Coastal Landscapes and Change
EDEXCEL
A-Level
This subtopic explores how geological structure, including lithology and structural features, influences the development of coastal landscapes. It examines the formation of concordant and discordant coastlines, the impact of rock characteristics on cliff profiles and erosion rates, and the role of vegetation in stabilizing sandy coastlines.
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Objectives
53
Exam Tips
51
Pitfalls
40
Key Terms
87
Mark Points
Subtopics in this area
Geological structure influences the development of coastal landscapes at a variety of scales.
Marine erosion creates distinctive coastal landforms and contributes to coastal landscapes.
Sea level change influences coasts on different timescales.
The coast, and wider littoral zone, has distinctive features and landscapes.
Subaerial processes of mass movement and weathering influence coastal landforms and contribute to coastal landscapes.
Increasing risks of coastal recession and flooding have serious consequences for affected communities.
Rapid coastal retreat causes threats to people at the coast.
Coastal flooding is a significant and increasing risk for some coastlines.
Rates of coastal recession and stability depend on lithology and other factors.
There are different approaches to managing the risks associated with coastal recession and flooding.
Sediment transport and deposition create distinctive landforms and contribute to coastal landscapes.
Coastlines are now increasingly managed by holistic integrated coastal zone management (ICZM).
Quick Revision Summary (Key Takeaway)
Coastal Landscapes and Change is a core topic in Edexcel A-Level Geography that explores the dynamic interactions between physical processes, landforms, and human activity along coastlines. It covers coastal erosion, transportation, deposition, sea-level change, and management strategies, emphasizing the need for sustainable approaches in the face of climate change.
Topic Overview
Coastal Landscapes and Change is a fascinating and dynamic topic that examines the ever-changing interface between land and sea. It encompasses the physical processes of erosion, transportation, and deposition, which shape a variety of landforms such as cliffs, beaches, spits, and bars. Understanding these processes is crucial for predicting future coastal changes and for managing the risks posed by erosion and flooding, especially in the context of climate change and rising sea levels.
This topic is central to physical geography and connects to broader themes of sustainability and human-environment interaction. It requires students to analyse the complex feedback systems between waves, geology, and human activities. By studying coastal landscapes, students gain insights into the delicate balance of natural systems and the challenges of implementing effective management strategies that balance economic, social, and environmental needs.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Coastal processes: erosion (hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, solution), transportation (longshore drift), and deposition.
- →Landforms: erosional (cliffs, wave-cut platforms, caves, arches, stacks) and depositional (beaches, spits, bars, tombolos).
- →Sea-level change: eustatic (global) and isostatic (local) changes, and their impact on coastlines (e.g., submergent and emergent landforms).
- →Coastal management: hard engineering (sea walls, groynes), soft engineering (beach nourishment, dune regeneration), and managed retreat.
- →The role of geology (rock type and structure) in influencing coastal morphology and rates of erosion.
What You Need to Demonstrate
Key skills and knowledge for this topic
- Distinction between concordant and discordant coastlines based on geological structure.
- Influence of geological structure (bedding planes, jointing, dip, faulting, folding) on coastal morphology and erosion rates.
- Formation of specific landforms such as Dalmatian and Haff type concordant coasts, and headlands and bays on discordant coasts.
- Impact of bedrock lithology (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic) and unconsolidated material on coastal recession rates.
- Role of differential erosion of alternating strata in producing complex cliff profiles.
- Role of vegetation in stabilizing sandy coastlines through dune and salt marsh succession.
- Explanation of marine erosion processes (hydraulic action, corrosion, abrasion, attrition).
- Influence of wave types (constructive vs destructive) on beach morphology and sediment profiles.
Marking Points
Key points examiners look for in your answers
- Distinction between concordant and discordant coastlines based on geological structure.
- Influence of geological structure (bedding planes, jointing, dip, faulting, folding) on coastal morphology and erosion rates.
- Formation of specific landforms such as Dalmatian and Haff type concordant coasts, and headlands and bays on discordant coasts.
- Impact of bedrock lithology (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic) and unconsolidated material on coastal recession rates.
- Role of differential erosion of alternating strata in producing complex cliff profiles.
- Role of vegetation in stabilizing sandy coastlines through dune and salt marsh succession.
