Year 7 Geography: Coastal Landscapes, Processes, and Landforms

Introduction to Coastal Landscapes

Hello, Year 7! Today, we’re going to explore an exciting topic: Coastal Landscapes. This includes how coastlines are formed, what processes shape them, and the different landforms you can find along coasts.

What Are Coastal Landscapes?

Coastal landscapes are areas where land meets the sea. They can look very different depending on where you are in the world. Some coasts are sandy, while others are rocky. The ocean, waves, and weather play a significant role in shaping these landscapes.

Key Processes that Shape Coastal Landscapes

1. Erosion

Erosion is when something is worn away. In coastal areas, waves crash against the land and can remove soil and rock. This process happens over many years.

• Example: Imagine a sandcastle by the ocean. The waves wash over it, slowly breaking it down. That’s erosion!

2. Transportation

Once materials are worn away, they don’t just disappear. They are moved, or transported, by waves and currents.

• Example: If you see pebbles rolling down the beach, they’re being transported by the tide!

3. Deposition

After materials are transported, they can settle down and build up new landforms. This process is called deposition.

• Example: When a river meets the sea, it slows down. The sand and mud it carries can form deltas at the river’s mouth.

Key Landforms Found on Coasts

1. Cliffs

Cliffs are steep sides of rock and earth. They are often formed by erosion from waves.

• Example: The white cliffs of Dover are famous cliffs in the UK.

2. Beaches

Beaches are sandy or pebbly areas where people often relax. They form from deposited materials washed ashore.

• Example: Brighton Beach is a well-known beach in the UK.

3. Coves

Coves are small, sheltered bays. They are usually formed by erosion around softer rock.

• Example: Lulworth Cove in Dorset is a beautiful example.

4. Headlands and Bays

Headlands are areas of land that stick out into the sea, while bays are areas of water between two headlands.

• Example: The Isle of Purbeck has both headlands and bays.

Tips and Tricks to Remember

• Visualise: Drawing diagrams can help you understand how these processes work.
• Use Mnemonics: Remember the order of processes: Erosion, Transportation, Deposition (ETD).
• Field Trips: If possible, visit a local beach to see these features in real life!

Questions

Easy Level Questions

1. What is erosion?
2. Name one process that shapes coastal landscapes.
3. What is a beach?
4. What are cliffs made of?
5. What is deposition?
6. Name a famous beach in the UK.
7. What do waves do to the land?
8. What is a cove?
9. What happens to sand when it is washed ashore?
10. Name a coastal landform that sticks out into the sea.
11. What do we call the materials moved by waves?
12. What is the opposite of erosion?
13. What is a headland?
14. What is one thing you might find on a beach?
15. Why do people like to visit beaches?
16. What do you call a sheltered bay?
17. How are cliffs formed?
18. What is the main force that shapes coastal landscapes?
19. How can we protect beaches from erosion?
20. Why is coastal geography important?

Medium Level Questions

1. How does transportation differ from erosion?
2. Describe how a delta is formed.
3. What materials are commonly found on a beach?
4. Why do some coasts have sandy beaches while others are rocky?
5. What role do tides play in coastal processes?
6. How can human activities affect coastal landscapes?
7. What is wave action?
8. Describe the formation of a cove in detail.
9. Why is it important to study coastal landscapes?
10. How does weathering affect cliffs?
11. What types of rock are more resistant to erosion?
12. How can deposition create new habitats?
13. Name two types of coastal landforms.
14. What is the impact of storms on coastal erosion?
15. How do longshore currents affect beaches?
16. What is a spit?
17. Explain the difference between a bay and a river mouth.
18. How can coastal areas be protected from erosion?
19. Describe the process of cliff retreat.
20. Why might a beach change shape over time?

