Coasts Edexcel Geography GCSE

1. Distinctive coastal landscapes on the Isle of
Purbeck (Dorset) are the result of the interaction
between physical and human processes.

2. Located Example: Swanage Bay on the Isle of Purbeck

3. Lesson Objectives:
• What is significant about the location of the Isle of Purbeck?
• Explain how the landscape has been formed (physical processes and
geology)
• Explain how physical and human processes have changed the coastal
landscape of the area

4. YOUR TURN
• Today the PowerPoint with all the tasks on it are on showbie.
• Put the subitile in at the right stage, they are underlined and lettered
A-D to help you.
• Your job is to work through it at your own pace and complete all the
instructions (they are in blue). They are self explanatory.
• You can use the Tomorrwos World text book as well as the resources
on the powerpoint.
• There is a sheet with some photos on it to help you.
• If stuck do just put up a hand!

5. A. Whereabouts is the Isle of Purbeck in the
UK?
• Find and label it on your UK map
• Use the information below to help you
write a description of the location of
the Isle of Purbeck
“The Isle of Purbeck is located in the south
of England in Dorset. Its area is
approximately 200km2 and the south and
east of the area are surrounded by sea
(the English Channel). The north is divided
by the River Frome and Poole Harbour.
There is one town, Swanage, several
villages and a seaside resort. Access to
the Isle of Purbeck is provided via the
A351 road which is linked to the Poole-
Bournemouth conurbation (population
500,000).”

6. B. What is important about the location of the
Isle of Purbeck in shaping its landscape?
Physical Factor How it helps to shape the area
Geology
Prevailing winds and wind
strength
Fetch
Power of waves
Aspect (direction the area
faces)
Make a copy of the table
and fill it in in answer to this
question.
Use the information on the
next slide to help you.

7. What is important about the location of the
Isle of Purbeck in shaping its landscape?
Europe Wind Power Map
Geology
Fetch
Location

8. C. How has Swanage Bay been formed?
Explain how Swanage Bay and the headlands either side (Peveril Point and Ballard
Point) have formed – draw an annotated diagram to help you (or stick in a relevant
picture)
Tip: Refer to physical processes (types of erosion by the sea) and the local geology
(rock types) in your explanation. Make sure that you refer to place names (again use
relevant maps/pictures)
Use the information on p25 of Tomorrow’s Geography and your notes on
concordant and discordant coastlines, headlands and bays to :

9. D. How have physical and human processes
changed the coastal landscape of the area?
Use the table on p. 24 Tomorrow’s Geography as a starting point, the following
slides and some extra research to:
1. Explain how different physical processes have had an impact on the area
around Swanage Bay. (Coastal erosion, mass movement).
Find out some dates to highlight the most recent of these impacts. (see
following slide for explanation on landslips but there are other processes)
2. Explain how different human processes have had an impact on the area around
Swanage Bay. (Tourism, settlement, coastal defences)
Try to find out some dates to highlight the most recent of these impacts (see
the next slide for explanation on how human development affects landslips
and the slide after for the impact of groynes on the area)

10. Rotational slides – BBC clip 22/12/2012
Human Development affects landslide activity in Swanage town:
• Buildings add extra weight onto the underlying clay making it less stable
(especially during very rainy conditions)
• Building impermeable car parks and roads interferes with the natural
drainage, again meaning landslides are more likely
• The building of Banjo Pier and groynes has made the norther part of the
Bay more prone to landslides
Physical processes:
Wealden clay makes up the main geology of
Swanage Bay. Above the clay is a layer of
permeable rock which allows rainwater to
pass through to the clay below. When wet
clay becomes very unstable and is prone to
landslides. Wet clay is also easily eroded by
the sea. Such undercutting of the cliffs
promotes landslide activity. The mass
movement takes the form of rotational slip
as the unstable bottom clay lay pushes out in
front and the top of the cliff drops down.

11. The impact of groynes on the landscape of
Swanage Bay
Longshore drift operates from south to north in the
Swanage Bay area. The central part of Swanage Bay has
18 timber groynes which were reconstructed in 2005/06
at the same time as the beach was replenished. The
groynes are there to stop the sand from being removed
from the Bay to attract tourists.
As a results the northern part of the Bay has had less
beach material and so the beach is flatter. This means
that the waves can directly attack the cliff.
This photo of Swanage
Bay was taken facing
south.
How can you tell?