Coasts and Coastal Erosion Revision

Coasts and Coastal Erosion Revision

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The Coast of the UK

The coastline of the UK is formed by a variety of natural features including bays, islands and headlands It consists of the coastline of Great Britain and the north-east coast of Ireland as well as a large number of much smaller islands. In total it measures : 11,072.76 miles or 17,820 km. Nowhere in the UK is a person further than 113km away from the coast.  It is estimated that 3 million (out of 60 million) people live on the coast.

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Formation of Weather and its effect

Due to climate change, sea levels are rising. It is because of global warming; the icecaps are melting and therefore the sea levels rise. This means that the  wave energy will be closer to the shore and cliffs leading to increased rates of coastal erosion in areas where the cliffs are soft rock.

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Types of rock on the coastline

Steep cliffs are formed where the land consists of hard, more resistant rocks. Hard rocks erode and weather slower. Igneous rocks such as granite and basalt form rugged vertical cliffs such as those along the Cornish Atlantic coast. Granite is a very strong rock so can withstand the beating if the harsh Atlantic Waves. Softer rocks such as clay, shale and some sand stones erode more easily and can create more gently, sloping cliffs although this is not always the case. Sedimentary rocks may be there too as they had been laid down by dead animals.

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Features of the coastline

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The Rock Cycle

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Caption: : The Rock Cycle can start anywhere.

Weathering of rocks at surface > Erosion & Transport > Deposition of sediment > Burial & Compaction > SEDIMENTARY ROCK > Deformation & Metamorphism > METAMORPHIC ROCK > Melting > Crystallization of Magma > IGNEOUS ROCK > Weathering or rocks at surface > etc.