Coastal Processes 1

Coasts are the most dynamic landscapes on Earth - what does this mean?

• They are the most common of all landscapes

• They are the most colourful of all landscapes

• They are the most changeable of all landscapes

• They are the most noisy of all landscapes

What makes coasts more dynamic (changeable) than most other landscapes?

• The number of people who choose to live there

• The energy of the ocean

• The impact of wind and rain

• The variety of plant and animal species found there

What is responsible for creating most of the waves in the ocean?

• Movements of large sea creatures deep down

• Container ships carrying goods between continents

• The gravitational pull of the moon

• The frictional contact of winds blowing over the ocean

Which of the following does NOT influence the strength / energy of a wave?

• The distance the wave traveled before it hit land

• Whether it breaks on a sandy or stony beach

• The strength / speed of the wind that created it

• The length of time the wind blew for

Which coast of the island of Ireland receives the highest energy waves?

• north

• south

• east

• west

The distance of open ocean over which a wave travels before it breaks on a coastline is known as the

Which of the following do NOT meet the coastline of Ireland?

• The Pacific Ocean

• The Atlantic Ocean

• The Irish Sea

• The Mediterranean Sea

What is the prevailing (most common) wind direction for Ireland?

• northerly

• easterly

• south-westerly

• south easterly

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

• Coasts are constantly under attack from erosive and weathering processes

• Erosion is mostly through the action of the oceans and seas

• Weathering is the decay and break up of rocks by the effects of the atmosphere and the environment

• There are 3 main types of erosion - physical, chemical and biological

Name the coastal erosion process that would transform pebble B to look like pebble A

• chemical weathering

• corrosion

• attrition

• hydraulic action