3.2.3.4 Coastal management

Question 1

Explain sea walls

Answer 1

Aim to absorb wave energy, often recurved to throw the wave back to prevent erosion.

Question 2

Positives of sea walls

Answer 2

• protect important areas effectively

Question 3

Explain rock armour (rip rap)

Answer 3

Large boulders piled up around the coast to absorb wave energy

Question 3

Negatives of sea walls

Answer 3

• any gaps will be quickly eroded by hydraulic action
• very expensive (£800-£1500 per metre)
• creates a strong backwash which erodes under the wall

Question 3

Positives of rock armour (rip rap)

Answer 3

• relatively cheap (£300 per metre)
• can use local debris
• some environments allow it to look natural

Question 4

Negatives of rock armour (rip rap)

Answer 4

• rocks can shift in storms
• visually unattractive

Question 5

Explain gabions

Answer 5

Cages filled with rocks which allow waves to percolate, reducing erosion

Question 6

Positives of gabions

Answer 6

• very cheap (£10 per square metre)

Question 7

Negatives of gabions

Answer 7

• metal cages fail quickly
• visually unattractive

Question 8

Explain groynes

Answer 8

Fences built perpendicular to coasts which reduce longshore drift

Question 9

Positives of groynes

Answer 9

• healthier beaches slow waves and reduce erosion
• increased tourism due to nicer beaches

Question 10

Negatives of groynes

Answer 10

• cost £200,000 per groyne
• starves down-drift beaches of sediment

Question 11

Explain beach nourishment and beach stabilisation

Answer 11

Replacing lost material to create wider beaches.
Also reducing the gradient of beaches to promote constructive waves and encourage sand dunes

Question 12

How can organisations implement sand dune regeneration

Answer 12

• replanting vulnerable areas with pioneer plants
• providing boardwalks for tourists
• providing information about the potential damage trampling causes

Question 13

Explain managed retreat

Answer 13

• allowing the sea to flood low value land
• this can create marshland which becomes a natural buffer

Question 14

Advantages of soft engineering over hard engineering

Answer 14

• more sustainable
• a lot cheaper
• integrated with natural environment

Question 15

Advantages of hard engineering over soft engineering

Answer 15

• provides a short term solution
• more resistant to larger storm events

Question 16

Explain shoreline management plans (SMPs)

Answer 16

• a plan for how the coastline of one sediment cell should be managed
• a cost benefit analysis and land use management of this area
• based on the principle that intervention will be self contained within the cell

Question 17

What are the 4 options to consider for each SMP

Answer 17

• hold the line (maintain the current position of the coastline)
• advance the line (extending the coastline out to sea)
• managed retreat (allowing the coastline to retreat and create natural environments)
• do nothing

Question 18

Explain integrated coastal zone management (ICZM)

Answer 18

• the process which brings together all people involved in the development, management and use of a coastline
• a more holistic overview of the coastal area

Question 19

What is the aim of ICZM

Answer 19

To establish sustainable levels of economic and social activity