Edexcel Geography A-level: Coastal Landscapes and Change Flashcards

Practice flashcards covering the systems, processes, landforms, and management strategies of coastal landscapes based on the Edexcel Geography A-level curriculum.

What is an open system in the context of the coast?

A system that receives inputs from outside (terrestrial, atmospheric, or oceanic) and transfers outputs into other systems, including the rock, water, and carbon cycles.

How many sediment cells are identified in England and Wales?

Eleven.

Define 'Dynamic Equilibrium' in a sediment cell.

A state where inputs and outputs of sediment are in a constant state of change but remain in balance.

How does a negative feedback loop function in a coastal system?

It lessens changes to return the system to equilibrium; for example, a storm erodes a beach, creating an offshore bar that dissipates wave energy and allows the beach to recover.

What characterizes the 'Backshore' subzone of the littoral zone?

The area above high tide level that is only affected by exceptionally high tides.

Describe the process of Corrasion.

Sand and pebbles are picked up by the sea and hurled against cliffs at high tide, causing erosion.

What is abrasion?

Abrasion is the process where rocks and sediment (the "load") are picked up by waves, glaciers, or rivers and used as tools to scrape, grind, and wear away the land surface. Essentially interchangeable with corrasion.

What is cavitation?

An erosive process where bubbles within water implode under high pressure, creating tiny jets of water that erode the rock.

At what pressure can breaking waves hit a cliff face during wave quarrying?

Up to $30\,\text{tonnes per m}^2$.

What are the erosion rates for Igneous and Sedimentary rocks?

Igneous rocks (e.g., Granite) erode at $<0.1\,\text{cm/year}$, while Sedimentary rocks (e.g., Limestone) erode at $0.5-10\,\text{cm/year}$.

What is the sequence of landforms that occurs on pinnacle headlands?

Caves, Arches, Stacks, and Stumps.

How is a Tombolo formed?

It is a bar or beach connecting the mainland to an offshore island, formed by wave refraction reducing wave velocity and leading to deposition.

List the stages of sand dune vegetation succession.

Embryo dunes, Yellow dunes, Grey dunes, Dune slack, and Heath and woodland.

Define the mechanical weathering process of freeze-thaw.

Water enters cracks, freezes, and expands by approximately $10\%$ in volume, increasing pressure and widening the cracks over time.

What is the difference between a slide and a flow in mass movement?

In a slide, sediment maintains its same relative position while moving downhill; in a flow, all material mixes as it moves down.

What is a Dalmatian coastline?

A concordant coastline where rising sea levels flood river valleys between headlands, turning the headlands into islands running parallel to the mainland.

Define Halophytes and Xerophytes.

Halophytes are plants tolerant of salty conditions; Xerophytes are plants tolerant of dry conditions.

Contrast Constructive and Destructive waves.

Constructive waves have a strong swash and weak backwash (depositional), while Destructive waves have a strong backwash and weak swash (erosional).

What is the difference between Isostatic and Eustatic sea level change?

Isostatic change is localized (e.g., post-glacial adjustment), while Eustatic change is global (e.g., thermal expansion due to global warming).

What is Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)?

An approach where an entire sediment cell is managed as a whole, involving all stakeholders and planning for long-term sustainability.

Define 'Hard Engineering' in coastal management.

The use of man-made structures, such as sea walls and groynes, to prevent erosion by reflecting or absorbing wave energy.

What is 'Beach Nourishment' in soft engineering?

The process of taking sediment from offshore sources to build up an existing beach, protecting the cliff and improving tourism.