Coasts Case Studies Flashcards
Transect of Psammosere in Studland, Dorset
PIONEER STAGE: Seeds blown by wind, sand soaks quickly
BUILDING STAGE: Extremophiles bind sand with roods, rot to humus which makes the sand more nutritious- plants colonise (Marram grass)
FINAL STAGE: Larger plants and more complex species grow, earlier plants out competed for water and light
dune slack appear when water table uncovered, water tolerant plants grow
VEGETATION STABILISE SEDIMENT: Plants provide protective layer over sand and bind together further
How long does it take for a sand dune sequence to develope
50-100 yrs
Population of Osaka, Japan
over 2.5 million people
Economic assets of Osaka
$200 Billion
Dangers faced in Osaka
Frequent storm surges and Typhoons,
Sea level rise of 3.3 feet puts 4.1 million more at risk of flooding
Sea level rise in New Zealand
Hawks Bay- $14 billion worth of infrastructure
10m sea level rise- 40% of population at risk
Maldives population
400 000
Major industry in maldives
90% of government money from tourism taxes
Highest land point in Maldives
2.4m
Key problems in Maldives
1) Coral reef destruction- removal of natural buffer
2) Wave erosion- 80-90% of islands affected
3) Fresh water shortages- Salt water contamination
4) Dwindling fish stock- 40% decrease in tuna stock
Maldives adaptation and mitigation to sea level rise
Carbon neutral action 2020
Wind farms + solar panels
Abandoning most at risk islands, building upwards
Strategies for sea level rise in Mediterranean and their problems
Dam from Gibralter rock to Morocco, 1200 ft above sea level, costing $275 Billion
2ft of water evaporates per year in the Med
Dam stops flow of water from Atlantic, creating a stagnant salt water lake
The problem for Netherlands
1/2 of land below seas level after land reclamation,
6 dams and 4 storm surge barriers reduce flood risk
Plans for potential floating cities to help adapt to sea level rise
Problems caused by sea level rise in India
£20 billion income at risk
intensified typhoons in Mumbai
Threats of sea level rise in florida
Coastal powerplant at risk at 4ft rise
Fresh water contamination risk at 5ft rise
Porous geology means water intrusion is easier
Complex levee system is not a long term solution and very expensive