Weathering and Mass Movement

This section explores the processes that break down rocks and cause material to move downslope in coastal landscapes.

Weathering Processes

1. Mechanical Weathering
   • Freeze-thaw: Water in cracks freezes and expands, breaking rocks
   • Salt weathering: Salt crystals grow in pores, causing rock to crumble

Example: Freeze-thaw weathering is particularly effective in coastal areas with cold winters, such as along the Dorset coast in the UK.

2. Chemical Weathering

   • Carbonation: Rainwater absorbs CO2, reacting with limestone and chalk
   • Dissolution: Rainwater slowly dissolves some rocks

3. Biological Weathering

   • Plant roots grow in cracks, widening them
   • Animals burrow into cliffs, weakening the structure

Mass Movement

Various types of mass movement affect coastal cliffs:

1. Rockfall: Fragments break away from steep cliff faces
2. Mudflow: Saturated soil and weak rock flow downslope
3. Landslide: Large blocks of rock slide down a slope
4. Rotational slip: Curved slip plane causes soil and rock to slump

Highlight: Understanding mass movement is crucial for coastal management and hazard assessment in GCSE Geography coasts studies.

Cliff Erosion Process

The process of cliff erosion involves:

1. Waves attack the base of the cliff
2. Undercutting occurs, forming a wave-cut notch
3. Weathering weakens the rock face above
4. The cliff becomes unstable and collapses
5. Debris is washed away by waves, continuing the cycle

Vocabulary: Wave-cut notch - A hollow formed at the base of a cliff by wave erosion, eventually leading to cliff collapse.

Formation of Headlands and Bays

Differential erosion creates the distinctive shapes of headlands and bays:

• Harder rocks (e.g., limestone) erode more slowly, forming headlands
• Softer rocks (e.g., clay) erode more quickly, forming bays

Example: Studland Bay and Duriston Head in Dorset, UK, demonstrate this process of differential erosion in coastal landscape Geography.

Wave-Cut Platforms

Wave-cut platforms form through the following process:

1. Waves erode the base of the cliff
2. A wave-cut notch develops
3. The notch grows larger, causing the cliff to collapse
4. The process repeats, creating a flat platform at the base of the retreating cliff

Definition: A wave-cut platform is a gently sloping rocky surface formed by wave erosion at the base of a cliff.

Coastal Landforms and Features

This section explores the various landforms created by coastal processes, essential knowledge for GCSE Geography coasts exams.

Caves, Arches, Stacks, and Stumps

These features form through a progressive sequence of erosion:

1. Caves:

   • Formed when waves exploit weaknesses in cliff faces
   • Hydraulic action and abrasion enlarge the cave

2. Arches:

   • Caves erode through the headland, creating an arch
   • Continued erosion widens the arch

3. Stacks:

   • The arch roof collapses, leaving an isolated pillar of rock (stack)
   • Famous example: Old Harry Rocks, Dorset

4. Stumps:

   • Continued erosion reduces the stack to a low stump

Example: Durdle Door in Dorset is a classic example of a limestone arch formed by this process.

Beach Profile

A typical beach profile includes:

1. Dune slack and dune scarp
2. Grey dune
3. Yellow dune
4. Storm berm
5. Fore dune
6. High berm
7. Wrack line
8. Embryo dune
9. Water table

Vocabulary: Berm - A raised ridge of sand or gravel formed by wave action on a beach.

Sand Dune Formation

Sand dunes form through a series of stages:

1. Embryo dunes develop around deposited materials
2. Vegetation stabilizes the dunes
3. Plant roots bind sand together, increasing fertility
4. Dunes grow as wind continues to deposit sand
5. Sand slips down the leeward slope as dunes become unstable

Highlight: Sand dune ecosystems are important for coastal protection and biodiversity in coastal landscapes GCSE Geography.

