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What is a coastal area made up from?
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A coastal zone is the interface between the land and water. These zones are important because a majority of the world's population inhabit such zones. Coastal zones are continually changing because of the dynamic interaction between the oceans and the land.
The littoral zone is the near shore area where sunlight penetrates all the way to the sediment and allows aquatic plants (macrophytes) to grow. Light levels of about 1% or less of surface values usually define this depth. Over 70 percent of the planet's surface is covered by water, the majority of which is in the world's seas and oceans. Half the world's population lives within 60 km of the sea, and three-quarters of all large cities are located on the coast. |
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Physical Geographical background - coasts
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AS Level Coastal notes guidance
To be able to answer AS Level questions you should have a strong background in the physical features of coastal Geography. From the list below you will need to have:
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The importance of the coast as an economic resource
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Using the handout (print to A3) complete the sections with case study specific information. Remember to use actual figures and places.
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Sources
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| Economic value of Corals and Mangroves |
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Mangrove Forests
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Investigation: How does lithology influence the risk of coastal erosion?
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Subaerial Processes
Sub-aerial process are land based processes which alter the shape of the coastline. These are a combination of weathering and mass movement.
Weathering
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Weathering is the decay and disintegration of rock in situ. There are two main types of weathering that affect the coast. These are mechanical and biological weathering.
Mechanical (physical) weathering Mechanical or physical weathering is the fracture and breakdown of rocks into fragments. Along the coast it may be caused by frost shattering (freeze-thaw), salt crystallisation, wetting and drying, or even biologically. Mechanical weathering refers to physical processes such as freeze-thaw and biological weathering. Freeze-thaw occurs when water gets into cracks in rocks and freezes. This then expands by around 10%. The repeated freeze thaw action puts pressure on the rocks until they eventually crack and break the rock. Freeze-thaw usually occurs when the temperature oscillates around freezing point. The shattered angular fragments of rock accumulate around the base of the cliff as scree (talus). As coastal climates tend to be milder this process is only really effective during very cold winters. A common type of mechanical weathering found at coasts is salt crystallisation. This is when salt crystals are deposited in cracks and over time the salt accumulates and applies pressure to the crack (similar to freeze-thaw weathering). Wetting and drying is common along coastlines. Clay rich rocks are prone to expand when they are wet and contract when they dry. This results in cracks which are vulnerable to both freeze-thaw and salt crystallisation. Biological weathering is mechanical when there is a physical effect. An example of this is when growing plant roots widen cracks as does the leverage created by bushes and trees swaying in strong winds. Burrowing animals and nesting birds excavate material in partially weathered and eroded cliffs. Chemical weathering Chemical weathering involves decomposition of rocks (literally, changing the minerals). Chemical weathering occurs as a result of a weak chemical reaction between water and rock. eg. with limestone. Rainwater mixed with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere forms Carbonic acid. This then reacts with calcium carbonate in limestone to form calcium bicarbonate. Bicarbonate is soluble in water and the limestone gets weathered when carbonation occurs. The role of weathering is to weaken cliffs. This weakening speeds up the rates of erosion. |
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Mass movement
Mass movement is the movement of material downslope as the result of gravity. This can be a slow process in the case of soil creep or fast in the case of rockfalls. Water commonly acts as a lubricant in mass movement.
Soil creep
Soil creep is a slow but continuous process. It typically occurs on most slopes over 5 degrees. Soil creep rarely exceeds speeds of 1cm per year. Creep occurs as the result of repeated expansion and contraction of material. Cycles of freeze thaw heave particles up on freezing and allow them to fall further down slope when the ice melts. Alternating hydration and dehydration have the same effect.
Earth flows
Earth flows tend to be faster than slow creep but less sporadic. Earthflows have a characteristic “hourglass” shape. The slope material liquefies and runs out, forming a bowl or depression at the head. The flow itself is elongate and usually occurs in fine-grained materials or clay-bearing rocks on moderate slopes and under saturated conditions. However, dry flows of granular material are also possible.
