1. Coastal questions
Year 9

2. Contrast the process of freeze thaw
weathering with chemical weathering. (sp)
Freeze thaw weathering involves temperature change
around freezing point so that water in a crack in the rock
will freeze and expand.
Subsequent thawing will lead to pressure exerted on side of
crack being released.
Eventually, after repeated freezing and thawing angular bits
of rock will break off. No change is involved in the rock
itself, it just gets smaller.
This is unlike chemical weathering where under especially
warm and wet conditions the composition of the rock
changes completely e.g. limestone.
2 x 1 for describing each type, 1 for clear contrast

3. Mass movement is common in the area shown in Figure 20.
What role does mass movement have on coasts such as that in
Figure 20?
Shifting of loose material down
a slope as one may be seen as a
means of rapidly transforming
the coast / cliffs (1) via
sliding / slumping (1).
The coast will retreat. (1)
There will be a new supply of
material on the beach (1) which
can then be transported via
longshore drift (1)
2 x 1/ 1 +1

4. Mass movement is a process affecting the coastal
zone. Describe this process.(3 marks) S 2010
Mass movement occurs when loose material on
the land surface (1) moves downslope (1) due to
gravity (1) sliding and slumping (1).
This is often fast and sudden (1) as with
landslides (1) when the base of the cliff has
been eroded, making the cliff unstable (1).
With a landslide, the whole column of material
moves in one go (1), slumping is similar, but this
involves a curved movement (1).

5. Explain how and why cliff collapse occurs in some
coastal locations. (S03) 4 marks
Level 1 1 – 2 marks Basic statements
e.g. destructive strong waves erode the land
• rain saturates rocks, the rocks are soft.
Level 2 3 – 4 marks Clear statements, considers how and
why
e.g. at Holderness the cliffs are very soft (w) and easily
eroded by destructive waves (w). The cliffs are
undercut and eventually the overhang collapses (h).
Heavy rain may also saturate the boulder clay (w)
causing slip planes to form along which the cliff
collapses.(mass movement) (h)(4 marks)

6. 1.Give two differences between destructive
waves and constructive waves. (2 marks)
Any 2 valid differences relating to the
frequency, steepness, height,
relative importance of swash/backwash.

7. Mark with an arrow and label three landforms
shown on this coast.

8. Explain the formation of a cliff and wave cut platform (4 m)
Explain the formation of a wave cut platform (S06) 6 marks
•Waves attack between low water mark and high
water mark;
•base of cliff eroded through hydraulic action
and abrasion,
•wave cut notch formed
•notch gets bigger and the cliff overhangs
•as erosion continues, overhang collapses.
•The cliff retreats and flat area of rock at base
is exposed, forming the wave cut platform.

9. Either:
Draw and label a diagram to show how a stack
may develop at the end of the headland (S04) 2
marks
Explain how wave action and other processes will
help to create the features shown on your
diagram (S04) 4 marks
Explain the formation of a sea stack (S08) 6
marks

10. Draw and label s diagram to show how a stack may
develop at the end of the headland (S04) 2 marks

11. Explain how wave action and other processes will help to create
the features shown on your diagram (S04) 4 marks
Level 1 Basic (1-2 marks)
• Basic points made, may only consider wave action e.g.
wave action will erode the cliff and cause the arch to
collapse.
Level 2 Clear (3-4 marks)
• Clear and makes reference to wave action and other
processes e.g. hydraulic action, the great power of
the water widens cracks to form caves and leads
to the roof of an arch collapsing. This may be helped
by weathering e.g. freeze-thaw widening cracks.

12. (i) On the figure below, a sea stack has been labelled.
Mark with an arrow and label three other landforms resulting
from coastal erosion.
Three different landforms should be identified – cliff, wave cut
platform, headland, bay, cove, stump (only small feature).