Spit Formation

Spits are depositional landforms that form where:

1. The coastline changes direction
2. Longshore drift continues in a straight line
3. Deposition occurs in shallow water
4. The spit grows out to sea
5. The end may curve due to changing wind direction
6. A saltmarsh often develops in the sheltered area behind the spit

Example: Spurn Head in Yorkshire is a classic example of a spit studied in Physical geography coasts named examples GCSE.

Tombolo

A tombolo is a bar of sand or shingle that connects an island to the mainland.

Definition: Tombolo - A depositional feature that links an island to the mainland or another island, formed by longshore drift.

Understanding these coastal landforms and their formation processes is crucial for success in AQA GCSE Geography Coasts exam questions.

Coastal Management Strategies

This section covers various approaches to managing coastal erosion and flooding, a key topic in GCSE Geography rivers and Coasts exam questions.

Hard Engineering

Hard engineering involves building artificial structures to protect the coast.

1. Sea Walls
   • Concrete or rock barriers at the base of cliffs
   • Advantages:
     • Effectively stops sea erosion
     • Provides a walkway
   • Disadvantages:
     • Expensive (£5,000-10,000 per meter)
     • Unnatural appearance
     • High maintenance costs

Highlight: Sea walls are a common sight along many UK coastlines, but their effectiveness and environmental impact are often debated in GCSE Geography coasts revision.

2. Rock Armour
   • Large boulders placed at the foot of cliffs
   • Advantages:
     • Relatively cheap
     • Easy to maintain
   • Disadvantages:
     • Difficult to transport
     • Visually obtrusive
     • Often sourced from other coastlines or abroad

Example: The use of rock armour at Barton-on-Sea in Hampshire demonstrates both the benefits and drawbacks of this approach.

3. Gabions

   • Wire cages filled with rocks to support cliffs
   • Advantages:
     • Flexible and can be easily repaired
     • Relatively inexpensive
   • Disadvantages:
     • Can be unsightly
     • May require frequent maintenance

4. Groynes

   • Wooden or rock structures extending into the sea
   • Purpose: Trap sediment and build up beaches
   • Advantages:
     • Effective at retaining beach material
     • Can create new recreational areas
   • Disadvantages:
     • May cause erosion further down the coast
     • Can be expensive to construct and maintain

Vocabulary: Groyne - A low wall or barrier built out into the sea from a beach to prevent erosion and drifting of sediment.

Soft Engineering

Soft engineering works with natural processes to manage coastal erosion.

1. Beach Nourishment

   • Adding sand or shingle to beaches
   • Advantages:
     • Maintains natural appearance
     • Improves beach for tourism
   • Disadvantages:
     • Requires regular replenishment
     • Can be expensive long-term

2. Dune Regeneration

   • Planting vegetation to stabilize dunes
   • Advantages:
     • Enhances natural coastal defense
     • Improves biodiversity
   • Disadvantages:
     • Takes time to establish
     • May restrict access to beaches

Definition: Soft engineering in coastal management refers to approaches that work with natural processes to reduce erosion and flooding risks.

Managed Retreat

This strategy involves allowing the coastline to erode naturally in certain areas.

• Advantages:
  • Cost-effective in the long term
  • Creates new habitats for wildlife
• Disadvantages:
  • Loss of land and property
  • Requires careful planning and community engagement

Example: The managed realignment project at Medmerry in West Sussex is a notable case study for GCSE Geography coasts revision.

Understanding these coastal management strategies and their implications is crucial for answering AQA GCSE Geography Coasts exam questions effectively.

Coastal Management Case Study: Lyme Regis

This section provides a detailed examination of coastal management in Lyme Regis, a significant case study location.

Example: The Lyme Regis Environmental Improvement Scheme (LREIS) demonstrates comprehensive coastal protection.

Key features include: • £20 million investment • Multiple phase implementation • Combined hard and soft engineering approaches

Highlight: The scheme protected 480 homes while maintaining tourist access to the Jurassic Coast.