Land Slide
This is the downslope movement of a large block of material that moves as a coherent mass. This means it retains its internal structure until hitting the base of the slope and fracturing into smaller pieces. It is more common over wet periods, on steep slopes and often occurs on coastlines.
Mud flows
A mudflow is an earthflow consisting of material that is wet enough to flow rapidly and that contains at least 50 percent sand, silt, and clay-sized particles. In some instances, for example in many newspaper reports, mudflows and debris flows are commonly referred to as “mudslides.”
Slumps
One of the most common types of mass movement along the coast are rotational slumps. The video below shows slumping at Mappleton, Holderness Coast. Slumps happen because of a number of factors. Firstly, marine processes erode and undermine the base of the cliff. Rainwater infiltrates the cliff through unconsolidated, porous material (e.g. boulder clay). This then creates a slip plane. The weight of the saturated clay causes the material to slump along the slip plane. The process is illustrated in the diagram below.
Rockfall
Rockfalls are usually associated with near vertical slopes. Only more resistant rock can sustain these angles on the coast. They are most commonly triggered by undercutting in the inter-tidal zone or freeze-thaw weathering.
Soil creep
Soil creep is a slow but continuous process. It typically occurs on most slopes over 5 degrees. Soil creep rarely exceeds speeds of 1cm per year. Creep occurs as the result of repeated expansion and contraction of material. Cycles of freeze thaw heave particles up on freezing and allow them to fall further down slope when the ice melts. Alternating hydration and dehydration have the same effect.
Earth flows
Earth flows tend to be faster than slow creep but less sporadic. Earthflows have a characteristic “hourglass” shape. The slope material liquefies and runs out, forming a bowl or depression at the head. The flow itself is elongate and usually occurs in fine-grained materials or clay-bearing rocks on moderate slopes and under saturated conditions. However, dry flows of granular material are also possible.
Land Slide
This is the downslope movement of a large block of material that moves as a coherent mass. This means it retains its internal structure until hitting the base of the slope and fracturing into smaller pieces. It is more common over wet periods, on steep slopes and often occurs on coastlines.
Mud flows
A mudflow is an earthflow consisting of material that is wet enough to flow rapidly and that contains at least 50 percent sand, silt, and clay-sized particles. In some instances, for example in many newspaper reports, mudflows and debris flows are commonly referred to as “mudslides.”
Slumps
One of the most common types of mass movement along the coast are rotational slumps. The video below shows slumping at Mappleton, Holderness Coast. Slumps happen because of a number of factors. Firstly, marine processes erode and undermine the base of the cliff. Rainwater infiltrates the cliff through unconsolidated, porous material (e.g. boulder clay). This then creates a slip plane. The weight of the saturated clay causes the material to slump along the slip plane. The process is illustrated in the diagram below.
Rockfall
Rockfalls are usually associated with near vertical slopes. Only more resistant rock can sustain these angles on the coast. They are most commonly triggered by undercutting in the inter-tidal zone or freeze-thaw weathering.
Coastal management strategies
Using the documents below you will need to research and put together a pack that covers the following areas:
- Identify the types of management strategy:
- What are they?
- What do they look like?
- Give information, pictures and categorize into types (Hard/Soft engineering & Sustainable management.
- Where/Why are they used in certain areas?
- Advantages/Disadvantages of each.
- Cost benefit analysis - what is this and why do governments employ it as a means to determine the location of management strategies.
- Mini case studies
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Land Reclamation: Hong Kong (Case Study)
As part of your AS Level you will need to understand and discuss the economic and environmental implications of land reclamation.
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation is the process of creating new land from ocean, riverbeds, or lake beds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or land fill.
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation is the process of creating new land from ocean, riverbeds, or lake beds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or land fill.
Hong Kong Land reclamation
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Land reclamation process
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| A study of Hong Kong reclamation policy and its environmental impact |
| Reclamation history of Hong Kong |
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Artificial Islands: Dubai
Environmental impact
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