The Wider Coastal Landscape
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 3.1.1
Coastal Classification
Coasts are dynamic landscapes influenced by long and short-term factors. These include geology and vegetation.
The littoral zone
- The littoral zone is a series of sub-zones to represent the features of the wider coastline from sea to land.
- It includes four key sub-zones: offshore, nearshore, foreshore and backshore.
- This zone reaches dynamic equilibrium where there is a balance between inputs and outputs.
The littoral zone in/outputs
- Sediment is the key input AND output of the system and is determined by:
- Inputs - the action of waves, currents and wind.
- Output - washed out into the sea by erosion.
High energy coasts
- High energy coasts are characterised by:
- Destructive waves, long fetches, high rates of erosion, caves, arches, stacks and stumps, cliffs and wave-cut platforms.
Low energy coasts
- Low energy coasts are characterised by:
- Constructive waves, shorter fetches, higher rates of deposition, spits and bars, beaches, sand dunes and salt marshes.
Test yourself on The Wider Coastal Landscape
Which of the following is NOT a sub-zone of the littoral zone?