2.11. Soft Engineering Strategies Flashcards
What is beach nourishment?
Addition of sand or pebbles to an existing beach to make it higher and wider
How much does beach nourishment cost?
£300,000 per 100 metres
What are the strengths of beach nourishment?
- looks very natural
- bigger beaches are good for tourism
- relatively inexpensive
What are the weaknesses of beach nourishment?
- dredging the seabeds can have impacts on local ecosystems
What is the longevity of beach nourishment?
Needs constant replenishment (high maintenance)
What is cliff regrading and drainage?
Reducing the angle of the cliff to stabilise the slope
Drainage of water also stabilises the cliff against mass movement
What is the cost of cliff regrading and drainage?
Variable costs (cost effective)
What are the weaknesses of cliff regrading and drainage?
- can look unnatural as cliff is unnaturally flatter
- creates a cliff retreat
- dried out cliffs can collapse
What is dune stabilisation?
Planting trees like marram grass so that the roots bind the dunes. The dunes absorb wave energy and protect the land behind them
What is the cost of dune stabilisation?
£200-£2,000 per 100m (cheap)
What are the strengths of dune stabilisation?
- cheap and sustainable
- creates habitats for wildlife
- maintains a natural environment
What are the weaknesses of dune stabilisation?
- people walk on the dunes and damage them
- planting is time consuming and takes time for plant species to become established
What is marsh creation?
Land is allowed to be flooded by the sea and then left to become a salt marsh. This absorbs wave energy and also creates a buffer to rising sea levels and protects higher value land.
What is the cost of marsh creation?
Variable depending on the size of the are left to the sea
What are the strengths of marsh creation?
- creates important and unique wildlife habitats
