Coasts Flashcards
Describe the features of soft engineering
Sustainable, long term, less expensive
Describe the features of hard engineering
Short term, expensive, visually unattractive
Give two methods of soft engineering that can be used to manage coastal erosion
Beach nourishment and manages realignment
Describe beach nourishment
The replacement of sand or pebbles onto a beach to make it higher and wider
What are the advantages of beach nourishment?
Inexpensive and retains natural appearance of beach
What are the disadvantages of beach nourishment?
Increases erosion in other areas of the coast and affects the eco system
Describe managed realignment
Areas are allowed to flood/erode by punching holes in embankments or not protecting the coast
What are the advantages of managed realignment
Produces salt marshes, which has potential for wildlife, and retains the natural balance of the coastal eco system
What are the disadvantages of managed realignment?
Farmers will lose their livelihood as their land is lost to sea and they will have to be compensated
Give three methods of hard engineering strategies used to protect the coast from erosion
Sea walls, gabions and groynes
Describe sea walls
Concrete blocks built along the front of cliffs to reflect wave energy
Describe gabions
Boulders encased in wire mesh
Describe groynes
Wooden barriers constructed at right angles to the beach. They retain material which can’t be transported by longshore drift
What are the advantages of sea walls?
They provide effective defence where wave energy is high and are also long lasting
What are the disadvantages of sea walls?
They are very expensive and can affect beach access
What are the advantages of gabions?
They are inexpensive and efficient
What are the disadvantages of gabions?
They are visually unattractive and have a shorter life span than sea walls
What are the advantages of groynes?
They are inexpensive and retain the white sandy beaches
What are the disadvantages of groynes?
Beaches to the south are starved of beach material due to their effect on longshore drift
Where has beach replenishment been used to combat coastal erosion?
In Jaywick, Essex, 250000 tonnes of sand from a sand bar was pumped onto the beach. It was expensive at a cost of £10mil but protects 2600 properties and against floods of up to 4.1m above sea level
Where has managed realignment been used to combat coastal erosion?
In Jaywick, Essex, holes were punched through old earth embankments. This allowed the sea to reclaim the land behind. Mud deposits absorb wave energy and act as a natural buffer against erosion