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Landscape SystemsSection A: Coastal Landscapes
How are coastal landforms developed?
There are a variety of ways by which climatic and geomorphic processes are interconnected to shape
the evolution of coastal landforms. Discuss.
Judgement – Overall, I agree that there are ways in which climatic and geomorphic processes are
interconnected to shape the evolution of coastal landforms as changes in climate can influence the rate
at which geomorphic processes occur. Changes in the climate can occur over different periods of time
so arguably the rate at which landforms are shaped can differ as a result of the rate of geomorphic
processes changing.
Climatic feature no.1 – long term change
Temperature – effects sea level change.
18,000 years ago, glacial maximum, low global temps
Eustatic sea level fall due to falling global temperatures and more ice being stored on land (in
areas such as Greenland and Antarctica) can result in the formation of abandoned cliffs (e.g.
on the Isle of Arran) etc.
Marine erosion - Aran Islands are surrounded by cliffs, geology - hard - limestone - formed
in the carboniferous period 300 million years ago - cementation - rock is compressed
meaning a lot of energy is required to break it as the molecules are tightly packed – erosion
highly influential in cliff formation
Hydraulic action (waves have a large fetch from atlantic ocean) – undercutting – mass
movement
Sub aerial processes – wind abrasion – weakens rock – rock fall
Sea level change – changes location
abandoned cliffs in Isle of Arran - result of eustatic sea level fall – formation of ice sheets –
glacier has positive mass balance – less water in the ocean – sea level falls
Cliff becomes elevated
These landforms are now exposed to weathering processes – increased freeze thaw
more cliff retreat occurs – weaker so more mass movement (as sea level falls more –
weathering processes are more dominant in affecting the cliff face)
MJ- overall, it is clear that climatic and geomorphic processes are interconnected because as
global temperatures fall, sea level falls the cliff face becomes exposed to the atmosphere
meaning geomorphic processes of weathering and sub aerial processes have a greater inpact
as it is no longer sheltered. Therefore, as the temperature falls more geomorphic processes
occur and the cliff retreats as a result of being weaken by weathering, this shows positive
feedback.
Climatic feature no.2
Wind – moves sediment to create sand dunes then deposits it.
North Norfolk wind speeds are 5-10KW/m, moderate wind speeds allow sediment to be
carried in the wind (Aeolian transport)
Sped up by high energy events – 2013 North sea storm surge – higher winds – more wind
abrasion – waves have more energy
Sediment is broken down by weathering and eroded thereafter by processes of marine erosion
such as abrasion (can also be broken down by sub aerial processes) – and then picked up by
the wind and carried by processes such as wind saltation
, It transports it to Holkham at a velocity above 3m/s until the wind no longer possesses enough
energy to carry its sediment load and subsequently deposits its sediment load at Holkham
thereby placing the average annual aeolian accretion rate of sand at Holkham at an estimated
3,600m3 – sediment accumulates behind beach forming sand dunes
Builds up where the area is sheltered from the harsh wind by the dune the sediment is
deposited meaning the dune is moved away from the direction of the wind
HOWEVER, wind is not always influential – depends on spatial features
E.g. aran islands - hard carboniferous limestone meaning cliff retreat only 0.1-0.4 m per year
(compressed over a period of 50-60 million years.) so despite large fetch – unsheltered from
Atlantic ocean – meaning it’s a high energy (over 40 Kw/m wave energy) > wind alone not
strong enough to erode rock – processes such as chemical weathering such as oxidation and
carbonation, the chemical reaction of minerals with carbonic acid, which naturally forms
when carbon dioxide dissolves in moisture, aggressively wear the carboniferous limestone
weakening it
Results in low sediment budget meaning there is little sediment to be deposited and not
enough to accumulate
Energy of environment is too high for sediment to be deposited too
MJ – Overall, I agree to a large extent climatic and geomorphic processes are interconnected
in the shaping of landforms. However, the extent to which this is true is dependent on spacial
and geomorphic characteristics of an area. For example, in north Norfolk the rock is weak
meaning geomorphic processes largely have an effect in shaping the landscape as little energy
is required, however, in the Aran islands, the same climatic process of wind does not have the
same impact on geomorphic processes and shaping landforms as the rock is much harder so
other processes must be involved to weaken it, even then the sediment budget and energy of
the environment is not suited to particular landform formation such as sand dunes.
