O-LevelGeographyThe natural environment2217/12 · Oct/Nov 2010 · Q325 Marks

Study Fig. 5, a sketch showing a headland at low tide. What is a headland?

(a)(i)Study Fig. 5, a sketch showing a headland at low tide. What is a headland?[1]
(a)(ii)Identify the features labelled A and B on Fig. 5, which are formed by coastal erosion.[2]
(a)(iii)Name three processes of coastal erosion.[3]
(a)(iv)Explain how bays and headlands may be formed along a coast.[4]
(b)(i)Study Fig. 6, a map showing the coastline around the Dyfi estuary in Wales (UK). Compare the location of the sand dunes with the location of the marsh in the area shown by Fig. 6.[3]
(b)(ii)Describe and explain the conditions which lead to the development of a coastal marsh.[5]
(c)Explain how and why a delta is formed. You should refer to an example you have studied and include labelled diagrams.[7]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2010). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] (a) (i) Piece of land sticking out into the sea/land between two bays
[2] (a) (ii) A = Cave B = (Natural) arch
[3] (a) (iii) Hydraulic action; Corrosion/solution; Corrasion/abrasion; attrition
[4] (a) (iv) Ideas such as: There are hard/soft rocks outcropping/rocks of different resistance; so differential erosion occurs; Soft/weak rocks worn more rapidly; Bays formed in soft rocks; hard rocks more resistant to erosion; Headlands form from hard rocks etc
[3] (b) (i) Ideas such as: sand dunes closer to sea(Cardigan Bay)/salt marsh further inland/sand dunes nearer mouth of river; sand dunes on sand spit salt marsh behind it; sand dunes on land salt marsh in water/estuary; sand dunes west of salt marsh etc
[5] (b) (ii) Ideas such as: shallow water; in estuary (dev); sheltered water; behind sand spit (dev); where deposition will occur; because of slow moving water (dev); mixture of salt/fresh water; encourages flocculation/sediment to sink to bottom; tidal area; encourages growth of salt resistant vegetation etc
[7] (c) Levels marking Level 1 (1–3 marks) Statements including limited detail explaining how/why a delta is formed. (e.g. Deposition of sediment, speed of flow slows down, river cannot carry load, growth of vegetation, river splits into channels etc)
[7] (c) Levels marking Level 2 (4–6 marks) Uses named example More developed statements on how/why a delta is formed. (e.g. Deposition of sediment/alluvium by river, as speed of flow slows down/cannot carry load, especially if river is heavily laden with silt, absence of major tidal flows/currents, impact of salt water causes further deposition, growth of vegetation raises it above sea level, distributaries form etc) (NB MAX 5 marks if no named e.g.)
[7] (c) Levels marking Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example (e.g. Mississippi delta). Comprehensive and accurate statements explaining how and why a delta is formed, including a labelled diagram. (e.g. Deposition of sediment/alluvium by river, as speed of flow reduced when it reaches Gulf of Mexico so it slows down/cannot carry load, especially as river is heavily laden with silt due to it eroding its banks in states such as Missouri, absence of major tidal flows/currents in Gulf of Mexico, impact of salt water causes further deposition, growth of vegetation raises it above sea level, distributaries form as the channel splits south of New Orleans etc)