Coastal Management Case Study - Barton on Sea

Question 1

Where is Barton on Sea?

Answer 1

Hampshire, South West England

Question 2

What is the main problem at Barton on Sea?

Answer 2

Coastal erosion

Question 3

What defences are currently in place?

Answer 3

Rock groynes

Question 4

What are the social issues with the management strategies?

Answer 4

• Defence don’t always look natural, can be obtrusive
• Building work/carrying out the process can intrude on a community
• Soft engineering strategies need replenishing often,causing disruption

Question 5

What are the economic issues with the management strategies?

Answer 5

• Hard engineering strategies ca be very expensive to install
• They can also be expensive to maintain

Question 6

What are the environmental issues with the management strategies?

Answer 6

• Hard engineering strategies aren’t made of natural resources, and can interfere
• Natural coastal processes are interfered with when both hard and soft engineering strategies are used

Question 7

What are the social benefits of the rock groynes?

Answer 7

• People’s houses (such as those on Barton Court) are better protected once the defences are in
• People are able to use the beach for recreational purposes
• The beach and cliffs are still in a stable condition

Question 8

What are the economic benefits of the rock groynes?

Answer 8

• Soft engineering strategies are reasonably inexpensive

- Maintaining the beaches will keep tourists coming

Question 9

What are the environmental benefits of the rock groynes?

Answer 9

• Groynes prevent beach starvation, and so allow them to build up over time
• Rock armour absorbs the force of the wave, rather than reflect it back out to sea

Question 10

What soft engineering strategies are used?

Answer 10

Cliff drainage and beach nourishment

Question 11

What is the rate of cliff erosion at Barton?

Answer 11

2m a year

Question 12

How far is Barton Court form the cliff edge?

Answer 12

20m