- Explanation of marine erosion processes (hydraulic action, corrosion, abrasion, attrition).
- Influence of wave types (constructive vs destructive) on beach morphology and sediment profiles.
- The sequence of landform development: cave-arch-stack-stump.
- The role of lithology (geology) in influencing rates of erosion and cliff profiles.
- The influence of wave type, size, and lithology on erosion processes.
- Explanation of eustatic sea level change (ice formation/melting, thermal expansion).
- Explanation of isostatic sea level change (post-glacial adjustment, subsidence, accretion, tectonics).
- Identification of emergent coastline landforms (raised beaches, fossil cliffs).
- Identification of submergent coastline landforms (rias, fjords, Dalmatian coasts).
- Analysis of contemporary sea level change risks from global warming or tectonic activity.
- Understanding the littoral zone (backshore, nearshore, offshore).
- Classification of coasts (geology, sea level change, sediment input).
- Distinction between rocky coasts (high-energy) and coastal plains (low-energy).
- Geological structure (concordant/discordant, bedding planes, joints, dip, faulting, folding) and its influence on morphology.
- Lithology (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, unconsolidated) and its impact on recession rates.
- Marine erosion processes (hydraulic action, corrosion, abrasion, attrition) and landforms (wave-cut platforms, cave-arch-stack-stump).
- Sediment transport (longshore drift) and depositional landforms (spits, bars, tombolos, cuspate forelands).
- Subaerial processes (weathering, mass movement) and their contribution to cliff profiles.
- Sea level change (eustatic, isostatic) and resulting coastlines (emergent, submergent).
- Coastal flooding risks (storm surges, climate change).
- Management strategies (hard engineering, soft engineering, sustainable management).
- ICZM and Shoreline Management Policies (No Active Intervention, Strategic Realignment, Hold The Line, Advance The Line).
- Distinction between mechanical, chemical, and biological weathering processes.
- Explanation of mass movement types including blockfall, rotational slumping, and landslides.
- Linkage between weak/complex geology and the occurrence of mass movement.
- Identification of landforms created by mass movement such as rotational scars, talus scree slopes, and terraced cliff profiles.
- Understanding the role of subaerial processes in sediment production and their influence on rates of coastal recession.
- Economic losses (housing, businesses, agricultural land, infrastructure)
- Social losses (relocation, loss of livelihood, amenity value)
- Impacts of coastal flooding and storm surges in both developed and developing countries
- The concept of environmental refugees due to climate change
- Hard engineering strategies (groynes, sea walls, rip rap, revetments, offshore breakwaters) and their impacts on physical processes
- Soft engineering strategies (beach nourishment, cliff re-grading/drainage, dune stabilisation) and their relationship with physical systems
- Sustainable management approaches and potential local conflicts
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and littoral cells
- Shoreline Management Policy decisions (No Active Intervention, Strategic Realignment, Hold The Line, Advance The Line)
- Decision-making processes including Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Conflicts between stakeholders (homeowners, local authorities, environmental pressure groups) and the concept of winners and losers
- Explanation of physical factors causing rapid coastal recession (geological and marine).
- Analysis of how human actions (e.g., dredging, coastal management) influence recession rates.
- Explanation of the role of subaerial processes (weathering and mass movement) in coastal recession.
- Understanding that recession rates are not constant and are influenced by short- and long-term factors (wind direction/fetch, tides, seasons, weather systems, storms).
- Application of examples (e.g., Nile Delta, Guinea coastline, or Californian coastline) to illustrate threats.
- Explanation of local factors increasing flood risk (e.g., low-lying land, subsidence, vegetation removal).
- Explanation of global sea level rise as a driver of increased risk.
- Explanation of storm surge events (depressions, tropical cyclones) and their short-term impacts.
- Discussion of the role of climate change in increasing flood risk (frequency/magnitude of storms, sea level rise).
- Recognition of the uncertainty regarding the pace and magnitude of future climate-driven flood threats.
- Distinction between high-energy (rocky) and low-energy (sandy/estuarine) coastal environments.
- Influence of geological structure (concordant vs. discordant coasts) on coastal morphology.
- Impact of lithology (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, unconsolidated) on recession rates.
- Role of differential erosion in creating complex cliff profiles.