Hard Level Questions

1. Explain the relationship between erosion and sediment transport.
2. Discuss the role of coastal vegetation in preventing erosion.
3. What is the difference between constructive and destructive waves?
4. How do human structures, like sea walls, impact coastal processes?
5. Explain how wave refraction can lead to the formation of headlands and bays.
6. What are the effects of climate change on coastal landscapes?
7. How can rising sea levels affect coastal erosion?
8. Discuss the types of sediment found on different types of beaches.
9. How does the geology of an area influence coastal landforms?
10. What is the significance of studying coastal management?
11. Compare and contrast the processes of erosion and weathering.
12. How do tides affect the erosion and deposition processes?
13. Discuss the impact of tourism on coastal landscapes.
14. Explain how a wave-cut platform is formed.
15. What is a tombolo, and how is it formed?
16. Describe the process of beach nourishment.
17. How do rip currents form, and why are they dangerous?
18. What human activities can lead to increased coastal erosion?
19. Discuss the ecological importance of coastal wetlands.
20. How do tides and currents differ in their impact on coastal landscapes?

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

1. Erosion is when land is worn away.
2. Erosion, transportation, or deposition.
3. A beach is a sandy or pebbly area by the sea.
4. Cliffs are made of rock.
5. Deposition is when materials settle down to form new land.
6. Brighton Beach.
7. Waves wear away the land.
8. A cove is a small, sheltered bay.
9. Sand is deposited on the beach.
10. A headland.
11. Sediments.
12. Deposition.
13. A headland is a piece of land that sticks out into the sea.
14. Sand, shells, or pebbles.
15. Because they are fun and relaxing.
16. A cove.
17. Cliffs are formed by erosion.
18. Waves shape coastal landscapes.
19. By building barriers or planting vegetation.
20. Because it helps us understand our environment.

Medium Level Answers

1. Erosion wears away land; transportation moves materials.
2. A delta is formed when a river slows down and deposits sediment.
3. Sand, shells, pebbles, and rocks.
4. Due to differences in wave energy and rock resistance.
5. Tides cause changes in water levels that shape the coastline.
6. They can lead to pollution, erosion, and habitat loss.
7. Wave action is the movement of water caused by waves.
8. A cove is formed by erosion around softer rock.
9. It helps us manage our coastlines and protect habitats.
10. Weathering breaks down rock, which can contribute to erosion.
11. Hard rocks like granite resist erosion more than soft rocks like clay.
12. It creates new areas for wildlife.
13. Cliffs and beaches.
14. Storms can increase erosion and wash away sand.
15. They move sand along the shore.
16. A spit is a narrow landform that extends into the sea.
17. A bay is a water area between headlands, while a river mouth is where a river meets the sea.
18. By using natural barriers or constructing seawalls.
19. It provides habitats for many species.
20. Beaches change shape due to waves, tides, and storms.

Hard Level Answers

1. Erosion removes materials, and transport moves them to new locations.
2. They help hold soil in place, reducing erosion.
3. Constructive waves build up beaches; destructive waves wear them away.
4. They can protect areas but may also increase erosion elsewhere.
5. Waves bend as they approach land, causing erosion on headlands and deposition in bays.
6. Changes in temperature and sea levels affect erosion and habitats.
7. Increased water levels can lead to more flooding and erosion.
8. Fine sand on beaches, pebbles on rocky shores.
9. Different rock types resist erosion differently, forming various landforms.
10. To find sustainable ways to protect coastlines.
11. Erosion is the removal of materials; weathering is the breakdown without movement.
12. Tides change water levels, affecting where and how much erosion/deposition occurs.
13. Tourism can lead to litter and habitat destruction.
14. When waves erode the base of a cliff, it can create a flat area.
15. A tombolo is a sandbar connecting an island to the mainland.
16. Beach nourishment is adding sand to a beach to replace lost materials.
17. Rip currents form when water is pushed back out through a narrow channel; they can pull swimmers away from shore.
18. Deforestation, construction, and pollution can increase erosion.
19. They filter water, provide habitats, and protect shorelines.
20. Tides and currents differ in speed, direction, and impact on coastal erosion and deposition.

Feel free to ask any questions if you need more help or clarification on any of these topics! Happy learning!