Coastal Systems and Landscapes CASE STUDIES Flashcards
What is the case study of a local scale coastal environment?
The Holderness Coast
What is the location of the Holderness Coast?
A coastline in North-East England facing the North Sea, or Sediment Cell 2 in the UK.
What are physical causes of erosion on the Holderness Coast?
- Geology
- Fetch of Waves
How does the geology of the Holderness Coast affect erosion?
It is a discordant coastline made of chalk and clay. Flamborough Head (chalk) is more resistant meanwhile boulder clay is soft rock, less-resistant.
How does the fetch of waves on the Holderness Coast affect erosion?
Waves have high erosional power as they travel 4000miles across the North Sea. Only 3% of eorded sediment is deposited down the coast, creating Spurn Point.
What is the consequence of Physical Erosion at the Holderness Coast?
Coastal Retreat and loss of land as the fastest eroding coastline in Europe (average = 1.8cm3 per year, peak reaches 3.3m/yr).
What is the human cause of coastal erosion at the Holderness Coast?
Traditional Approach of Hard Engineering
How has Hard Engineering affected erosion at the Holderness Coast?
Mapleton had rock armour and timber groynes built in the 1990s, significantly increasing erosion south of the town. Since 1086, 26 villages and Great Cowden’s Grange Farm lost. Feedback cycle with increased erosion and sediment starvation known as Terminal Groyne Syndrome.
How is erosion being managed in the Holderness Coast?
Made in March 2008. Manages from Flamborough Head to Gibraltar Point and Humber Estuary. Takes into account other stakeholders like the local authority and works as an ICZM. Reviewed every 5-10yrs and funding is sometimes unavailable.
What is the impact of climate change on the Holderness Coast?
Sea level estimated to rise +0.17m globally but in Sediment Cell 2, +1.8mm/yr. Due to increased storms and precipitation, so more weathering and slumping. IPCC estimates 1m rise in sea level by 2105.
What is the case study of contrasting coastal landscape beyond the UK?
To illustrate risks and opportunities for human occupation & development. Evaluate human responses of resilience, mitigation and adaptation.
The Sunderbans
What is the location of the Sunderbans?
Covers North East India and South West Bangladesh. People only live in Bangladesh’s part of Sunderbans since India’s part is the protected Sunderbans National Park. North to Bay of Bengal. Largest mangrove forest in the world (and blue ecosystem).
What factors have led to the formation of the Sunderbans?
- Vegetation - Mangroves
- Weathering - Monsoon
- Erosion/Deposition - Flocculation & Tidal Action
- Transportation - Fluvial
- Climate - Future Consequences
What are opportunities for human occupation & development in the Sunderbans?
- Ecotourism
- Education
- Agriculture
- Timber Construction/Deforestation
Describe ecotourism in the Sunderbans and its advantages and disadvantages.
World Heritage Site with India’s part being the protected Sunderban National Park. It is the only coastal tiger habitat, contains 4.3% of globe’s mangroves and is extremely biodiverse.
+ Higher-earning employment for locals.
+ Rich biodiversity used for scientific research, medicine and cultural identity.
+ Better quality of life for locals as protection from monsoon flooding, tropical storms and investment into infrastructure and facilities.
- Employment is seasonal as monsoon season is off-limits
- Possibility of economic leakage
- Ecosystem fragile to plastic and water pollution.
Describe timber construction in the Sunderbans and its advantages and disadvantages.
Locals cut down mangrove and palms used for construction of small homes.
+ Selective logging brings economic gain for locals.
+ Can improve infrastructure of homes, facilities, businesses whilst opening areas to more development.
- Disrupts water and carbon cycle.
- Habitat loss and decrease in carbon sequestration.
- Leaves communities exposed to monsoons.
- Destroying natural heritage can go against local’s beliefs and culture.
Describe education in the Sunderbans and its advantages and disadvantages.
More than half of population only has primary-level education, limiting opportunities. Developing education could benefit both people and environment.
+ Provides employment and higher-wage jobs.
+ Educated locals could co-operate to sustainably manage Sunderbans.
+ Enrichment of communicating local culture and heritage.
+ Bring more attention to the media of issues.
- Difficult to manage this as locals prioritise work.
- Inacessible for most and funding needed.
Describe agriculture in the Sunderbans and its advantages and disadvantages.
Large areas have been converted to aquacultures which has caused pollution, invasive species and erosion in estuaries. Example is M&S shrimp farming.
+ Low-wage employment for locals.
+ Further investment from TNCs into agricultural infrastructure.
+ Promotes trade towards Bangladesh.
- Issues of major economic leakage and worker exploitation.
- Decreasing food security as shrimp not kept locally.
- No protection from monsoon flooding or diseases spread from monoculture.
What are challenges for human occupation & development in the Sunderbans?
- SOCIAL = Corruption from authorities and environmental legislation excludes indigenous locals. Also low literacy rates/education of children.
- ECONOMIC = Population live in poverty. No permanent jobs as fishing is seasonal and honey farming limited by government
- ENVIRONMENTAL = Climate change will worsen sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and climatic events like monsoon and cyclone season.
What consequences could climate change have on the Sunderbans?
Not what it causes, but how it specifically impacts the people, the water and carbon cycle.
Sea level rise may deplete freshwater sources through saltwater intrusion, affecting natural aquatic life, possibly shrimp farming. Also decreases mangrove vegetation. Severity and incidence of monsoon and cyclone events could devastate the people and pollute the area. Possibility of plant growth by carbon fertilisation so blue carbon sequestration. Irregular rainfall, water table and flooding in local area.
What are the 3 types of human responses to the challenges of the Sunderbans?
- Resilience
- Mitigation
- Adaptation
How are people resilient to the Sunderbans?
- Selectively log timber for construction.
- Farm shrimp and fish for food security.
- Collects goods for economic growth e.g. honey.
- Discover and research fauna for medicine.
How are people mitigating the challenges of the Sunderbans?
Issue of 2% deforestation per year. Mitigated by locals co-operating with Indian NGO ‘Nature ande Environment Society’ which replanted ~50,000 mangrove saplings in 2015. This aids local biodiversity, can educate locals and is a sustainable, cheaper method. But these are long-term solutions that have tgo be conserved for 15 years.
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How are people adapting to the Sunderbans?
Cyclone Aila in 2009 killed 190 and affected 4 million people. In 2015, a national programme built 1012 multi-purpose cyclone shelters to reduce death toll and give permanent solutions to 0protect locals.
Issue of tiger attacks even killing up to 60 a year was reduced to average of 3 per year after locals started wearing tiger masks in 1986. Also released captive-bred pigs to supplement tiger’s diet (rather than humans) and use electrified dummies. Large-scale and cost-effective method which does not impact lifestyle so less resistance.
Over-cultivation and risk of waterborne diseases through aquaculture farming has been tackled by NGOs educating locals on ecological farming methods and built latrines to improve water sanitation.