Overall, I agree there are a variety of ways by which climatic and geomorphic processes are
interconnected to shape the evolution of coastal landforms. In many cases, climatic processes such as
temperature change or wind speed can directly impact the rate of geomorphic processes which as a
result shapes landforms. These processes can occur on different temporal scales, for example sea level
change may occur over millennia whereas wind speeds can change in a matter of hours but ultimately
they are both interconnected to geomorphic processes which change rate aligned with the climatic
processes changing. However, I would also argue, there are cases where climatic and geomorphic
processes are less interconnected, for example, in the Aran islands where high wind speeds have less
effect on geomorphic process as a result of the hard rock, showing other geomorphic characteristics
may be influential in altering this relationship.
The flow of energy (or materials) has the greatest influence on the characteristics of geomorphic
processes. Discuss.
Judgement – Overall, I would argue, despite flows of energy having a large effect on the
characteristics of geomorphic processes, it is both flows of energy and materials that have the greatest
influence as they are interconnected. Energy is able to directly impact the geomorphic processes by
determining the rate at which they happen, similarly, materials can effect the energy that physical
factors have. However, I would also argue, to a certain extent, the relationship between these
characteristics is dependent on the characteristics on the environment.
Flow of energy has the greatest influence…
Increased energy can create destructive waves
Greater height, shorter wavelength, higher frequency – stronger backwash than swash –
more destructive
, Aran Islands surrounded by erosional landforms such as cliffs due to large fetch across the
atlantic (high energy) causing waves averaging 3-4m, over 40 Kw/m wave energy
This means the waves have more energy for marine erosion increasing attrition, abrasion,
hydraulic action etc
Shown in the aran islands through erosional landforms e.g. Wave cut platforms and cliffs on
the west side of inishmore
despite hard carboniferous limestone, cliff retreat still 0.1-0.4 m per year (compressed over a
period of 50-60 million years.)
These forms as marine erosion occurs e.g. hydraulic action causing rock to be undercut,
eventually mass movement occurs and a wave cut platforms is formed
As the energy of the environment is so high any sediment is transport rapidly by suspension
etc and not able to be deposited so doesn’t influence sediment budget in the area
Thus, it could be argued that flows of energy have the greatest influence on the characteristics
of geomorphic processes as it can make them occur at a faster rate. The Aran islands are made
out of a very resistant limestone geology, thus it is evident that marine erosion is of major
influence in the evolution of the Aran Islands’ coastline, this can be attributed to the high
energy input into the environment, thus showing the influence the energy has on creating
destructional waves which carry out erosional processes at a fast rate.
Flows are interconnected…
Increased energy increases the amount of sediment the wind/waves can hold, this increases
attrition.
E.g. north sea storm surge 2013 – increased energy input into the area, wind abrasion etc,
sediment transported by wind and waves, attrition occurs - Shore retreat equivalent to 10
years – more erosion>cliff undercut>mass movement>cliff retreat
Increased sediment means the load is deposited when the wind/waves no longer have enough
energy. (North Norfolk coast – high rates of deposition (shown by depositional landforms
such as Holkham beach) due to high rates of erosion (due to geology being clay from
unconsolidated glacial till) creating positive sediment budget and transportation processes)
Type of material influences how much energy is needed for mass movement to occur (cliff
retreat in Aran islands only 0.1-0.4 m per year due to cliffs being formed from carboniferous
limestone (compressed over 50-60 mil years) – despite large fetch and over 40 Kw/m wave
energy, more weathering etc is needed to weaken the rock, weathering is important in
weakening the limestone so that erosion can occur effectively. E.g. processes of chemical
weathering such as oxidation and carbonation, the chemical reaction of minerals with
carbonic acid, which naturally forms when carbon dioxide dissolves in moisture, aggressively
wear the carboniferous limestone
MJ – overall, I would argue the flows of energy and material are interdependent in influences
the characteristics of geomorphic processes for many reasons. Material can directly effect the
energy input into wind and waves which consequently effects the rate of geomorphic
processes, additionally, material within these bodies can result in more attrition – a
geomorphic process. Additionally, material can reduce energy input which increases
deposition by having a load larger than energy input. Finally, the type of material input can
directly effect the influence of geomorphic processes by changing the amount of energy that
is required for them to occur.
