Coastal Hadd Engineering

Question 1

Why is coastal management essential?

Answer 1

To build resilience in coastal communities around the world, climate change has increased tropical storm intensity, more frequent storm surges and sea level change are increasing the rates of coastal erosion and flooding, these hazards need to be adapted to as they are already happening

Question 2

What are the negatives of hard engineering?

Answer 2

Ugly, expensive, bad for the environment but are effective

Question 3

Explain Groynes:

Answer 3

How it works = structure built perpendicular to the shore, sediment is trapped as it is transported by LSD, the beach builds up which absorbs wave energy, Advantages = not as expensive, builds up beach which improves tourist potential, Disadvantages = causes sediment starvation further along the coast, can be unattractive, need lots of maintenance to ensure sediment getting through any holes or cracks

Question 4

Explain sea walls:

Answer 4

Structure = walls with a curve or stepped surface that absorbs and reflects wave energy, Advantages = highly effective, can have tourists, benefits such as walkways, Disadvantages = very expensive to build and Mai gain £6000 per metre, ugly and intrusive to landscape

Question 5

Explain rip rap/rock armour:

Answer 5

Structure = large concrete granite boulders at the foot of cliff, the space in between the boulders cause waves to bounce between many surface reducing the waves energy, Advantages = cheaper than sea wall, used for recreation such as fishing, Disadvantages = dangerous when people are on them, less accesible beach, rocks from elsewhere are intrusive to local geology

Question 6

Explain revetments:

Answer 6

Structure = Sloped or ramp like structure that breaks up wave energy, Advantages = cost-effective compared ro other hard engineering strategies, Disadvantages = needs lots of maintenance, unnatural looking, slopes are dangerous

Question 7

Explain offshore breakwater:

Answer 7

Structure = rock barrier a little out to sea from the shoreline, this breaks the waves and dissipates their energy before they reach the coast, Advantages = effective away from the beach so doesn’t disrupt tourists, Disadvantages = can create a navigation barrier in harbour areas

Question 8

What is hard engineering?

Answer 8

Man made structures