- Importance of vegetation in stabilizing sandy coastlines (dune succession) and estuarine areas (salt marsh succession).
- Distinction between hard and soft engineering approaches.
- Economic and environmental costs/benefits of different management strategies.
- The role of ICZM in managing extended coastal areas.
- Shoreline Management Policy decisions (No Active Intervention, Strategic Realignment, Hold The Line, Advance The Line).
- Use of Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in decision-making.
- Conflicts between different stakeholders (homeowners, local authorities, environmental groups) regarding management decisions.
- The concept of littoral cells in coastal management.
- Explanation of the littoral zone (backshore, nearshore, offshore).
- Classification of coasts by geology, sea level change, and energy levels.
- Influence of geological structure (concordant/discordant, bedding planes, jointing, dip, faulting, folding) on coastal morphology.
- Impact of lithology on coastal recession rates.
- Role of vegetation in stabilizing sandy coastlines (dunes) and estuarine areas (salt marshes).
- Wave types (constructive/destructive) and their impact on beach morphology.
- Marine erosion processes (hydraulic action, corrosion, abrasion, attrition).
- Formation of erosional landforms (wave-cut notches/platforms, cliffs, cave-arch-stack-stump sequence).
- Sediment transport processes (longshore drift, tides, currents).
- Formation of depositional landforms (beaches, spits, bars, tombolos, cuspate forelands).
- The sediment cell concept (sources, transfers, sinks) and dynamic equilibrium.
- Subaerial processes (weathering and mass movement) and their contribution to landforms (rotational scars, talus slopes).
- Sea level change (eustatic/isostatic) and resulting coastlines (emergent/submergent).
- Coastal management strategies (hard vs soft engineering) and ICZM.
- Shoreline Management Policy decisions (No Active Intervention, Strategic Realignment, Hold The Line, Advance The Line).
- Understanding of ICZM as a holistic management approach.
- Knowledge of the four Shoreline Management Policy decisions.
- Ability to explain the role of CBA and EIA in decision-making.
- Recognition of conflicts between different stakeholders.
- Understanding of the concept of littoral cells in coastal management.
- Ability to compare management approaches in developed versus developing/emerging countries.
Examiner Tips
Expert advice for maximising your marks
- 💡Ensure you can explicitly link geological features (e.g., jointing, dip) to specific erosion processes and landform development.
- 💡Use specific examples, such as the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, to illustrate the influence of geological structure.
- 💡Be prepared to explain how lithology (e.g., resistant vs. unconsolidated) directly affects the rate of coastal recession.
- 💡Use clear, annotated diagrams to illustrate the cave-arch-stack-stump sequence.
- 💡Ensure you explicitly link the type of wave to the resulting beach profile.
- 💡Use specific terminology (e.g., hydraulic action, corrosion) rather than generic terms like 'wearing away'.
- 💡Refer to the influence of geology/lithology in all explanations of landform formation.
- 💡Ensure you can clearly define and distinguish between eustatic and isostatic change.
- 💡Use specific examples of landforms (e.g., rias, fjords) to illustrate submergent coastlines.
- 💡Be prepared to discuss how contemporary sea level rise exacerbates existing coastal risks.
- 💡Link sea level change to the broader concept of coastal systems and dynamic equilibrium.
- 💡Use specific, named examples from both inside and outside the UK.
- 💡Ensure you can explain the 'why' behind landform development, not just describe the features.
- 💡When discussing management, always evaluate the effectiveness and the potential for conflict between stakeholders.
- 💡Use geographical terminology precisely (e.g., distinguish between hydraulic action and abrasion).
- 💡Be prepared to interpret and analyze data, such as recession rates or sediment size, using statistical skills.
- 💡Link management decisions to the concept of sustainability and future uncertainty.
- 💡Ensure you can explicitly define and distinguish between mechanical, chemical, and biological weathering.
- 💡Use specific terminology for mass movement types (e.g., rotational slumping vs. blockfall) rather than general terms like 'landslide'.
- 💡Always link the subaerial process to the resulting landform or the impact on the cliff profile.
- 💡Be prepared to discuss how these processes work in combination with marine erosion to drive coastal retreat.
