PHYSICAL: Coastal defenses

Question 1

Hard engineering- SEA WALL advantages

Answer 1

+ Protects cliffs against erosion

+ Often include walkways

Question 2

Hard engineering- SEA WALL disadvantages

Answer 2

• Unaesthetic

- Expensive to build and maintain (£5000 to £10,000 per m)

Question 3

Hard engineering- GROYNES advantages

Answer 3

+ quick to construct
+ stop longshore drift, trap sediment and widen beach
+ 10,000 each
+ bigger beach = more tourists

Question 4

Hard engineering- GROYNES disadvantages

Answer 4

• Effects movement of sediment down coast increasing erosion rates there

Question 5

Hard engineering- RIP-RAP advantages

Answer 5

+ Quickly put in place
+ Cheap to maintain
+ Boulders force waves to break dissipating energy and reducing cliff erosion

Question 6

Hard engineering- RIP-RAP disadvantages

Answer 6

• Transport costs high, rocks usually imported
• Can impede access to beach
• Dont fit with geological location
• Expensive £1000 per m

Question 7

Soft engineering- BEACH NOURISHMENT advantages

Answer 7

+ Beach can absorb more wave energy and protect coast
+ Sediment obtained locally so fits in
+ Easy and cheap to maintain (£100 per m)

Question 8

Soft engineering- BEACH NOURISHMENT disadvantages

Answer 8

• Wont last long if subject to strong storms
• Needs constant maintenance
• Restricts access to beach

Question 9

Soft engineering- MANAGED RETREAT advantages

Answer 9

+ Natural process

+ Allows for increased habitats

Question 10

Soft engineering- MANAGED RETREAT disadvantages

Answer 10

• Impacts function of coastline