3.1.3.3 Coastal landscape development

• This content must include study of a variety of landscapes from beyond the United Kingdom (UK) but may also include UK examples.
• Eustatic, isostatic and tectonic sea level change: major changes in sea level in the last 10,000 years.
• Coastlines of emergence and submergence. Origin and development of associated landforms: raised beaches, marine platforms; rias, fjords, Dalmatian coasts.
• Recent and predicted climatic change and potential impact on coasts.
• The relationship between process, time, landforms and landscapes in coastal settings.

3.1.1 Water and carbon cycles
3.1.1.4 Water, carbon, climate and life on Earth
The key role of the carbon and water stores and cycles in supporting life on Earth with particular reference to climate. The relationship between the water cycle and carbon cycle in the atmosphere. The role of feedbacks within and between cycles and their link to climate change and implications for life on Earth.

3.1.5 Hazards
3.1.5.2 Plate tectonics
Destructive, constructive and conservative plate margins. Characteristic processes: seismicity and vulcanicity. Associated landforms: young fold mountains, rift valleys, ocean ridges, deep sea trenches and island arcs, volcanoes.

Learning outcomes
This lesson will help students to understand:

• The characteristics of coastlines of emergence and the associated landforms.
• The characteristics of coastlines of submergence and the associated landforms.
• How climate change might affect coastlines in the future and alternative futures in landscape development.
• The impact of sea-level rise on coastal communities and the natural environment.

Suggested timing
2 hours

3.1.1.2 The water cycle
Changes in the water cycle over time to include natural variation including storm events, seasonal changes and human impact including farming practices, land use change and water abstraction.

Learning outcomes
This lesson will help students to understand:

• How water abstraction affects the water cycle.
• The reasons for water abstraction in different areas.
• How water abstraction affects stores and transfers within the water cycle at different scales.

Suggested timing
1 hour

3.1.1.1 Water and carbon as natural systems
Systems in physical geography: systems concepts and their application to the water and carbon cycles inputs - outputs, energy, stores/components, flows/transfers, positive/negative feedback, dynamic equilibrium.

Learning outcomes
This lesson will help students to understand:

• The concept and use of models by geographers as simplifications of a complex world.
• The concept of systems frameworks as a type of model fundamental to most areas of geographical understanding.
• Classification of systems and common characteristics of systems.
• How the four major subsystems of the Earth are interlinked.

Suggested timing
1 hour