- 💡Ensure you can explicitly define and distinguish between the four Shoreline Management Policy options
- 💡Use specific case study examples (e.g., Happisburgh, Chattogram) to illustrate conflicts between stakeholders
- 💡When evaluating management strategies, always consider both the economic costs and the environmental impacts
- 💡Be prepared to discuss how climate change increases the uncertainty and difficulty of future coastal management
- 💡Use the synoptic themes (Players, Attitudes and actions, Futures and uncertainties) to structure your evaluation of management decisions
- 💡Ensure you can explain the interaction between physical and human factors in causing rapid retreat.
- 💡Use specific case study examples (e.g., Nile Delta, Guinea, or California) to support your arguments.
- 💡Be prepared to discuss how short-term events (like storms) and long-term factors (like seasonal changes) affect recession rates.
- 💡Clearly distinguish between marine erosion processes and subaerial processes when explaining how they work together.
- 💡Ensure you can distinguish between the causes of coastal flooding (e.g., storm surges) and the factors that increase vulnerability (e.g., subsidence).
- 💡Use specific case study examples like Bangladesh or the Maldives to illustrate the risk.
- 💡When discussing climate change, use the synoptic concept of 'uncertainty' regarding future projections.
- 💡Link the risk of flooding to the need for mitigation and adaptation strategies.
- 💡Use specific terminology for rock types and geological structures (e.g., bedding planes, jointing, dip).
- 💡Ensure you can explain the process of succession in both dune and salt marsh environments as a stabilization mechanism.
- 💡Be prepared to apply knowledge of lithology to explain why some cliffs are more stable than others.
- 💡Use case studies or examples (e.g., Glamorgan Heritage Coast) to illustrate the influence of geological structure.
- 💡Ensure you can provide specific examples of both hard and soft engineering.
- 💡Be prepared to evaluate the effectiveness of different management approaches.
- 💡Understand the difference between local management and holistic ICZM.
- 💡Practice applying the Shoreline Management Policy options to different coastal scenarios.
- 💡Focus on the 'players' involved in coastal management and their conflicting attitudes.
- 💡Use specific case study examples from both inside and outside the UK.
- 💡Ensure you can explain the difference between hard and soft engineering and their impacts on physical processes.
- 💡Practice drawing annotated diagrams of landform formation (e.g., spit development or the cave-arch-stack-stump sequence).
- 💡Be prepared to evaluate the success of management strategies using Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) concepts.
- 💡Use geographical terminology precisely (e.g., distinguishing between corrosion and abrasion).
- 💡Ensure you can define and distinguish between the four Shoreline Management Policy decisions.
- 💡Use specific named examples (e.g., Happisburgh, Chattogram) to illustrate conflicts between stakeholders.
- 💡Be prepared to evaluate the effectiveness of ICZM in different economic contexts.
- 💡Link management decisions to the physical processes and risks discussed in earlier subtopics (e.g., erosion, flooding).
- 💡Use the synoptic themes (Players, Attitudes and actions, Futures and uncertainties) to structure your evaluation of management strategies.
- 💡Use case studies to illustrate your points – for example, Holderness Coast for erosion and management, or the Nile Delta for deposition and human impact.
- 💡When answering 'Evaluate' questions, always consider both physical and human factors, and reach a balanced conclusion.
- 💡Draw labelled diagrams to show landform formation – they are quick and can earn you marks for clarity.
Common Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers
- Confusing the processes of erosion with those of transportation or weathering.
- Failing to link wave types (constructive/destructive) to specific beach morphology.
- Inaccurate description of the cave-arch-stack-stump sequence.
- Ignoring the role of lithology when explaining differential erosion rates.
- Confusing eustatic and isostatic processes.
- Failing to distinguish between emergent and submergent landforms.
- Overlooking the role of tectonic activity in sea level change.
- Treating sea level change as a purely modern phenomenon rather than a long-term process.
- Confusing eustatic and isostatic sea level change.
- Failing to link geological structure (e.g., dip, joints) to specific cliff profiles or micro-features.
- Over-generalizing the impact of hard engineering without considering the alteration of physical processes.
- Misunderstanding the sediment cell concept as a closed system rather than a dynamic equilibrium.
- Neglecting the role of subaerial processes in cliff recession.
- Failing to use specific, named examples of coastal management conflicts.
- Confusing subaerial processes (weathering/mass movement) with marine processes (erosion/transportation).
