Subjects

Geography

Physical geography

Coastal systems and landscapes

A Level Geography: Coastal Systems and Landscapes Notes - AQA & Edexcel

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A Level Geography: Coastal Systems and Landscapes Notes - AQA & Edexcel

CandyFloss OfDoom

@candyflossofdoom

196 Followers

Coastal Systems and Landscapes: A Comprehensive Guide for A-Level Geography Students

This guide provides an in-depth exploration of coastal systems and landscapes, covering key topics essential for A level geography coastal systems notes AQA and other exam boards. It delves into the intricacies of coastal processes, landforms, sea level changes, management strategies, and human interactions with coastal environments.

Explains the concept of coasts as natural systems with inputs, outputs, flows, and stores
Covers energy sources in coastal systems, including wind, waves, and tides
Examines coastal processes like erosion, transportation, and deposition
Discusses various coastal landforms and their formation
Explores human impacts on coastal landscapes and management strategies

24/02/2023

2212

Coastal Systems and
Landscapes Revision
The Coastal System Coastal Processes. Coastal Landforms. Sea Level
Changes Coastal Management Coasta

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Coastal Processes: Shaping the Landscape

This section explores the key processes that shape coastal landscapes, providing essential information for Coastal systems and landscapes a level Geography studies.

Coastal processes include:

Wave Refraction:
- Bending of waves due to varying water depths
- Affects wave energy distribution along the coast

Definition: Wave refraction is the process by which wave crests bend as they approach the shore at an angle, due to differences in water depth.

Rip Currents:
- Strong, narrow channels of water flowing seaward from the shore
- Formed when waves find a depression in the seabed to flow under incoming waves

These processes play a crucial role in shaping coastal landforms and influencing sediment transport along the coast.

Highlight: Understanding these processes is essential for analyzing Human interaction with coastal systems in geography examples and their impacts on coastal landscapes.

Example: Wave refraction can concentrate wave energy on headlands, leading to increased erosion, while reducing energy in bays, promoting deposition.

This knowledge forms the foundation for understanding more complex coastal systems and is crucial for success in AQA a Level Geography coasts Past papers and exams.

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The Coastal System: An Introduction

This section introduces the fundamental concepts of coastal systems, essential for understanding Coastal systems a level Geography. It explains how coasts function as natural, open systems in dynamic equilibrium.

Coasts are characterized by:

Inputs: sediments and energy from wind, waves, tides, and currents
Outputs: sediments deposited along the coast or inland
Flows/transfers: processes like erosion, weathering, transportation, and deposition
Stores/components: landforms such as beaches, dunes, and spits

The concept of dynamic equilibrium is explained through examples of negative and positive feedback mechanisms within coastal systems.

Definition: Dynamic equilibrium refers to a state where inputs and outputs in a system are balanced, maintaining overall stability despite constant changes.

Example: Negative feedback in coastal systems - When a beach is eroded, cliffs behind it become exposed to wave attack. Sediment eroded from these cliffs is then deposited on the beach, causing it to grow in size again, thus restoring balance.

Highlight: Understanding the concept of coastal systems as open, dynamic entities is crucial for A level Geography coasts revision and exam preparation.

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The Coastline: Zones and Energy Sources

This section delves into the various zones of the coastline and the primary energy sources that shape coastal landscapes, providing essential knowledge for AQA a level Geography coasts specification.

The coastline is divided into several zones:

Backshore: extends from high water foam lines to dunes or inland limit of the beach
Foreshore: area between high and low water marks
Inshore: from low water mark to where waves cease to influence the land
Offshore: extends seaward from low tide to wave-base level or continental shelf edge
Nearshore: where waves steepen, break, and reform
Swash zone: area of water action on the beach
Breaker zone: where waves commence breaking

Energy sources in coastal systems include:

Wind:
- Caused by air movement from high to low pressure areas
- Strong winds create powerful waves
- Prevailing winds lead to higher-energy waves
Waves:
- Created by wind friction over the sea surface
- Wave characteristics depend on wind speed, duration, and fetch
- Constructive and destructive waves have different impacts on the coast

Vocabulary: Fetch refers to the maximum distance of sea over which the wind has blown to create waves.

