Evaluate the extent to which deposition is responsible for the formation of distinctive coastal
landscapes (20)
Plan:
Introduction – define where deposition occurs and what coastal landscapes deposition forms.
Para 1 – how deposition contributes to the formation of a spit.
Para 2 – formation of cuspate forelands.
Para 3 – sub-aerial processes.
Para 4 – coastal landscapes formed by erosion e.g. stacks and stumps.
Conclusion – deposition is responsible for the formation of coastal landscapes, however erosional
processes create more distinctive landscapes.
Deposition occurs along the coast when waves no longer have enough energy to transport sediment.
It can form various coastal landscapes such as spits and cuspate forelands, however erosion and sub-
aerial processes also contribute towards the formation of coastal landscapes.
A spit is a landform formed by the deposition of sediment along a drift aligned beach. They are
formed when longshore drift occurs in the direction of the prevailing wind, transporting sediment
until there is a change in the coastline such as an estuary. When the coastline changes direction, the
waves lose energy, depositing the material. The spit will continue to grow due to longshore drift, or it
may stop growing due to erosion from river currents. An example of a spit is Spurn Head on the
Holderness coast.
Another depositional landform is a cuspate foreland which is a triangular shaped headland that
extends out from the main coastline such as Dungeness in Kent. Cuspate forelands are formed when
the coast is exposed to longshore drift from two directions, depositing sediment at the point where
the two meet. Overtime, vegetation will establish and stabilise this landform. Cuspate forelands are a
more distinctive depositional landform than spits as it is more likely to be eroded more slowly by
abrasion due to vegetation stabilising the landform. This means that deposition is more likely to
occur, building up the landform and making it more distinctive.
As well as deposition, sub-aerial processes such as rockfall can create distinctive coastal landscapes.
This occurs on slopes with a slope angle over 40° and where blockfall debris accumulates at the cliff
foot to form a talus scree slope. This is more likely to occur on jointed, steep rock faces when
exposed to mechanical weathering such as freeze thaw as there are more cracks and fissures for
weathering to break up the cliff face. I think sub-aerial processes are more significant in the
formation of distinctive coastal landscapes as landscapes formed by these processes occur more
frequently along coastlines, and also contribute towards the formation of other landscapes such as
stacks.
Another process that is responsible for the formation of coastal landscapes is erosion, which forms
landforms such as stacks. This is created when erosional processes like hydraulic action creates cracks
on a cliff face to widen into a wave-cut notch, then into a cave as destructive waves continue to
erode it. Caves may form back to back due to erosion occurring from both sides of the headlands,
eventually forming an arch. Then, sub-aerial processes such as weathering weakens the top of the
arch, causing it to collapse, leaving a stack. This is further eroded by abrasion and hydraulic action
until it collapses to form a stump such as Old Harry in Swanage. I think erosional processes are more
landscapes (20)
Plan:
Introduction – define where deposition occurs and what coastal landscapes deposition forms.
Para 1 – how deposition contributes to the formation of a spit.
Para 2 – formation of cuspate forelands.
Para 3 – sub-aerial processes.
Para 4 – coastal landscapes formed by erosion e.g. stacks and stumps.
Conclusion – deposition is responsible for the formation of coastal landscapes, however erosional
processes create more distinctive landscapes.
Deposition occurs along the coast when waves no longer have enough energy to transport sediment.
It can form various coastal landscapes such as spits and cuspate forelands, however erosion and sub-
aerial processes also contribute towards the formation of coastal landscapes.
A spit is a landform formed by the deposition of sediment along a drift aligned beach. They are
formed when longshore drift occurs in the direction of the prevailing wind, transporting sediment
until there is a change in the coastline such as an estuary. When the coastline changes direction, the
waves lose energy, depositing the material. The spit will continue to grow due to longshore drift, or it
may stop growing due to erosion from river currents. An example of a spit is Spurn Head on the
Holderness coast.
Another depositional landform is a cuspate foreland which is a triangular shaped headland that
extends out from the main coastline such as Dungeness in Kent. Cuspate forelands are formed when
the coast is exposed to longshore drift from two directions, depositing sediment at the point where
the two meet. Overtime, vegetation will establish and stabilise this landform. Cuspate forelands are a
more distinctive depositional landform than spits as it is more likely to be eroded more slowly by
abrasion due to vegetation stabilising the landform. This means that deposition is more likely to
occur, building up the landform and making it more distinctive.
As well as deposition, sub-aerial processes such as rockfall can create distinctive coastal landscapes.
This occurs on slopes with a slope angle over 40° and where blockfall debris accumulates at the cliff
foot to form a talus scree slope. This is more likely to occur on jointed, steep rock faces when
exposed to mechanical weathering such as freeze thaw as there are more cracks and fissures for
weathering to break up the cliff face. I think sub-aerial processes are more significant in the
formation of distinctive coastal landscapes as landscapes formed by these processes occur more
frequently along coastlines, and also contribute towards the formation of other landscapes such as
stacks.
Another process that is responsible for the formation of coastal landscapes is erosion, which forms
landforms such as stacks. This is created when erosional processes like hydraulic action creates cracks
on a cliff face to widen into a wave-cut notch, then into a cave as destructive waves continue to
erode it. Caves may form back to back due to erosion occurring from both sides of the headlands,
eventually forming an arch. Then, sub-aerial processes such as weathering weakens the top of the
arch, causing it to collapse, leaving a stack. This is further eroded by abrasion and hydraulic action
until it collapses to form a stump such as Old Harry in Swanage. I think erosional processes are more
