Coasts case studies

Question 1

Christchurch harbour

Answer 1

• sediment cell
• bars and banks
• circular movement deposits sediment at the shingles

Question 2

Lyme Regis

Answer 2

• seawall
• created water storage system using tanks
• offshore breakwater (causes waves to break earlier)
• soil nails

Question 3

South Carolina

Answer 3

• dredging to clear sediment deposits
• actually resulted in more erosion

Question 4

Scotland

Answer 4

• experiencing isostatic change
• rising after rebounding from melting of last ice age
• however overall sea level around coast still rising due to climate change
• therefore coastline is still at risk of flooding
• slow eroding coastline

Question 5

Netherlands

Answer 5

• 27% land below sea level
• uses coastal dunes, levees and seawalls
• no positive feedback loop
• dykes + dams used to protect against flooding

Question 6

Kiribati

Answer 6

• low lying sand and mangroves
• 1 metre above sea level
• people will become environmental refugees
• increasing sea levels contaminates groundwater sources which affects the ability to grow crops

social
- displacement of communities
- resource scarcity increases tension

economical
- loss in agricultural land
- loss in tourism

environmental
- changing weather patterns
- loss of biodiversity

political
- threat from China
- commission of small island states on climate change and international law (Oct 31 2021 - Edinburgh)

Question 7

the Sundarbans

Answer 7

• extensive network of deltas and khals
• low flat land made from silt deposits
• mudflats
• chars (sediment islands deposited)
• mangroves

opportunities
- ecotourism
- already protected areas
- investment in improving communication for region
- fishing
- services

natural challenges
- tigers
- flooding
- cyclones
- high levels of salinity in soil
- instability
- accessibility and remoteness

human challenges
- overexploitation
- conversion of wetlands to agriculture
- destructive fishing techniques
- resources (use conflicts)
- lack of coastal issue awareness