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

Answer: Hydraulic action occurs when the force of water hitting the coast compresses air into cracks in the rock, causing the cracks to widen and the rock to break apart over time. This process helps to erode cliffs and other coastal landforms.

Question 2: Identify and explain two different types of coastal landforms formed by erosion.

Answer: Two coastal landforms formed by erosion are a wave-cut platform, which is a flat area at the base of a cliff created by wave erosion, and a headland, which is a narrow piece of land that projects into the sea, often formed by resistant rock that erodes more slowly.

Question 3: Explain the difference between wave refraction and wave deposition along a coastline.

Answer: Wave refraction is the bending of wave energy as waves approach an irregular coastline, concentrating erosion on headlands and protecting bays. Wave deposition occurs when the energy of waves decreases, causing sediments to be dropped and forming landforms like beaches and spits.

Question 4: Sketch a diagram of a spit extending into the sea from the coast. Label the main features.

Answer: A spit is a narrow strip of land extending from the coast into the sea, often with a curve or hook at the end. Main features to label include the main coast, the spit, the curved end (hook), and the area behind the spit which may form a sheltered bay.

Question 5: Describe how human activities, such as building sea walls, can help protect coastlines from erosion. Include potential advantages and disadvantages.

Answer: Building sea walls helps protect coastlines by absorbing and reflecting wave energy, reducing erosion and flooding. Advantages include safeguarding property and infrastructure. Disadvantages include the high cost, potential disruption of natural processes, and possible erosion of nearby areas due to changed wave patterns.

Question 6: Identify a process that leads to the formation of a coastal stack and describe how it occurs.

Answer: A coastal stack forms through the process of erosion. It begins with the erosion of a headland, creating caves. Continued erosion causes the cave to break through, forming an arch. Eventually, the arch collapses, leaving an isolated vertical column called a stack.

Question 7: Explain the term 'longshore drift' and describe how it affects the shape of a coastline.

Answer: Longshore drift is the movement of sediment along the coast caused by waves approaching at an angle. It transports material sideways along the shoreline, which can cause the coastline to change shape over time, forming features like beaches, spits, and barrier islands.

Question 8: Draw a cross-sectional diagram of a typical sandy beach showing the different zones from the shoreline inland. Label the zones.

Answer: A cross-section of a sandy beach should include the swash zone (where waves wash up), the backwash zone (where water recedes), the berm (raised area of deposited material), and the dunes further inland. Label each zone accordingly.

Question 9: Describe the role of a groyne in coastal management. Include how it impacts sediment movement.

Answer: A groyne is a structure built perpendicular to the shoreline to trap sand moving via longshore drift. It helps build up a beach but can also cause sediment build-up on one side and erosion on the other side due to interrupted sediment flow.

Question 10: Explain what is meant by 'cliff retreat' and identify two factors that can accelerate this process.

Answer: Cliff retreat refers to the gradual erosion and falling back of a coastline's cliffs. Factors that can accelerate this include heavy rainfall which weakens rock, and the presence of destructive wave action during storms that erodes the base of the cliffs.