Example: Constructive waves have a low frequency (6-8 per minute) and are long and low, depositing material on the beach. Destructive waves have a higher frequency (10-14 per minute) and are high and steep, removing material from the beach.

Tides:
- Caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun
- Periodic rise and fall of ocean surface

Highlight: Understanding the interplay between these energy sources is crucial for answering A level geography coasts exam questions and analyzing coastal processes.

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Subjects

Geography

Physical geography

Coastal systems and landscapes

A Level Geography: Coastal Systems and Landscapes Notes - AQA & Edexcel

CandyFloss OfDoom

@candyflossofdoom

196 Followers

Coastal Systems and Landscapes: A Comprehensive Guide for A-Level Geography Students

Explains the concept of coasts as natural systems with inputs, outputs, flows, and stores
Covers energy sources in coastal systems, including wind, waves, and tides
Examines coastal processes like erosion, transportation, and deposition
Discusses various coastal landforms and their formation
Explores human impacts on coastal landscapes and management strategies

24/02/2023

2212

12/13

Geography

154

Coastal Processes: Shaping the Landscape

This section explores the key processes that shape coastal landscapes, providing essential information for Coastal systems and landscapes a level Geography studies.

Coastal processes include:

Wave Refraction:
- Bending of waves due to varying water depths
- Affects wave energy distribution along the coast

Definition: Wave refraction is the process by which wave crests bend as they approach the shore at an angle, due to differences in water depth.

Rip Currents:
- Strong, narrow channels of water flowing seaward from the shore
- Formed when waves find a depression in the seabed to flow under incoming waves

These processes play a crucial role in shaping coastal landforms and influencing sediment transport along the coast.

Highlight: Understanding these processes is essential for analyzing Human interaction with coastal systems in geography examples and their impacts on coastal landscapes.

Example: Wave refraction can concentrate wave energy on headlands, leading to increased erosion, while reducing energy in bays, promoting deposition.

This knowledge forms the foundation for understanding more complex coastal systems and is crucial for success in AQA a Level Geography coasts Past papers and exams.

The Coastal System: An Introduction

Coasts are characterized by:

Inputs: sediments and energy from wind, waves, tides, and currents
Outputs: sediments deposited along the coast or inland
Flows/transfers: processes like erosion, weathering, transportation, and deposition
Stores/components: landforms such as beaches, dunes, and spits

The concept of dynamic equilibrium is explained through examples of negative and positive feedback mechanisms within coastal systems.

Definition: Dynamic equilibrium refers to a state where inputs and outputs in a system are balanced, maintaining overall stability despite constant changes.

Example: Negative feedback in coastal systems - When a beach is eroded, cliffs behind it become exposed to wave attack. Sediment eroded from these cliffs is then deposited on the beach, causing it to grow in size again, thus restoring balance.

Highlight: Understanding the concept of coastal systems as open, dynamic entities is crucial for A level Geography coasts revision and exam preparation.

The Coastline: Zones and Energy Sources

The coastline is divided into several zones:

Backshore: extends from high water foam lines to dunes or inland limit of the beach
Foreshore: area between high and low water marks
Inshore: from low water mark to where waves cease to influence the land
Offshore: extends seaward from low tide to wave-base level or continental shelf edge
Nearshore: where waves steepen, break, and reform
Swash zone: area of water action on the beach
Breaker zone: where waves commence breaking

Energy sources in coastal systems include:

Wind:
- Caused by air movement from high to low pressure areas
- Strong winds create powerful waves
- Prevailing winds lead to higher-energy waves
Waves:
- Created by wind friction over the sea surface
- Wave characteristics depend on wind speed, duration, and fetch
- Constructive and destructive waves have different impacts on the coast

Vocabulary: Fetch refers to the maximum distance of sea over which the wind has blown to create waves.

Example: Constructive waves have a low frequency (6-8 per minute) and are long and low, depositing material on the beach. Destructive waves have a higher frequency (10-14 per minute) and are high and steep, removing material from the beach.

Tides:
- Caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun
- Periodic rise and fall of ocean surface

Highlight: Understanding the interplay between these energy sources is crucial for answering A level geography coasts exam questions and analyzing coastal processes.