A Level Geography - Coasts Exam Questions
Explain how different wave types result in different beach profiles [6 marks] Different wave types can result in different beach profiles. Waves can either be constructive or destructive and this depends on the strength of their swash and backwash. When the swash is bigger than the backwash, it is a constructive wave; when the backwash is bigger than the swash, it is a destructive wave. Destructive waves have larger backwash than swash, meaning that more material is removed from the beach than added. They are usually formed where there is a large fetch during storms, meaning they are powerful and tall, and have a high frequency. An example of a place that gets destructive waves is Cornwall. Destructive waves remove material from the beach and produce a steeper beach profile because of this. They carry material out to sea which means the gradient of the beach is likely to be more vertical. Destructive waves can form a storm beach which happens when waves have a...