- Failing to link subaerial processes to the specific geological/lithological context of the coast.
- Providing generic descriptions of mass movement without relating them to the coastal environment.
- Neglecting the role of vegetation in stabilizing slopes and its interaction with subaerial processes.
- Confusing hard and soft engineering strategies
- Failing to link management decisions to the specific Shoreline Management Policy options
- Neglecting the role of stakeholders in causing or resolving conflicts
- Overlooking the distinction between economic and social consequences
- Failing to apply the concept of ICZM to the management of littoral cells
- Failing to link subaerial processes (weathering and mass movement) to the overall rate of coastal recession.
- Treating coastal recession as a constant, linear process rather than one influenced by variable factors.
- Overlooking the role of human actions in exacerbating or mitigating natural recession rates.
- Providing generic descriptions of coastal erosion without specific reference to the factors influencing rapid retreat.
- Confusing coastal flooding with coastal erosion (they are distinct risks).
- Failing to distinguish between local and global drivers of flood risk.
- Lack of specific place-based examples (e.g., Bangladesh, Maldives) to illustrate the risk.
- Over-generalizing the impact of climate change without acknowledging the uncertainty of future projections.
- Confusing the littoral zone components (backshore, nearshore, offshore).
- Failing to link geological structure (bedding planes, jointing, dip, faulting) explicitly to cliff profiles and erosion rates.
- Over-generalizing the role of vegetation without specifying the type of coastline (dunes vs. salt marshes).
- Neglecting the distinction between high-energy and low-energy environments when discussing recession.
- Confusing hard and soft engineering techniques.
- Failing to link management strategies to the concept of sustainability.
- Ignoring the role of different stakeholders in conflict over management decisions.
- Overlooking the importance of CBA and EIA in the decision-making process.
- Failing to explain how management strategies alter physical processes.
- Confusing eustatic and isostatic sea level change.
- Failing to link geological structure (e.g., jointing, dip) to specific cliff profiles or micro-features.
- Misunderstanding the sediment cell concept as a closed system rather than a series of dynamic equilibrium units.
- Inaccurate description of the cave-arch-stack-stump sequence.
- Generalizing coastal management without referencing specific policy decisions (e.g., Strategic Realignment).
- Neglecting the role of subaerial processes in cliff recession.
- Confusing the four Shoreline Management Policy options.
- Failing to link management strategies to the concept of littoral cells.
- Overlooking the role of stakeholders in creating conflict.
- Treating ICZM as a single hard engineering strategy rather than a holistic framework.
- Neglecting the importance of CBA and EIA in the decision-making process.
- Misconception: Longshore drift moves sediment in the direction of the prevailing wind. Correction: It moves sediment in the direction of the prevailing waves, which is usually determined by the prevailing wind, but waves can be refracted and change direction.
- Misconception: Hard engineering is always the best solution to coastal erosion. Correction: Hard engineering can be expensive, unsightly, and may cause erosion elsewhere (e.g., groynes starve beaches downdrift). Soft engineering and managed retreat are often more sustainable.
- Misconception: Sea-level rise is uniform across the globe. Correction: Sea-level change varies locally due to isostatic adjustment (land rising or falling) and ocean currents, so some areas experience greater relative sea-level rise than others.
Revision Plan
How to revise this topic in 1–2 weeks
- 1Week 1: Focus on coastal processes – learn definitions and draw diagrams for each erosion, transportation, and deposition process. Test yourself with flashcards.
- 2Week 2: Study landforms – create a table for each landform, its formation process, and an example. Use diagrams to visualise.
- 3Week 3: Explore sea-level change and its impacts – understand eustatic and isostatic changes, and link to climate change.
- 4Week 4: Investigate coastal management – compare hard and soft engineering using case studies. Practice evaluating their effectiveness.
- 5Final days: Attempt past paper questions under timed conditions, focusing on command words like 'Explain', 'Assess', and 'Evaluate'.
Exam Question Types
How this topic typically appears in the exam
- 📋Multiple-choice questions on definitions of processes (e.g., 'Which process involves the grinding of rock fragments?').
- 📋Short-answer questions (2-4 marks) asking to describe a landform or process.
- 📋6-mark 'Explain' questions on formation of a landform (e.g., 'Explain the formation of a wave-cut platform').
