Hard Engineering methods to Costal Erosion and Weathering Flashcards
State the four main Hard Engineering methods
Groynes, Sea walls, Rock armour and Gabions
What is a gabion?
Rocks held in cages
What is a groyne?
Wooden or rock walls/structure that builds a beach by trapping sediment.
What is a rock armour?
Large boulders placed at the foot of a cliff. It breaks waves and absorbs their energy
What is a Sea wall?
Concrete walls placed at the foot of a cliff. They reflect energy back into the sea.
Benefits of rock armour
cheap, easy to maintain and long lasting
Disadvantages of rock armour
Expensive, unattractive, hard to transport, difficult access to beach and littler can get stuck in rocks. People and animals can get hurt. Prevents breeding sites for animals.
Benefits of Gabion
cheap, blends in and long lasting
Disadvantages of Gabion
not strong, unnatural, injurious to birds and humans and regular maintenance needed.
Disadvantages of sea wall
Expensive, unnatural, expensive repairs, long construction times and restrict access to beach.
Advantages of sea wall
Can last for long time and gives a sense of security
Advantages of groyne
Builds a beach, cheap, long-lasting and easy access
Disadvantages of groyne
Unattractive, dangerous to surfers and starves beaches of sand further down the coastline increasing rates of erosion elsewhere.
