1. Note to teachers This revision session is on coastal landscapes
– the geomorphic processes
- the major coastal landforms
- a case study of the North Norfolk coast
The processes and landforms ought to be very familiar so should be covered quite quickly. The emphasis must be on using this information to write a quality case study answer.
There are handout sheets to accompany.
I will try to complete this in one lesson, to allow time for a revision of the role of human activity & management on coast landscapes. (see other powerpoint)
If not, this could be a homework focus.

2. Geography GCSE Revision Distinctive Landscapes: Coasts
Learning outcomes
To outline the geomorphic processes shaping coastal landscapes
To understand the processes involved in the formation of headlands, bays, cave, arch, stack, beach and spit.
To apply the above information to a case study of the North Norfolk coast.

3. Case studies for Distinctive Landscapes. You need 2 case studies.
A coastal landscape in the UK
The North Norfolk coast.
The landforms created by geomorphic processes
How the geomorphic processes operate at different scales and are influenced by geology and climate
How human activity, including management, impacts the processes and landscape
A river basin landscape in the UK.
The River Tees basin

4. Geomorphology –is the study of landforms.
Geomorphic processes.
Geomorphology –is the study of landforms.
The shape (morphology) of the Earth (Geo)
A process is a series of actions on something.
Transportation
Weathering
Geomorphic processes changing the landscape
Mass movement
Erosion
Deposition
Garry - One could add “the 4 agents causing erosion on Earth are ice, rivers, waves and wind” This course just looks at rivers and waves as agents of erosion.
All these processes work at changing the landscape

5. Let us examine each of these geomorphic processes in turn.
Weathering
Chemical
Mechanical
Biological
Mass movement:
sliding
slumping
Erosion
Hydraulic action
Solution
Abrasion
Attrition
Transport-ation
Solution
Suspension
Saltation
Traction
Deposition
Students use their own devices or any relevant textbooks
OCR GCSE textbook - penguin book - page 72-75
basics in Geog.2 not enough stuff on transportation If this is not going to be finished in the lesson it must be set as homework to complete

6. 1) Weathering is the ‘in situ’ disintegration and breakdown of rock
1) Weathering is the ‘in situ’ disintegration and breakdown of rock. There are 3 main types of weathering:
Chemical weathering. e.g. solution. Some rocks such as limestone (chalk) will dissolve in water.
Mechanical weathering- caused by temperature changes
e.g. freeze-thaw when water gets into cracks, freezes, expands and fractures rock.
e.g. heating and cooling causes the rock to expand and contract 
Biological weathering Plants roots and animals burrowing will weaken rocks.

7. Challenge
How is weathering different from erosion? Weathering is NOT the same as erosion. Erosion implies movement by wind, water, ice. Weathering is the ‘in situ’ breakdown of rock where it is. In situ = Latin for ‘in situation’ How does weathering help the processes of erosion? Weathering breaks down the rocks and makes them weaker and more susceptible to the processes of erosion. How is weathering influenced by the climate? Places where temperatures hover either side of freezing are likely to see more freeze-thaw weathering. Places that have large daily ranges of temperature will see more heating & cooling weathering.

8. 2) Mass movement. Material that has been weaken by weathering will now move due to gravity. There are different types of mass movement. e.g. falls, landslides and slumps.
Challenge: What type of rock and weather is needed to cause a slide or a slump?
A slide is more likely if the bedding plane of the rocks is angled downslope. Also any cracks that allow rainwater will help sliding.
A slump is more likely in soft porous rock that becomes unstable when very wet.

9. 3) Erosion. This is the wearing down of rock
3) Erosion. This is the wearing down of rock. How can water (waves or rivers) wear down a hard rock?

10. 3) Erosion processes. Page 74
3) Erosion processes. Page 74. Match the description to the correct process.
Abrasion
Hydraulic action
Solution
Attrition
Match these descriptions to the correct process.
- The gradual wearing down of material as it bumps and rolls
- The material in the water being thrown against the cliff
- The sheer force of the water
- The dissolving of some rock in water.

11. Summary. Coastal cliffs will be subjected to the geomorphic processes of erosion, weathering and mass movement.

12. The influence of geology.
Challenge: How will geology influence the rate of erosion?
Hardness. Hard rock (e.g. granite) will be more resistant than soft (e.g. chalk or clay)
Porous rock (e.g. chalk, sandstone) will allow water to seep into the rock and weaken it.
Mineral type. Some rocks are more vulnerable to solution and dissolve in water e.g chalk & limestone
Structure. Rocks with many joints and cracks (e.g. limestone) will be weaker than rocks with few joints (e.g. granite)

13. The influence of geology.
Rocks that are more resistant will erode slowly. They will form headlands. Less resistant rocks will erode quickly and form bays.