- 📋8-mark 'Evaluate' questions on coastal management strategies (e.g., 'Evaluate the effectiveness of hard engineering in managing coastal erosion').
Command Word Expectations (EDEXCEL)
What examiners look for when using specific command words in this specification
Explain
Give a detailed account of how and why something occurs, including the sequence of processes. For example, 'Explain the formation of a stack' requires a step-by-step description of erosion processes leading to cave, arch, stack, and stump.
Assess
Weigh up the strengths and limitations of something, such as a coastal management scheme. You must consider both positive and negative aspects and come to a judgement.
Evaluate
Similar to 'Assess', but with a stronger emphasis on making a final judgement. You should consider different perspectives and reach a justified conclusion, often using case study evidence.
How Students Lose Marks (Examiner Pitfalls)
Common mark loss traps and how to write 100% full-mark answers
Pitfall: Students often confuse the processes of hydraulic action and abrasion, leading to incorrect identification in exam questions.
❌ Weak Answer (Loses Marks):Hydraulic action is when waves smash rocks against the cliff, and abrasion is when the water pressure breaks the cliff.
✅ 100% Model Answer (Full Marks):Hydraulic action is the force of air and water being compressed into cracks in the cliff, causing the rock to weaken and break apart. Abrasion, also known as corrasion, is the wearing away of the cliff by the grinding action of rock fragments carried by the waves.
Examiner Tip: Use precise definitions and distinguish between processes that involve the force of water (hydraulic action) and those that involve the grinding of rock particles (abrasion).
Pitfall: In 8-mark 'Evaluate' questions, students often list pros and cons of coastal management without reaching a justified conclusion.
❌ Weak Answer (Loses Marks):Hard engineering is good because it stops erosion, but it's expensive. Soft engineering is better because it's cheaper.
✅ 100% Model Answer (Full Marks):Hard engineering, such as sea walls and groynes, provides immediate protection but can be costly and may exacerbate erosion downdrift. Soft engineering, like beach nourishment and dune regeneration, is more sustainable and cost-effective in the long term, but requires ongoing maintenance. The choice depends on factors such as the value of the land, the rate of erosion, and the availability of funding. In high-value areas with rapid erosion, hard engineering may be justified, but a holistic approach that combines both, or a managed retreat, may be more sustainable in the long run.
Examiner Tip: Always weigh both sides and come to a clear, justified conclusion. Use case studies to support your points.
Step-by-Step Worked Solutions
Detailed solution breakdown for typical exam problems
Question: A coastline is experiencing erosion at a rate of 2 metres per year. If the current cliff line is 50 metres from a coastal road, how many years will it take for the road to be threatened?
- 1.Step 1: Identify the given facts: erosion rate = 2 m/year, distance to road = 50 m.
- 2.Step 2: Use the formula: time = distance / rate.
- 3.Step 3: Calculate: 50 / 2 = 25 years.
Final Answer: It will take 25 years for the road to be threatened.
Question: Explain the formation of a spit (6 marks).
- 1.Step 1: Define a spit as a depositional landform extending from the coast into the sea.
- 2.Step 2: Describe the process: longshore drift transports sediment along the coast in the direction of the prevailing wind and waves.
- 3.Step 3: Explain that when the coastline changes direction (e.g., at a river mouth or estuary), the waves lose energy and deposit sediment, forming a spit.
- 4.Step 4: Mention that the spit continues to grow as long as sediment supply and wave energy are sufficient.
- 5.Step 5: Note that a hooked end may form due to wave refraction, and salt marshes can develop in the sheltered area behind the spit.
Final Answer: A spit forms when longshore drift transports sediment along a coast, and deposition occurs where the coastline changes direction, such as at an estuary. The sediment accumulates, creating a narrow ridge of sand or shingle that extends into the sea, often with a hooked end due to wave refraction.
Active Recall Memory Test
Test your memory before revealing the key facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •Understanding of plate tectonics and the rock cycle (for geology's influence on coasts).
- •Basic knowledge of waves and currents from physical geography.
- •Familiarity with the concept of systems and feedback (e.g., sediment cells).
Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
Likely Command Words
How questions on this topic are typically asked
Analyse
Assess
Explain
Suggest
Evaluate
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Practice questions tailored to this topic