13. (ii) Explain the formation of a sea stack.
There is a line of weakness in a cliff face – e.g. a
joint or a crack which is eroded by the sea to
eventually form a cave. Hydraulic action and abrasion
are particularly responsible for making the cave
bigger. The rock must be relatively hard, made from
limestone or chalk or otherwise it would simply
collapse forming a slump. If there are two caves on
either side of the headland, continued erosion will
result in a hole being formed, joining the caves to
form an arch. As further erosion takes place, the
roof of the arch will eventually collapse, as it cannot
be supported. The seaward end of the arch will form
a sea stack – an isolated piece or pieces of rock,
separate from the headland.

14. Level 1 (1-2 marks) Basic statements with limited sequence
e.g. sea attacks the rock,hollow is formed, gets bigger and rock above
falls.
Level 2 (3-4 marks) Clear, more developed answer with clearer,
more completesequence and more appropriate terminology
e.g. waves attack a headland and erode a crack in the rock. A cave is
formed due to abrasion. This gets bigger and forms an arch which
collapses leaving a sea stack.
Level 3 (5-6 marks) Detailed, well developed answer with clear
and complete sequence; appropriate terminology, clearly links
sequence to landform
e.g. waves attack a crack in a headland. This is enlarged to form
a cave by the pounding of the waves compressing air in the
rock face and abrasion where material carried by the water
is flung against the cliff. In this way, the cave is made bigger
and, if there is one on either side of the headland, an arch will
result when they join. Continued erosion will wear away the
rock supporting the arch and this will collapse. This will leave
an isolated piece or pieces of rock separated from the headland
– a sea stack.

15. Photo of Hurst Castle spit in Hampshire. Describe
the spit and explain how it was formed (S09) 6
marks

16. Description should refer to:
• It is attached to the land at one end.
• It is long and thin
• Appears to be composed of sand.
• It is wider and hooked at the end.
• There is an area of calm water and deposition / small
islands behind it / north of it.
Explanation should refer to:
• The bend in coastline where spit begins.
• Deposition continues to follow the direction of the
coast,
• The importance of longshore drift in supplying
material to the spit.
• The curve at the end is due to change in wind
direction / current.

17. Level 3 (Detailed) (5-6 marks)
Developed answer with clear and complete sequence; appropriate
terminology. Clearly links sequence to landform. Description and
explanation are fairly well balanced.
The spit begins where the coast changes direction. It is attached
to the land here. Deposition continues along the coast in the
original direction of the coast and the long, thin area of
deposition (the spit) is formed. Longshore drift is responsible for
this. Material is moved along the beach in the direction of the
prevailing wind – here they will be south westerly so dominant
direction of movement will be eastwards. The end is wider and
is hooked as it moves towards the coast. An area of calm water
and deposition is found behind the spit. It curves due to a
second wind direction affecting the currents across the open
water.

18. Explain why sea level is expected
to rise (3 marks) S2010
• Increase in sea level due to melting of ice sheets (1)
+1 for detail on locations of these (1).
• Recognition that this will remove water stored in
a frozen state (1) on land and enable it to flow to the
sea increasing amount of water in the sea (1).
May relate to underlying cause – global warming (1)
and causes of this, e.g. increase in carbon dioxide (1)
and reasons for this (1).
• Thermal expansion due to warming sea due to global
warming

19. Use a case study to describe economic effects of
coastal flooding. 4 marks (2010)
Economic effects likely to relate to:
loss or damage to
•areas
•businesses
•food crops in subsistence economy;
•cash crops exports
•impact on tourism
need to try to protect and costs incurred in this.

20. Level 1 (Basic) (1-2 marks)
Simple, listed points.
Will refer to some effects may be drift into non – economic ones.
Crops will be destroyed. People will lose their food supply and land.
They will have nowhere to live. Parts of cities will be flooded.
Businesses will be lost and people will lose their jobs.
Level 2 (Clear) (3-4 marks)
Points are developed and linked.
Focus on economic effects.
Refers to case study.
As sea level rises, low lying parts of the UK will be flooded. Parts of
the fertile Fens will be lost and people will lose their businesses. Crop
production will fall – cereals and vegetables will be affected. Areas
next to the Thames in London, including the Houses of Parliament will
be flooded. The City will be affected and jobs could be lost. It will cost
a lot of money to try to protect the coast from rising sea levels – in
order of £10 billion.