Vocabulary
What is a trawler?
A fishing boat that pulls a large net behind it.
How are sand dunes created?
When the wind blows towards the land, some of the sand will be blown along and will collect behind any kind of shelter, including stones, pieces of wood and even old shoes.
True or false: Most of the world's oil and natural gas is pumped from the rocks of the seabed.
True
Name one threat to coasts.
Pollution-like sewage, over-fishing, oil, global warming, people (throwing garbage on the beaches and in the sea), etc.
True or False: The soft cliffs of Yorkshire are eroding at a rate of about 4 metres a year.
False. They are eroding at a rate of 2 metres a year.
A place where ships can be loaded and unloaded is called what?
A port.
Why are most modern sea walls curved?
They push the wave up then back out to sea this then reduces the energy of the waves and helps to stop them from damaging the coast.
How are fish and shellfish caught?
They are caught using small nets or lines with baited hooks. They are also caught in baited traps on the bottom of the sea.
What types of rubbish or trash is dumped into the ocean or sea?
Sewage, pesticides and fertilizers used for farmland, chemicals from factories and low level nuclear waste from hospitals and research labs.
Why can coastal erosion be dangerous for buildings on the coast?
Waves erode cliffs, meaning the land breaks off. This can put the lives of people at risk and make buildings unsafe to use.
What is longshore drift?
The slow movement of pieces of rock along a beach when waves move at an angle towards the shore.
Explain what Groynes help to do.
They reduce the force of the wave and cause sand and shingle to pile up on the side of the groynes. This makes the beaches bigger and stops the waves from eroding the cliffs.
Also stops longshore drift from blocking harbours.
How do we use the coast to produce electricity?
One way is through tidal energy which uses the energy from waves to create electricity. Wind turbines are also placed near coasts because these are usually windy and the wind helps produce electricity.
In what ways is litter dangerous?
People and animals can be cut from broken glass. Fish, birds and other wildlife can be tangled in different types of litter (such as fishing line, plastic bags, and plastic loops that hold soda cans) This can kill the animals.
What is the name of the world's largest man-made island? And where is it located?
Palm Jumeirah. Located in United Arab Emirates.
What is a spit? And give an example.
A ridge of sand or shingle joined to the land at one end and sticking out into the sea at the other. An example: Farewell Spit in New Zealand.
Why was the River Thames barrier built?
It was built across the River Thames to protect the city of London from flooding. It is normally open to allow shipping to pass, but is closed when very high tides or storm surges are likely.
When and where did fish farming begin?
Began in China about 5500 years ago.
How are oil spills dangerous?
They can kill seabirds, fish and other sea life. It also washes up on beaches and can be harmful to people and wildlife. Oil spills are also very expensive to clean up.
What is land reclamation and what is an example?
People sometimes reclaim land that was once covered by the sea. Example: In the Netherlands, large areas of farmland were once under water. Dutch people cut off sections of the delta of the River Rhine, using walls of brick and stone called Dykes
Breakwaters are long and wide concrete walls or barriers made of rocks, which are built out in the sea. Breakwaters reduce the force of the waves before they reach the shore. They also protect boats and ships from stormy weather.
What is a blow-out and how does it happen?
A blow-out is a large hole or hollow in sand dunes. It happens if people walk through the sand dunes and make a new path or if children play or dig in the sand, they damage the thin layer of plants that protect the sand dunes. If there is a strong wind, it may blow through the gap in the plant cover.
Explain the process of collecting salt.
Seawater is pumped into large open-air ponds called salt pans. The seawater is allowed to evaporate in the Sun, leaving only the salt behind. The salt can then be collected and sold.
1) What is Global Warming? 2) What happens to the oceans and seas if temperatures continue to rise?
1) Caused by pollution in the air that increases the earth's temperature. This causes changes in our weather from hotter temperatures to more severe weather. 2) Sea level will rise, the polar ice caps will melt which will add huge amounts of water to the oceans. A rise in the sea level can also cause flooding in many areas.
How did coastal erosion impact Dunwich, Suffolk?
There was a strong storm that swept away many of the town's buildings. The town was cut off by the harbour, forcing the River Blyth to take a new course. Due to erosion, whole streets and buildings fell into the sea. Most of the town ended up falling into the sea.