Coasts - Coastal Management

Question 1

what are the 4 types of coastal hard engineering?

Answer 1

rock armour, sea walls, groynes, revetments

Question 2

what are revetments, and what are the pros/cons?

Answer 2

• a wooden or concrete ramp that absorbs wave energy
  good = cost effective
  bad = visually unnatractive

Question 3

what is rock armour, and what are the pros and cons?

Answer 3

• large rocks placed in front of the beach to absorb wave energy
  good = cost effective
  bad = can pose as a safety hazard if climbed on

Question 4

what are groynes, and what are the pros and cons?

Answer 4

• trap sediment that is being transported through longshore drift
  good = builds up the beach and cost effective
  bad = can increase erosion elsewhere

Question 5

what are sea walls, and what are the pros and cons?

Answer 5

• concrete walls that a curved at the top to absorb and reflect wave energy
  good = effective at preventing erosion
  bad = costly to construct and maintain

Question 6

what are the 4 types of coastal soft engineering?

Answer 6

beach nourishment, dune stabilisation, cliff regrading, marsh creation

Question 7

what is beach nourishment, and what are the pros and cons?

Answer 7

• adding sediment to the beach from offshore sources
  good = cost effective
  bad = ruins wildlife habitat and needs constant maintenance

Question 8

what is marsh creation, and what are the pros and cons?

Answer 8

• managed retreat which allows low lying land to be flooded
  good = creates wildlife habitat
  bad = may take away farmers land, and they will need compensation

Question 9

what is dune stabilisation, and what are the pros and cons?

Answer 9

• planting marram grass so that the roots can stabilise the sand dunes and protect the land behind
  good = creates a habitat and cost effective
  bad = time consuming

Question 10

what is cliff degrading, and what are the pros and cons?

Answer 10

• reducing the angle of the cliff in order to stabilise it
  good = cost effective
  bad = may look unnatural

Question 11

what is a cost benefit analysis?

Answer 11

• carried out before any form of coastal management
• the expected benefits have to outweigh the costs in order for a project to go ahead

Question 12

describe the ICZM

Answer 12

• realises that the environment should be prioritised over economics development
• must involve all stakeholders
• plans for the long term
• the EU adopted an initiative which promotes the use of ICZM’s (2013)

Question 13

describe the SMP’s and their 4 protocols

Answer 13

• SMP for each sediment cell in the UK
• identifies all human and physical activities within each cell
  hold the line = using defences to maintain current position
  advance the line = using defences to move the coastline seaward
  managed retreat/realignment = allowing the coast to retreat inwards and create its own natural defences
  no active intervention = coastline is exposed to natural processes