An introduction to coastal processes

Mr Mullins

This photograph was taken from Google Earth. No human being has ever walked on, climbed or touched these rocks.

What? Where? Why?When?Who?

Lesson Objective

To understand the two processes of weathering and erosion which have an impact on shaping our coastlines.

Underline key words

Coastal Environments

4 Main Processes:

• 1. Weathering

• 2. Erosion

• 3. Transportation

• 4. Deposition

Task: Put into a sentence

What is weathering?

• Mechanical weathering

• Chemical weathering

• Biological weathering

Watheingre is the break-up of orcsk due to theexposure to the maospheret

There are three types of weathering.

Task: Using the sheets provided read what your type of weathering is and draw an illustration to explain the process.

You will be teaching the process to the person next to you with just your drawings.

Two words allowed to annotate only

Mr Mullins’s Example:• Biological weathering • Animals and plants can wear away rocks. This is called biological

weathering. For example, burrowing animals such as rabbits can burrow into a crack in a rock, making it bigger and splitting the rock.

You may have seen weeds growing through cracks in the pavement. If you have gone for a walk in the countryside, you may even have seen bushes or trees growing from cracks in rocks or disused buildings. This is because plant roots can grow in cracks. As they grow bigger, the roots push open the cracks and make them wider and deeper. Eventually pieces of rock may fall away.

Erosion

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/coastal/coastalprocessesrev3.shtml

What geographic concepts are being put across by the artist in this cartoon?

Where is this?

Final Task: Neil Oliver is due to make his latest BBC production of ‘Coast’ this week and the programme will be on the formation of the White Cliffs of Dover.

Neil has unfortunately called in sick and the BBC need an expert in the field of weathering and coastal erosion to give a short speech and explain how weathering and erosional processes have had an impact on the shaping of the Dover coastline.

Your task is to write a speech using the key processes in which you are now experts, to produce a short educational speech for the BBC programme.

Successful speeches will include key words:

Weathering MechanicalChemicalBiologicalErosionHydraulic ActionAttritionCorrosionAbrasion

Homework

• Finish your speeches for next lesson.