Coastal management Flashcards
A change in global or climate patterns?
A change in global or regional climate patterns; in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.
What is global warming?
A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere generally attributed to the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other pollutants
What is a green house gas?
A gas, such as carbon dioxide, that absorbs radiation from the sun’s rays trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere
What is an ecosystem?
A complex community made up of living organisms that interact with each other and with their environment
What is deforestation?
The removal of trees and other plant life from a forested area, either by cutting down or burning, usually carried out to clear land for farming.
What do ecosystems services offer?
Ecosystem services refers to a range of different and important resources, processes and benefits that healthy ecosystems provide to humans.
There are four services (Four Ss)
Sources (provisioning services): what we take from the ecosystem, such as food and material
Sinks (regulating services): things that absorb our wastes, such as air and water
Services (supporting services): non-consumable resources that help us, such as tress for shade
Spirituality (cultural services): of religious or cultural significance, such as spiritual trees or Uluru.
What are the different spheres?
- Biosphere(all living things)
- Hydrosphere (water)
- Lithosphere(the landforms of the earth)
- Atmosphere(layers of gas surrounding the earth)
What are the biomes?
Aquatic: Freshwater biomes surrounded by land
lakes and ponds, rivers and seas, oceans, estuaries, coral reefs, wetlands, mangroves, and intertidal zones.
Grasslands: reigns dominated by grass, they are warm and dry sub- Saharan Africa, Northern Australia
Desert: dry areas Egypt, Saudi Arabia
Tundra: Inhospitable regions due to low temp Antarctica
Ways the land is degrading?
Degrading land
Soil degradation – meaning the loss of soil fertility due to salinity
Soil erosion – soil is washed away and eroded due to waves, wind and clearing land
Ecosystem decline – through the loss of vegetation or foreign animals or pests
Degrading atmosphere
Air pollution – caused due to traffic exhausts, factory emissions and fires
What are the three reasons for Coastal environmental change
Population growth – increased stress on coastal land
Sea levels rising – due to ice sheets melting
Overfishing or pollution – due to increased boats etc. in the water
Why is the environment changing?
Green house gases, global warming and natural disasters
Due to human activities, the use of fossil fuels and deforestation, is causing an enhanced greenhouse effect and the Earth to warm
Because of warmer temperatures, ice sheets melt in the arctic, causing an increase in water volume and sea levels to rise.
Weather patterns are also changing due to human activity, this is causing an increase in extreme weather events such as fires, floods, hurricanes etc.
What are the two types of coastal engineering and examples?
Hard Engineering Techniques
These are generally more expensive, less attractive to look at and short term options. The include strategies such as sea walls, groynes, boulder barriers and breakwaters
Soft Engineering Techniques
These are often more cost effective, more attractive and sustainable. These include beach nourishment and managed retreats.
Why there is an increase in population on the coasts through sheept factors
Job opportunities Shipping transport Close to productive areas Fresh water, fertile soil Encouragement laws Transport
Effects from the increase in population on the environment
Increased land for agriculture and housing, causing: Habitat loss Native communities of vegetation cleared Habitat fragmentation Competition from weeds Invasive pets Pollution
