- Mud flats, salt marshes etc.
- Deposition > than erosion.
- Flocculation – clay and silt particles clump and deposited.
, 2.2 Geological Structures Influences the development of coastal landscapes
at a variety of scales
2B.2a Geological structure is responsible for the formation of 2B.2b Geological structure influences coastal morphology:
concordant and discordant coasts. Dalmatian and Haff type concordant coasts and headlands and bays
on discordant coasts.
Concordant:
Concordant coastlines: Dalmatian - Formed as a result of sea level rise.
- Rock strata runs parallel to the coastline in alternating bands of more coasts - Geology = limestone.
resistant and less resistant rocks. - Limestone folded and compressed by tectonic activity
into a series of anticlines and synclines that are parrell
to coastline.
- But submerged by rising sea levels and low narrow
Discordant Coastline: islands line up offshore.
- When rock strata intersects the coastline at a right angle. Haff - Large bays are crossed by spits, creatin lagoons
- Can cause differential erosion. coastline aligned Parrella to coast.
- Form in low energy environments where deposition of
muds and sands.
- Large lagoons found behind depositions parallel to
shoreline.
- Southern Edge of Baltic Sea such s Vistula Haff = large
lagoon 91km long and 9km width
CASE STUDY: ISLE OF PURBECK:
- East Dorset Coast.
- Opening to Jurassic Coastline.
- More resistant rock, Purbeck limestone, is eroded over time by abrasion
+ HA, leading to the opening of Lulworth cove.
- Less resistant rock of clay behind this is eroded at greater rate, leading
to formation of bays/coves such as Swanage bay.
CASE STUDY: DALMATION COAST
- Limestone has been folded into a series of anticline and synclines due to
tectonic compression.
- Anticlines form crests whilst synclines form troughs.
- 79 individual islands.
CASE STUDY: HAFF COASTLINE
Discordant Coasts:
Headlands - Waves approaching coast become curved or refracted
and Bays - Spreads energy out in bays, concentrating wave
energy on headlands.
- Concentration of energy = more intense erosion whilst
divering low energy waves in bays so encouraging
deposition.
