IGCSE Coastal Environments

What are coasts considered as in terms of geographical systems?

• Closed systems with no inputs or outputs

• Open systems with inputs (sediment), transfers (longshore drift), stores (beach), and outputs (water)

• Isolated systems with only inputs (sediment) and no outputs

• Circular systems with only transfers (longshore drift) and no inputs or outputs

Coastal processes are divided into which two main parts?

• Eastern processes and Western processes

• Marine processes: offshore and Terrestrial processes: onshore

• Northern processes and Southern processes

• Aquatic processes and Desert processes

Which of the following is NOT a sub-division of coastal processes?

• Wave action

• Erosion

• Transportation

• Volcanic activity

What are waves responsible for in marine processes?

• They are responsible for the salinity of the ocean

• They are responsible for the temperature regulation of the ocean

• They erode, transport, and deposit material

• They are responsible for the production of marine life

What is one of the factors that the height and strength of a wave is dependent on?

• The color of the sea

• The fetch

• The depth of marine life

• The salinity of the water

What is the movement of water up the beach called?

• Backwash

• Tide

• Swash

• Current

What type of wave is known to erode the beach?

• Constructive Wave

• Static Wave

• Destructive Wave

• Restorative Wave

Which type of wave has a strong swash and a weak backwash?

• Destructive Wave

• Constructive Wave

• Static Wave

• Restorative Wave

What is the frequency of destructive waves?

• Low (6–8 per minute)

• Medium (9 per minute)

• High (10–12 per minute)

• Variable

What type of beach is associated with constructive waves?

• Shingle: erosional

• Sandy: depositional

• Pebble: erosional

• Rocky: depositional