Edexcel GCSE Geography: UK’s Evolving Physical Landscape - Coastal Processes

Edexcel GCSE Geography: UK's Evolving Physical Landscape - Coastal Processes

This tutorial will explore the dynamic nature of the UK's coastline, focusing on the key coastal processes, landforms, and the impact of erosion, deposition, and longshore drift. Understanding these concepts is crucial for success in Component 2, Paper 2 of your Edexcel GCSE Geography exam, where questions on UK coastal landscapes, case studies, and management techniques are assessed.

1. Coastal Processes: Shaping the Coastline

a) Erosion: The process of wearing away and transporting rock and sediment by the sea.

• Wave Action: The primary force of erosion. Wave energy is influenced by factors such as wind speed, fetch (distance over which the wind blows), and wave height.
  • Hydraulic Action: The force of waves crashing against cliffs, compressing air into cracks and causing them to widen.
  • Abrasion: The grinding action of sediment carried by waves against cliffs and rocks.
  • Attrition: The collision of sediment particles, breaking them down into smaller pieces.
• Weathering: The breakdown of rock in situ.
  • Freeze-Thaw: Water freezes in cracks, expands, and weakens the rock.
  • Chemical Weathering: Chemical reactions dissolve rocks.
  • Biological Weathering: Living organisms break down rocks.

b) Transportation: The movement of eroded material along the coastline.

• Longshore Drift: The movement of sediment along the coastline by waves approaching the shore at an angle.
• Suspension: Fine sediment carried in the water column.
• Saltation: Larger sediment particles bouncing along the seabed.
• Solution: Dissolved minerals transported in the water.

c) Deposition: The dropping of sediment when wave energy decreases.

• Factors influencing deposition: Reduced wave energy, sheltered areas, and changes in coastline shape.

2. Coastal Landforms: Results of Erosion and Deposition

a) Erosional Landforms:

• Cliffs: Steep slopes formed by the erosion of rock by waves.
• Wave-cut Platform: A flat area at the base of a cliff formed by erosion.
• Caves, Arches, Stacks, and Stumps: Landforms formed by wave erosion of weaknesses in the cliff.
• Headlands and Bays: Headlands are resistant rock outcrops jutting out into the sea, while bays are sheltered inlets formed by erosion of less resistant rock.

b) Depositional Landforms:

• Beaches: Accumulations of sand and shingle deposited by waves.
• Spits: Narrow strips of land extending out from the coast, often forming at river mouths.
• Tombolos: Beaches connecting an island to the mainland.
• Sand Dunes: Accumulations of sand deposited by the wind in sheltered areas.

3. Coastal Management: Balancing Human Needs and the Coastal Environment

a) Hard Engineering: Using artificial structures to control coastal processes.

• Sea Walls: Concrete barriers designed to protect the coastline from erosion.
• Groynes: Wooden or concrete structures built perpendicular to the coast to trap sediment and widen beaches.
• Rock Armour: Large rocks placed along the coast to absorb wave energy.
• Gabions: Wire cages filled with rocks to absorb wave energy.

b) Soft Engineering: Using natural methods to manage coastal erosion.

• Beach Nourishment: Adding sand or shingle to beaches to widen them and absorb wave energy.
• Managed Retreat: Allowing the coast to erode in a controlled way, creating new habitats and minimizing the cost of protection.
• Dune Regeneration: Planting vegetation on sand dunes to stabilize them and reduce erosion.

4. Case Studies: Examples of Coastal Processes and Management

a) Holderness Coast, UK: A rapidly eroding coastline due to the combination of strong waves, weak rock types, and longshore drift.

b) Chesil Beach, UK: A famous example of a shingle beach formed by longshore drift.

c) The Netherlands: A country heavily affected by coastal erosion and flooding, with a sophisticated system of coastal defenses.

5. Exam Preparation: Key Concepts and Skills

• Understand the processes of erosion, transportation, and deposition.
• Be able to identify and explain the formation of coastal landforms.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of different coastal management strategies.
• Discuss the impact of coastal processes on human activities and the environment.
• Apply your knowledge to case studies and real-world examples.

By studying this tutorial and applying the concepts to real-world scenarios, you'll be well-equipped to tackle coastal geography questions on your Edexcel GCSE Geography exam. Remember to use specific examples, data, and diagrams to support your answers and demonstrate a deep understanding of the subject.