(i) Define the term littoral drift (longshore drift). 

(ii) Briefly describe one named feature caused by littoral drift.

Explain the formation of two ocean floor landforms associated with volcanic or tectonic activity.

“The loss of coral reefs is not just a local concern.” Discuss this statement.

(i) The transport/movement of sediment along a coast [1 mark] by wave action/swash and backwash [1 mark]. Credit alternative phrasing.

(ii) Accept spits, bars, tombolos, cuspate forelands, beach cusps, drift-aligned beaches as the named feature. There should be a brief description of the chosen landform eg, a spit [1 mark] is a ridge of shingle that is attached to the mainland at one end [1 mark].

Features include underwater volcanoes, black smokers, trenches, transform faults, mid-ocean ridges and rifts, seamounts, guyots. The explanation should refer to either processes at divergent boundaries (upwelling magma and sea floor spreading) and/or
processes at subduction zones.

In each case, award up to [2 marks] for identification and description of the land forms and up to [2 marks] for explanation of its formation (maximum [3 marks]).

For example, an ocean trench [1 mark] is a very deep area of water parallel to the coast [1 mark] where one plate subducts under another [1 mark].

Economic and environmental issues can be investigated at both the local and other scales, for instance coral reefs have global biological importance in terms of high biodiversity, potential for medicine, while locally coral reefs also protect coasts by absorbing the strength of hurricanes and tropical storms. Economically they are important breeding grounds for fish and support local incomes, while globally coral reefs can be used to stimulate international tourism in visiting coral reefs. A local issue could include income generated from activities on coral reefs or that use coral eg, souvenirs, jewelry etc.

To achieve band D, responses will describe a few concerns probably at one scale only.

At band E, expect either a more detailed range of issues (concerns) such as economical/social/environmental, local and global, positive and negative or some explicit discussion of the statement (might contrast local/economic concern with global/environmental concern).

At band F, expect both.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

The definition of littoral drift was generally well understood. Many candidates were able to identify a feature caused by littoral drift, such as spit or tombolo, but often did not describe the feature, choosing instead to explain its formation.

There was sound knowledge of the landforms associated with volcanic or tectonic activity, but the explanation of their formation was often not developed.

There were some very strong answers about coral reefs and generally no overall problems with interpreting this question. A lot of attention was given to the ecological impacts. Many answers tended to be rather descriptive, or tended to focus on local rather than global issues, with limited discussion of the statement.