Coasts Notes

Question 1

Basalt rock type produces what kind of landscapes?

Answer 1

Rugged landscapes

Example: Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

Question 2

Sand produces what type of landscapes?

Answer 2

Low and flat landscapes

Example: Nile delta.

Question 3

What type of coastlines are found on the Pacific coast of the US?

Answer 3

Concordant coastlines

This refers to coastlines where the rock layers are parallel to the coastline.

Question 4

What type of coastline is found on the Southwest coast of Ireland?

Answer 4

Discordant coastline

This refers to coastlines where the rock layers are perpendicular to the coastline.

Question 5

What is the highest tidal range recorded?

Answer 5

15 m in the Bay of Fundy, Canada

This area is known for its extreme tides.

Question 6

What is the tidal bore in the Severn Estuary?

Answer 6

Severn Bore with a height of 1 m and speed of 30 km/h

A tidal bore is a surge of water that travels upstream in a river.

Question 7

What is the average pressure of Atlantic storm waves?

Answer 7

11 tonnes/m²

This pressure can impact coastal structures and ecosystems.

Question 8

What is a compound recurved spit?

Answer 8

Presque Isle in Lake Erie

A spit is a landform that extends into a body of water.

Question 9

What are onshore bars made of?

Answer 9

Shingle

Example: Low Bar in Cornwall.

Question 10

What is a tombolo?

Answer 10

Chesil Beach that is 25 km long connecting the Isle of Portland to the Dorset coast

A tombolo is a landform that connects an island to the mainland.

Question 11

What are cuspate forelands?

Answer 11

Dungeness near Dover

These are triangular-shaped landforms that extend into the sea.

Question 12

What is an example of a barrier island?

Answer 12

Hatteras Island in North Carolina, 20 km offshore

Barrier islands protect the mainland from waves and storms.

Question 13

What type of vegetation is found in sand dunes?

Answer 13

• Marram grass
• Red fescue grass

These plants help stabilize the sand.

Question 14

What is the halosere progression?

Answer 14

• Algae
• Eel grass and samphire
• Sea aster, sea pea and seablites
• Sea lavender, sea pink and sea purslane
• Sea rush and saltwort

This describes the succession of plant species in coastal environments.

Question 15

What is a salt marsh?

Answer 15

Scolt Head Island on the north Norfolk coast of England

It took around 200 years to progress from samphire to sea rush stage.

Question 16

What are the necessary conditions for mangroves?

Answer 16

• Temperatures higher than 24°C
• More than 1,250 mm for rainfall
• Shallow sea
• Low energy waves

These conditions are essential for mangrove ecosystems to thrive.

Question 17

What was the sea level 18,000 years ago?

Answer 17

100-150 m below current sea level

This reflects significant changes in global sea levels over time.

Question 18

What is isostatic recovery?

Answer 18

Parts of Scandinavia and Canada are rising at rates of up to 20 mm per year

This process occurs as land rebounds after being compressed by ice sheets.

Question 19

What are raised beaches?

Answer 19

Portland raised beach

These are former shorelines that are now elevated above current sea level.

Question 20

What are relict cliffs?

Answer 20

Fall Line in eastern USA

These cliffs are remnants of past geological processes.

Question 21

What are raised mudflats?

Answer 21

Carselands of the River Forth

These are areas where mudflats have been elevated due to geological processes.

Question 22

What are rias?

Answer 22

River Fal

Rias are drowned river valleys that are flooded by rising sea levels.

Question 23

What are fjords?

Answer 23

Oslofjord

Fjords are deep, narrow inlets of the sea between high cliffs.

Question 24

What are fjards?

Answer 24

Somes Sound in Maine

Fjards are shallow, glacially formed bays.

Question 25

What are the **necessary conditions for corals**?

Answer 25

* Temperatures higher than 20°C but lower than 29°C * Shallow depths of less than 25 m * Light * Salinity levels of 32-42 psu * Absence of sediment * Wave action * No exposure to air ## Footnote These conditions are critical for coral reef health.

Question 26

What are the **theories of coral reefs**?

Answer 26

* Darwin-Dana * Murray * Daly ## Footnote These theories explain the formation and development of coral reefs.

Question 27

What is the estimated **coral reef area**?

Answer 27

284,000 km² ## Footnote This area represents the global extent of coral reefs.

Question 28

What percentage of reefs were **severely damaged** in the 1998 coral bleaching?

Answer 28

16% ## Footnote This event was caused by El Nino, which raised sea temperatures by 2°C.

Question 29

What is the level of **carbon dioxide concentration** where corals become functionally extinct?

Answer 29

Above 450 ppm ## Footnote Increased CO2 levels can severely impact coral health.

Question 30

What percentage of **MPAs** have ineffective plans?

Answer 30

60% ## Footnote This highlights the challenges in marine conservation efforts.