managing coastlines

Question 1

what is hard engineering?

Answer 1

building structures which aim to reduce the impact of natural processes.

Question 2

what is soft engineering?

Answer 2

techniques which work with the environment

Question 3

what are cliff- face strategies, cliff- foot strategies, and beach management strategies?

Answer 3

reduce subaerial processed e.g. mass movement (hard and soft)

reduce wave energy (hard)

increase size of beach- absorbs more wave energy (hard and soft)

Question 4

what is the aim of coastal management?

Answer 4

to protect people and environment from erosion and flooding.

Question 5

why do coastlines need protecting?

Answer 5

1. increased development of coastal areas/ towns (more people at risk of flooding)
2. risk likely to increase due to climate change causing sea level rise and more frequent coastal storms- means more protection is needed.
3. beaches need to be maintained to maintain tourist industry which generates revenue.
4. increased environmental conservation of coastal wetlands- managing delicate coastal ecosystems (regeneration schemes/ protection) e.g. sand dunes eroded by waves and human activity.

Question 6

what is DEFRA?

Answer 6

sets shoreline management plans (SMP) in the 11 sediment cells in the UK. decisions are often aided by a COST- BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
Environments Agency and local authorities are responsible for making these SMP’s work.
they estimate that 4-5 mil people could be affected by coastal flooding.