Part 2. Interactions Between Oceans and Coastal Places

Image of ocean wave

Conceptual Understanding:

Key Question:

How are coastal places shaped by their interactions with oceans?

Key Content:

  • Physical influences on coastal landscapes, including waves, tides, sediment supply, lithology, vegetation, subaerial processes and wave processes (littoral drift, hydraulic action and attrition).
  • The characteristics and formation of coastal landforms as a result of erosion and deposition, including wave-cut platforms, cliffs, stacks, spits and beaches.
  • The formation and identification of advancing and retreating coastlines, including isostatic and eustatic landforms (relict cliffs, raised beaches, fjords).
  • The role of coastal processes, wind and vegetation in coastal sand dune development.

Wednesday 08 February 2023

Physical Processes on Coastal Landscapes

Starter: On the 10 photos of different coastlines that are on the desks identify as many coastal features or processes that you know of.

Coastal environments are influenced by many factors and shaped by a variety of physical and human processes. As a result there is a great variety in coastal landscapes.

  1. Lithology properties (type of rock)
  2. Geological structure (concordant – strata is parallel to the coastline or discordant coastlines – strata is at right angles to the coastline)
  3. Erosional and deposition processes
  4. Sea level changes (advancing and retreating coastlines)
  5. Human impacts (modifications on the coast)
  6. Ecosystem type (mangroves, corals, sand dunes, salt marshes)

Main Activity:

You are each going to investigate a different process that is occurring at the coastline and create a 15-20 minute lesson that you will teach to the rest of the class. You need to be responsible for deciding how best to present this information to the class and create any materials that the class will need. I will print off any resources that you may need if you tell me in advance.

  1. Types of wave and tides (Daniel)
    • Factors influencing the type of wave
    • Characteristics of destructive and constructive waves
    • Wave refraction
    • Characteristics of tides
    • Presentation
  2. Longshore drift (Cameron)
  3. Subaerial weathering processes (David)
    • Salt weathering
    • Physical weathering (freeze-thaw)
    • Chemical weathering
    • Biological weathering
    • Water layer weathering
    • Presentation
  4. Wave erosion processes (Kanyito)
  5. Sediment supply (littoral cell system) (James)
    • Definition of littoral cell system
    • How sediment is lost or gained (inputs and outputs)
    • Examples
    • Presentation

You will have today’s lesson, part of tomorrow’s lesson and homework to complete this.

Success Criteria:

  1. Instruction/theory presented in a format that can be given to the class
  2. An activity for the class to do
  3. Use of images/maps/diagrams
  4. Student engagement
  5. Six useful MCQ’s to test knowledge that I can use in a quizziz

Coastal Landscapes Quizziz!


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