coastal management

Question 1

“hold the line”

Answer 1

-defences are built to try and keep the shore where it is

Question 2

“managed realignment”

Answer 2

-coastline moves inland naturally but managed

Question 3

“advance the line”

Answer 3

-defence are built to try and move the shore seawards

Question 4

“do nothing”

Answer 4

-no defences are put in place and the coast is allowed to erode

Question 4

Hard Engineering

Answer 4

-traditional
-many ways outdated
-involves man made structures that aim to prevent erosion
-often very effective
-but at high cost: significant environmental impact due to concrete and other mana made materials
-by reducing erosion in one area of coastline, they may exacerbate erosion elsewhere
-therefore all they do is change where the erosion happens
-often unsightly and un-aesthetic

Question 5

HE- groynes

Answer 5

-timber or rock protrusions that trap sediment from LSD (longshore drift)
POSITIVES
-builds up beach, protecting cliff and increasing tourist potential
-cost effective
NEGATIVES
-visually unappealing
-deprived areas downwind of sediment increasing erosion elsewhere

Question 6

HE- seawalls

Answer 6

-concrete structures that absorb and reflect wave energy, with curved surface
POSITIVES
-effective erosion prevention
-promenade has tourism benefits
NEGATIVES
-visually unappealing
-expensive to construct and maintain
-wave energy reflected elsewhere, with impacts on erosion rates

Question 7

Soft engineering

Answer 7

-unlike hard engineering, soft engineering aims to work with and complement the physical environment by using natural methods of costal defence
-they are useful for protecting against sea-level change as well as costal erosion

Question 8

SE- beach nourishment

Answer 8

-sediment is taken from offshore sources to build up the existing beach
POSITIVES
-builds up beach, protecting cliff and increasing tourist potential
-cost effective and looks natural
NEGATIVES
-needs constant maintenance
-dredging may have consequences on local costal habitats

Question 9

SE- cliff regrading and drainage

Answer 9

• reduces the angle of the cliff to help stabilise it
  -a steeper cliff would be more likely to collapse
  POSITIVES
  -cost effective
  NEGATIVES
  -cliff may collapse suddenly as the cliff is drier leading to rock falls which pose a hazard
  -may look unnatural

Question 10

sustainable coast management

Answer 10

-managing natural resources like fish, water and farmland to ensure long term productivity
-creating alternative livelihoods before people lose their existing jobs
-educating communities about the need and how to adapt
-monitoring costal changes and then adapting or mitigating
-managing flood risk or relocating if needed

Question 11

impact of costal management on sediment cells

Answer 11

-installing a sea wall would reflect wave energy downdrift, increasing wave energy and erosion elsewhere on the coastline
-less erosion occurs in these areas with the sea wall, so there is less sediment in the areas with increased wave energy
-less sediment reduces beach size so the cliff is more exposed to erosion from the higher energy waves
-building groynes has the same effect on downdrift as longshore drift can no longer transport sediment from one stretch of coastline to another