Coastal Processes
What is the process where waves wear away rock from the coastline?
Erosion
Give one example of a human activity that changes coastal environments.
Tourism / urban development / construction / fishing / industry
Name one natural process that can change a coastline.
Erosion / deposition / weathering / longshore drift / wave action
What is the purpose of a warning sign at a dangerous beach?
To inform visitors of hazards and encourage safer behaviour.
What is the name of the famous black-sand beach in southern Iceland known for dangerous sneaker waves?
Reynisfjara Beach
What type of wave has a strong backwash and is generally associated with erosion?
Destructive processes
What is coastal urbanisation?
The growth of towns and cities in coastal areas.
What happens to a coastline during a major storm?
Wave energy increases, which can cause rapid erosion and sediment redistribution.
Give one example of a hard engineering strategy used to manage coastal erosion.
Seawall / groyne / breakwater / rock armour.
What type of sediment gives Reynisfjara its distinctive black beach?
Black volcanic sand.
What process occurs when sediment is moved along the coastline by waves approaching at an angle?
Longshore Drift
How can building a groyne affect sediment movement along a beach?
It traps sediment moving by longshore drift, causing accumulation on the updrift side and potentially reducing sediment further down the coast.
How can sea-level rise change coastal environments?
It can increase coastal flooding, erosion and saltwater intrusion and threaten low-lying coastal areas.
What is beach nourishment?
Adding sediment, such as sand, to a beach to replace material lost through erosion.
Why are sneaker waves particularly dangerous at Reynisfjara?
They can travel much further up the beach than expected and have enough energy to knock people over and pull them toward the sea.
Explain how hydraulic action causes coastal erosion.
Waves force water and air into cracks in the rock, increasing pressure and weakening the rock.
Explain one way tourism can contribute to coastal erosion.
Large numbers of visitors can damage vegetation such as dunes, reducing their ability to trap and stabilise sediment. Infrastructure can also alter natural sediment movement.
What is storm surge?
A temporary rise in sea level caused mainly by strong winds and low atmospheric pressure during a storm.
Why might a coastal manager choose a soft engineering strategy rather than a seawall?
Soft engineering can work with natural processes, maintain the appearance and recreational value of the beach, and may have fewer environmental impacts.
Identify two strategies used at Reynisfjara to reduce visitor risk.
Warning signs, warning lights, safety zones, temporary closures, visitor education or monitoring.
Explain how destructive waves can contribute to the formation of a wave-cut platform.
Destructive waves erode the base of a cliff, creating a wave-cut notch. The overhanging rock collapses, causing the cliff to retreat. Repeated erosion and collapse leave a gently sloping wave-cut platform.
A new seawall protects a coastal town but the beach in front of it becomes narrower. Explain why this could occur.
The seawall interrupts natural sediment processes and reflects wave energy. Increased turbulence can remove beach sediment, while the structure prevents the beach from naturally moving inland.
Explain how climate change can interact with natural coastal processes to increase coastal vulnerability.
Climate change can contribute to sea-level rise and changes in storm conditions. Higher water levels allow waves to reach further inland, potentially increasing erosion, flooding and damage during storms.
Evaluate why coastal management often requires a combination of strategies rather than relying on one solution.
Different hazards require different responses. Combining strategies such as monitoring, education, planning restrictions, beach nourishment and physical protection can reduce risk while maintaining environmental and social values.
Evaluate: Why is managing Reynisfjara different from simply building a seawall?
The major risk at Reynisfjara is visitor exposure to powerful natural wave processes rather than simply coastal erosion threatening buildings. Management therefore focuses on warning systems, safety zones, closures, education and monitoring, allowing the natural coastal environment to remain relatively undisturbed.