Students carried out fieldwork at a popular tourist beach in south east England. The cliffs behind the beach are being eroded by the sea, especially where they are unprotected. The area is shown in Fig. 8.1 (Insert). The students tested the following hypotheses through fieldwork at two areas of the coast shown in Fig. 8.1: Hypothesis 1: The beach profile is steeper than the wave-cut platform profile. Hypothesis 2: Infiltration is faster on the beach than on the wave-cut platform.

1. (a)(i)Before they began their fieldwork, the students assessed the possible hazards they may come across and how to manage them. Their decisions are shown in Table 8.1 below. Which one of the possible hazards did the students think was the greatest risk?[1]
2. (a)(ii)Suggest different ways to reduce the risk of each of the following hazards during fieldwork: Cliff collapse Hypothermia from getting cold and wet Getting lost or isolated[3]
3. (b)(i)The cliffs at X shown in Fig. 8.1 are being eroded by the sea at a rate of two metres per year. Use arrows to match the processes of sea erosion with the correct definitions in the table below. One has been completed for you.[2]
4. (b)(ii)Explain why erosion is taking place at X but not at Y (shown in Fig. 8.1).[3]
5. (c)(i)To investigate Hypothesis 1, the students measured the profile of the beach and the profile of the wave-cut platform. Fig. 8.2 (Insert) shows a student doing this task. Describe how the students would measure the profile.[4]
6. (c)(ii)The students used the results to draw the two profiles shown in Fig. 8.3 (Insert). What conclusion would the students make about Hypothesis 1: The beach profile is steeper than the wave-cut platform profile? Use evidence from Fig. 8.3 to support your decision.[3]
7. (d)(i)To investigate Hypothesis 2: Infiltration is faster on the beach than on the wave-cut platform, the students measured the rate at which water infiltrated (soaked into) the ground. Their method is described in Fig. 8.4 (Insert). The students made their measurements at four points (A–D) along each profile from the sea to the cliff. To make their results reliable they measured infiltration three times at each point. Their results are shown in Table 8.2 (Insert). On Fig. 8.5 below plot the results of measurement 3 at points A and B along the beach profile.[2]
8. (d)(ii)What conclusion would the students make about Hypothesis 2: Infiltration is faster on the beach than on the wave-cut platform? Tick your decision below Conclusion Tick (✔) Hypothesis 2 is correct Hypothesis 2 is partially correct Hypothesis 2 is incorrect[1]
9. (d)(iii)Use evidence from Fig. 8.5 and Table 8.2 to support your conclusion to (d)(ii).[2]
10. (d)(iv)Which one of the following pairs correctly explains the difference between the infiltration times on the beach and the wave-cut platform? Look at Fig. 8.1 (Insert) to help you to answer. Groynes prevent longshore drift so sand and shingle build up a beach which water infiltrates through quickly. The wave-cut platform made of clay is at the surface due to the removal of beach material, and water infiltrates slowly. The beach material is clay which slows water infiltration through the wave-cut platform. The sand and shingle beach material forms a steep slope which increases infiltration. The wave-cut platform is uncovered and water quickly infiltrates into the ground. The beach builds up behind groynes and prevents infiltration.[1]
11. (e)(i)The students wanted to find out what people thought about coastal protection in the area. They produced a questionnaire which is shown in Fig. 8.6 (Insert). The results of the questionnaire are shown in Table 8.3 (Insert). Use the results of Question 4 to complete the divided bar graph in Fig. 8.7 below.[2]
12. (e)(ii)Use the results of Question 5 to complete the pie graph in Fig. 8.8 below.[2]
13. (e)(iii)Write a report about coastal protection based on what the students found out from their questionnaire. Refer to the results in Table 8.3 but do not copy them out.[4]

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