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Geography - B - Coastal Landscapes > Block 10 (The Impact Of Human Activity On Coastal Systems) > Flashcards

Block 10 (The Impact Of Human Activity On Coastal Systems) Flashcards

1
Q

What are the positive ways humans affect the coast?

A
  • Conservation

- Sustainable management (managed realignment + soft e)

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2
Q

What is conservation?

A

The preservation + protection of nature

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3
Q

How can coastal conservation vary from extreme to limited?

A
  • Extreme = total protection of an area

- Limited = reducing public access to an area

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4
Q

How does conservation happen on a global scale? Give an example

A

World Heritage Sites

  • Protect cultural/natural sites that have ‘Outstanding Universal Value’
  • E.g. Jurassic Coast, England
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5
Q

How does conservation happen on a national scale? Give an example

A

National Marine Reserves (‘Marine Conservation Zones’ in GB)

  • Protected marine areas
  • E.g Castle Espie, N.Ire
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6
Q

How does conservation happen on a local scale? Give an example

A

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)

  • Small protected areas/features
  • E.g. Ainsdale sand dunes, Lancashire
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7
Q

What is an integrated shoreline management plan?

A

Looking at all stakeholders across larger scale sediment cells, to consider the coast + its management holistically and sustainably

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8
Q

Why are integrated SMPs good?

A
  • Ensure one area isn’t protected at the expense of another

- Try to be more sustainable + working with nature

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9
Q

What are the two management techniques that are actually helping the coast?

A
  • Soft engineering

- Managed realignment

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10
Q

What is soft engineering?

A

Working with nature to try to reduce extent of natural processes (E.g. erosion)

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11
Q

How is a shift to soft engineering benefiting the coast?

A
  • More environmentally friendly, by working with nature

- E.g. shift to beach nourishment > artificial structures

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12
Q

What is managed realignment?

A

Allowing the shoreline to move inland, in a controlled way, to a new line of defence

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13
Q

What coastal management strategies is soft engineering part of?

A
  • Holding the line

- Advancing the line

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14
Q

Where is managed retreat implemented?

A

Areas with low development/land usage (so can be sacrificed to sea)

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15
Q

What is an example of managed realignment in the UK?

A

Pagham Harbour, Medmerry

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16
Q

What is an example of managed realignment abroad?

A

Florida + Louisiana (USA)

17
Q

What factors influence the relative success of managed realignment?

A
  • Current land use (high = less success, have to pay lots of compensation)
  • Estuary size/shape/location
  • Tidal regime
  • Extent site has been researched (low = less success, must understand ecological processes there)
  • Quality of site + how well this quality continues to be managed
18
Q

How does managed realignment benefit the coast?

A

Reduced coastal squeeze

  • Ecosystems (e.g mudflats + salt marshes) allowed to form naturally
  • Habitats formed in these ecosystems, increasing biodiversity
19
Q

Why is managed realignment also a good strategy for humans (non-environmental benefits)?

A
  • Sustainable
  • Cheaper than holding the line and maintaining hard engineering
  • Tourism potential
20
Q

What are the issues with managed realignment?

A
  • Only solution for certain locations
  • New technique (uncertain outcomes)
  • Hard to plan around unpredictable tidal processes
  • Compensation paid for land lost
  • Locals may view as ‘giving up’
21
Q

What conflict is emerging at the coast?

A

Conflict between need for coastal development + conservation

22
Q

What are two negative impacts that humans have on the coast?

A
  • Offshore dredging

- Sand dune erosion

23
Q

What is offshore dredging?

A

Extraction of sand + gravel from the seabed

24
Q

Why does offshore dredging occur?

A
  • Aggregates for construction
    (1/5 sand + gravel in UK construction is from seabed)
    (Key ingredient in concrete)
    (Often used for coastal defence - building hard structures + beach nourishment)
  • Removal to create channels for large ships + provide port access
25
Q

Who provides licenses for offshore dredging? How do they personally benefit?

A

Government - Crown Estate

  • Licenses are paid for
  • They have earned £13 million over 1 year
26
Q

How does offshore dredging negatively impact the coast?

A
  • Destroys seabed habitats, interfering with marine food web
  • Toxins can be released from seabed - harming organisms
  • Nutrients can be released from seabed - algal blooms - produce toxins
  • Increased erosion - offshore buffer lost, beaches starved
27
Q

What kind of systems are sand dunes?

A

Dynamic (constantly changing) systems, that are very sensitive

28
Q

What are the 4 ways humans can erode sand dunes?

A
  • Conversion
  • Removal
  • Utilisation/overuse
  • External factors
29
Q

What is the conversion method of sand dune erosion?

A

Dune area used for urbanisation/development, including altering/removing veg, so dunes can’t function properly: break down

30
Q

What is the removal method of sand dune erosion?

A

Sand from dune area is removed for industry or to improve beach access: break down dunes

31
Q

What is the utilisation/overuse method of sand dune erosion?

A

Dunes used as they are as an amenity (e.g. tourism, training), veg slowly removed: break down

32
Q

What is the external factors method of sand dune erosion?

A

Human activity elsewhere on coast affects dunes (e.g. groynes updrift starve dunes of sediment: break down)

33
Q

What are the negative impacts of dune erosion?

A
  • Habitat loss
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Increase of coastal erosion, leading areas vulnerable to coastal flooding
34
Q

How can sand dune erosion be reduced?

A
  • Complete reconstruction (in heavily damaged areas)
  • Restoration + repair (of less damaged dunes, e.g. replanting veg, fencing off)
  • Holistic management (tackle causes of erosion, e.g. access permits + removing external factors)

Geography - B - Coastal Landscapes (10 decks)

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