Overall, I believe both flows of energy and material are interconnected in influencing the
characteristics of geomorphic processes. Material can directly alter energy flows which as a result
influences the rate of geomorphic processes.
The flow of material has the greatest influence on the characteristics of geomorphic processes.
Discuss.
, Judgement – Overall, I would argue, despite flows of materials having a large effect on the
characteristics of geomorphic processes, it is both flows of energy and materials that have the greatest
influence as they are interconnected. Energy is able to directly impact the geomorphic processes by
determining the rate at which they happen, similarly, materials can effect the energy that physical
factors have.
Flows of materials
Aran islands – hard rock type - carboniferous limestone (compressed over 50-60 mil years)
Despite large atlantic fetch and over 40 Kw/m wave energy – cliff retreat is only 0.1-0.4 m
per year due
Marine erosion e.g. hydraulic action has less effect as more energy is needed to break apart
rock particles
Whereas, the north Norfolk coast is formed of clay from glacial till (from 18,000 years ago)
which is unconsolidated and loosely packed with no chemical cementation
Less energy is required to break apart sediment
the rate of cliff retreat at Trimingham, a location within the north Norfolk coast, a low energy
environment, can be up to 2.5 metres per year
Despite low energy environment (winds are 3m/s) the particles require less force to break
apart and can easily be weakened by weathering such a freeze thaw, mass movement can then
occur and the wind is able to transport this sediment
Positive sediment supply - Wind deposits sediment forming Holkham sand dunes and
Holkham beach – 2500 m long
average annual Aeolian accretion rate of sand at Holkham at an estimated 3,600m3
MJ – therefore, as a result of the spacial difference in characteristics we are able to see the
importance of flows of material in influencing the rate at which geomorphic processes work
at. Despite the aran islands having a much higher energy input, geomorphic erosional
processes work at a much slower rate than in north Norfolk as a result of the difference in
strengths of geologies.
Flows are interconnected…
Increased energy increases the amount of sediment the wind/waves can hold, this increases
attrition.
E.g. north sea storm surge 2013 – increased energy input into the area, wind abrasion etc,
sediment transported by wind and waves, attrition occurs - Shore retreat equivalent to 10
years – more erosion>cliff undercut>mass movement>cliff retreat
Increased sediment means the load is deposited when the wind/waves no longer have enough
energy. (North Norfolk coast – high rates of deposition (shown by depositional landforms
such as Holkham beach) due to high rates of erosion (due to geology being clay from
unconsolidated glacial till) creating positive sediment budget and transportation processes)
ALSO – energy input still has effect on aran islands despite hard rock - Shown in the aran
islands through erosional landforms e.g. Wave cut platforms and cliffs on the west side of
inishmore
Formed after chemical weathering weakens it so marine erosion occurs – wave energy
ultimately does have an effect
MJ – overall, I would argue the flows of energy and material are interdependent in influences
the characteristics of geomorphic processes for many reasons. Material can directly effect the
energy input into wind and waves which consequently effects the rate of geomorphic
processes, additionally, material within these bodies can result in more attrition – a
geomorphic process. Additionally, material can reduce energy input which increases
deposition by having a load larger than energy input.
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