14. 4) Transportation processes
4) Transportation processes. Material that has been eroded will be transported by the waves. How? Match the description to the correct process.
Traction
Saltation
Suspension
Solution
Match these descriptions to the correct process.
- The bouncing of medium sized material
- The dissolving of material. This is not visible.
- The rolling of larger material along the bottom
- Fine material held up in the water

15. Longshore drift
Wind causes waves. If the prevailing wind reaches the shore at an angle, the swash moves up the beach at the same angle, whilst the backwash returns directly back.
Material moves along the beach in a ziz zag pattern.
This is called longshore drift.

16. 5) Deposition. Deposition is the dumping & building up of material.
Deposition will happen when waves lose their energy to move material. This will happen –
when the wind lessens and the waves are weaker
in sheltered areas (bays) or shallow seas where waves break early and lose their power.
The main coastal feature associated with deposition is a beach.

17. Different types of wave. Some waves will build up the coast
Different types of wave. Some waves will build up the coast. These are constructive waves Other waves will erode the coast. These are destructive waves.
Constructive waves are gentle in height. They have a _____ swash and a _____ backwash. As a result the waves build up material on the beach. These waves are more likely in summer (calm days).
Destructive waves are tall in height. They have a _____ swash and a _____ backwash. As a result the waves remove material on the beach. These waves are more likely in winter (stormy days).

18. What geomorphic processes are changing this coastal landscape?
Summary so far: All coastlines are affected by a variety of geomorphic processes.
What geomorphic processes are changing this coastal landscape?
Share with your neighbour.
Weathering: Rainwater getting into the rock
Weathering: The heating and cooling of the rock
Erosion: The waves eroding rock
Weathering: Vegetation and animals, burrowing into the rock.
Transportation. The waves moving beach material
Garry - One could add “the 4 agents causing erosion on Earth are ice, rivers, waves and wind” This course just looks at rivers and waves as agents of erosion.
Mass movement: Gravity causing loose material to fall or slide
Weathering: Freezing and thawing water in the rock
Deposition: Waves depositing and building up beach material

19. Let us now look at how these geomorphic processes combine to produce some classic coastal landforms.

20. Cliffs and wave cut platforms.
Note: When explaining the geomorphic processes causing cliff retreat and forming a wave cut platform remember to –
explain the weathering and mass movement processes operating on the cliff face and cliff top
explain the erosion processes (hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition & solution) operating at the cliff foot.

21. Waves erode the base of the cliff, by the processes of hydraulic action and abrasion, forming a wave cut notch
The notch increases in size causing the cliff to overhang and become unstable 4 3
The retreat of the cliff forms a wave cut platform in front of the cliff. 2
Weathering affects the top of the cliff. Rainwater enters the rock; freeze-thaw weathering weakens the rock.
The cliff collapses, due to gravity (mass movement) and the process continues. 5 1

22. Wave cut platform

23. The formation of a cave, arch, stack and stump

24. What mark would you give this answer.?
Exam question: Explain the processes involved in the formation of a coastal landform formed by erosion. (4 marks)
What mark would you give this answer.?
The sea erodes the base of the cliffs, firstly by attacking any crack or weakness in the cliff. The crack becomes enlarged and forms a cave. If the cave gets bigger it goes through the headland and forms an arch. Over time the arch weakens and collapses leaving an isolated stack. This may eventually get eroded and form a stump.
1 mark at best.
The student has described the sequence of events, but there is no mention or explanation of the processes.
Students attempt question

25. What key words would you include?
Exam question: Explain the processes involved in the formation of a coastal landform formed by erosion. (4 marks)
What key words would you include?
Weathering – chemical, physical & biological weathering at top of cliff & cliff face
Erosion – at cliff foot, by destructive waves; abrasion; hydraulic action;
wave cut notch; undercutting
Mass movement & collapse – due to gravity;
cliff retreat
Wave cut platform
Cave, arch, stack, stump
Make sure you explain the processes and not just describe the features.
Students attempt question

26. Depositional Landforms:
Spits
Bars
Tombolos
A spit is a strip of beach material that sticks out to sea and has been built up as a result of longshore drift.

27. What features are needed for a spit to be formed?
Longshore drift needs to be occurring
There is a change in the direction of the land.
There is a river current that stops deposition across the estuary.
Secondary wind directions cause the spit to have a curved (hook) end.

28. The direction of long shore drift
Prevailing wind direction, and therefore the direction of wave swash up the beach
Salt Marsh
River Estuary
Original Coastline
Short term changes in wind and wave direction causing the curved end of the spit
River current prevents further development of the spit.

29. A salt marsh
The area of water behind the spit is sheltered from wave attack. Vegetation may colonise this sheltered area, creating a salt marsh.
Over time this might become more stable, creating new land.

30. Spits are quite common features.
Spurn Head, Holderness.
Hurst spit, near Southampton.

31. A bar. If the spit re-joins the coast, then the spit is called a bar.
This is more likely across a bay.
The area of water trapped behind the bar is called a lagoon.

