Question 1: Describe the process of hydraulic action and explain how it contributes to the erosion of a chalk cliff.

Answer: Hydraulic action occurs when waves crash against a cliff, compressing air into cracks. The pressure causes the cracks to enlarge and pieces of rock to break off, gradually eroding the cliff.

Question 2: Identify and explain three features that can form as a result of longshore drift along a coastline.

Answer: Features include: 1) Spits - elongated deposits of sand extending into the sea, formed when longshore drift deposits material across a bay; 2) Bars - submerged or exposed ridges across the mouth of a bay, formed when a spit extends across the entrance; 3) Tombolos - ridges of sand connecting an island to the mainland, formed by deposition from longshore drift.

Question 3: Explain how wave energy affects the shape of a coastline, particularly in areas with soft rock.

Answer: High wave energy erodes soft rock more quickly, creating features like bays and coves, while resistant rock areas form headlands. The energy causes abrasion and hydraulic action, shaping the coastline over time.

Question 4: Describe the formation of a wave-cut platform.

Answer: A wave-cut platform forms when waves erode the base of a cliff, creating a notch. Over time, the cliff collapses, and the process repeats, leaving a flat, rocky platform at the foot of the cliff.

Question 5: Sketch a diagram showing the formation of a spit, including key features such as the area of deposition and the direction of longshore drift.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a coastline with a curved extension of sand or shingle projecting into the sea, with arrows indicating the direction of longshore drift along the coast and across the spit. The spit should have a hook or bend at the end, with a lagoon behind it.

Question 6: Compare and contrast a headland and a bay in terms of their formation and appearance.

Answer: A headland is a point of resistant rock that juts out into the sea, formed where softer rock erodes faster. A bay is an area of softer rock that erodes more quickly, creating a recessed coast. Headlands are prominent and rugged, while bays are sheltered and often contain beaches.

Question 7: Explain the term 'abrasion' and how it contributes to coastal erosion.

Answer: Abrasion occurs when waves carry particles like sand and pebbles, which are thrown at the cliff face, wearing away the rock through scraping and grinding.

Question 8: Identify two human activities that can accelerate coastal erosion and briefly explain how they do so.

Answer: Activities include: 1) Construction of sea defenses like groynes and seawalls, which can interfere with natural sediment movement, leading to increased erosion elsewhere; 2) Dredging activities that remove sediment from the seabed, reducing the material available for natural deposition and causing erosion to intensify.

Question 9: Describe how a wave refraction process influences the shape of a headland and a bay.

Answer: Wave refraction causes waves to bend as they approach the coast, concentrating energy on the headland, increasing erosion, while the energy diminishes in the bay, leading to deposition. This process accentuates the formation of headlands and bays.

Question 10: Explain the role of tides in coastal erosion and deposition processes.

Answer: Tides influence the extent of wave action on the coast, with high tides allowing waves to reach further inland, increasing erosion. During low tides, exposed areas can experience deposition of sediments as wave energy decreases.