32. Chesil Beach joins on to the Isle of Portland..
A tombolo
If the spit joins an island, linking it to the land, then the spit is called a tombolo.
Chesil Beach joins on to the Isle of Portland..

33. traction, saltation suspension.
Improve this answer. Explain the geomorphic processes involved in the formation of a coastal spit. (4 marks)
Answer: A spit is formed when longshore drift moves material along the beach. The material zigzags along the beach. When there is a change in the direction of the coastline the beach material continues to be deposited out to sea forming a narrow finger of land called a spit.
No mention of –
-prevailing wind
-swash
- transportation e.g.
traction, saltation suspension.
Answer: A spit is formed when the prevailing wind meets the coast at an angle. The swash moves up the beach at the same angle causing the beach material to zigzag along the beach. This is called longshore drift. The material is transported by the processes of traction, saltation and suspension. When there is a change in the direction of the coastline the beach material continues to be deposited out to sea forming a narrow finger of land called a spit.

34. We have looked at –
the geomorphic processes operation at the coast
the main coastal landforms that are produced
Now we need to relate this to an actual case study of a coastline.
Our example case study is the North Norfolk coast.

35. Example: At Blakeney, a 3 mile long spit, formed by longshore drift
Case study: The North Norfolk coast.
The North Norfolk coast provides excellent examples of how geomorphic processes and geology combine to produce dramatic coastal features.
We will look at two examples.
Example: At Blakeney, a 3 mile long spit, formed by longshore drift
Example: At Overstrand and Mundesley, 20 metre high cliffs rapidly eroding due to very soft geology.

36. Case study: The North Norfolk coast.
1) Cliff erosion and slumping at Overstand.
The cliffs at Overstand are retreating rapidly. The rapid erosion is due to the combined effects of geomorphic processes and the unfortunate geology.
The geology. The cliffs are made of soft glacial deposits called till. (sands and gravels).
These rocks are porous. Rainwater seeps in, the cliffs become unstable and slumping occurs. This is an example of weathering and mass movement.
The sea attack. The coast is exposed to strong North sea storms. Destructive waves erode the base of the cliffs and the slumped material. Longshore drift removes the eroded material so there is no beach to protect the cliffs.

37. The cliffs at Overstrand. What processes are at work here?
Porous rock (glacial till) composed of sands and gravels: Rainwater soaks in, the cliffs become unstable and slump. This is weathering and mass movement.
The sea (just visible) erodes the base of the slumped material (explain the processes of erosion) and removes the material by longshore drift (more explanation)

38. Case study: The North Norfolk coast.
2) Deposition and the formation of a spit and salt marsh at Blakeney.
Blakeney spit is a 3 ½ mile long shingle spit formed by longshore drift. (explain this in more detail).
The prevailing wind direction has caused the spit to grow westwards. In the shelter of the spit an extensive salt marsh has established.
This low lying coast is vulnerable to flooding but its varied ecosystems (shingle spit, salt marsh and sand dunes) make it a special area for wildlife e.g seals, and wading birds.

39. Blakeney spit. What processes are at work here?
The prevailing wind meets the shore at an angle. Longshore drift moves the beach in a zigzag pattern. This is transportation and deposition.
Salt marsh has established in the shelter behind the spit.
The direction of longshore drift.
Curved hook end due to river current and secondary wind direction.

40. Case study question: A coastal landscape in the UK.
2) Describe the coastal features. i.e. cliffs? Spit & salt marsh?
1) It must be a named coastal area in the UK.
For a named coastal area in the UK, describe the main coastal features and explain how geomorphic processes have combined with the geology and climate to produce the coastal landscape.
3) Explain. The geomorphic processes (weathering, mass movement, erosion, etc) and the influence of geology and climate.
Now take 3 minutes to quickly jot down the key points you would include in your answer.

41. Key points: For a named coastal area in the UK, describe the main coastal features and explain how geomorphic processes have combined with the geology and climate to produce the coastal landscape.
* = for a level 3 answer you must show place specific details.
Named coastal area = North Norfolk coast *
Main coastal features -
Cliff retreat at Overstrand– high cliffs, rapid retreat,
Spit and salt marsh at Blakeney.
Explanation & causes –
Overstrand cliffs: Geology – soft glacial cliffs, sands & gravel (glacial till)
Weathering, rainwater, porous cliffs,
Mass movement – slumping,
Erosion – North Sea destructive waves, LSD – no beach. Rapid erosion & retreat.
Blakeney spit: 3.5 mile long shingle spit, prevailing wind, angle, swash, longshore drift, traction, saltation & suspension, salt marsh on sheltered side.

42. Distinctive Landscapes (Coasts)
Weathering
Mass movement
Porous
Slumping
Erosion – hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, solution
Transportation – traction, saltation, suspension, solution
Prevailing wind
Longshore drift
Swash & backwash
Geology
Constructive waves
Destructive waves
Deposition
Distinctive Landscapes (coasts): Key vocabulary.
Test your neighbour on these terms.
Use these terms in your writing.