Sea Level Rise and Hard and Soft Engineering

Question 1

Define Eustatic sea level change?

Everyone

Answer 1

A Global change in sea level resulting in a fall or rise of the volume of water in our oceans.

Question 2

What are the two main causes of eustatic change?

Answer 2

1.Changes In Climate- Temp decrease= more ppt falls as snow, increasing the volume of water stored in glaciers

Temp Increase= freshwater glacial melt, thermal expansion.

2. Tectonic movements of the Earths crust= changes the shape of ocean basins

Question 3

Define Isostatic sea level change?

Answer 3

A Local change in sea level resulting in the fall or rise of the land relative to sea level.

Question 4

What are the three main causes of Isostatic change?

Answer 4

1. ISOSTAIC READJUSTMENT-uplift/ depressions within the Earths surface due to the accumulation or melting of ice sheets.
2. Subsidence of land due to draining of groundwater stores eg: marshland drainage
3. Tectonic (crustal) processes as one plate is forced under another.

Question 5

Describe past sea level fluctuations?

Answer 5

21,000 years ago= last GLACIAL maximum, sea levels were 130 metres lower than current situation
12,000 years ago- last glacial period, slowly started to melt
4,000 years ago- fluctuations began
1930- sea levels begin to rise

Question 6

What does the IPCC predict about sea levels in 2100?

Answer 6

Sea levels will rise by 8-6 mm each year

Currently 2mm each year

Question 7

Sea Level Rise CASE STUDY?

Answer 7

• The Republic of Kiribati
• 33 low lying Islands within the Pacific Ocean
• Predicted many Islands will be lost within the next 50YEARS, rising by 1.2cm each year (4X GLOBAL AVERAGE.

President Tong- bought 20km of land on Fiji Islands- contaminated groundwater, cant grow crops.
“Migrate with Dignity”- help relocate in New Zealand as Kiribati’s population will become environmental refugees.

Question 8

How are emergent landforms formed?

Answer 8

FALL in relative sea level, isostatic rebound takes place faster than eustatic sea level rise.

Raised Beaches- former wave cut platforms exposed due to rise in sea levels
Relict Cliffs, Stacks, Caves- become covered in vegetation and are gradually weathered over time

eg: NW of Scotland on Isle of Arran

Question 9

How are submergent landforms formed?

Answer 9

RISE in relative sea level, isostatic rebound takes place slower than eustatic sea level rise.- floods land

Rias- flooded RIVER valleys, gentle, long, sloping cross sectional area.
Wide and deep at mouth-CROSS SECTION?
eg: Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire

Fjords- flooded GLACIAL valleys, straight, narrow, very steep sides. NOT deepest at the mouth= THRESHOLD

• CROSS SECTIONAL AREA?
  eg: Sogne Fjord in Norway-200km long

Dalmatian Coasts- flooded valleys that run parallel to the coast (unlike fjords and rias that run parallel)
eg: The Coast of Croatia

SPATIAL AND TEMPEROL- take place globally at different locations and different speeds.

Question 10

Define Coastal Management?

Answer 10

The protection of the coastline from increasing pressures and implications from natural processes and human activity.

Question 11

What two things does coastal management look to protect homes and businesses from?

Answer 11

1. EROSION

2. FLOODING

Question 12

What are the four options when it comes to costal management?

Answer 12

1. Hold the line- maintain defences
2. Advance the line- build new coastal defences further out to sea.
3. Manged Retreat/ Realignment- allow shoreline to move, but only to where it will do the least damage eg: flood farmland not houses.
4. Do nothing- allow nature to take it’s course.

Question 13

Define hard engineering?

Answer 13

The use of entirely artificial, built structures using long lasting materials eg: concrete, steel.

Question 14

H- SEA WALL

Answer 14

A large concrete barrier that ABSORBS wave energy.
Some have recurved ends to deflect wave energy BUT this can cause strong, base eroding backwash.
+High value land protected
-expensive to build and maintain (£6000 per m), unsightly.

Question 15

H- Groynes

Answer 15

Artificial fences built at right angles to the sea.
Trap sediment transported by LSD, widens beaches and allows increased absorbtion of wave energy.
“localised”
+relatively cheap to install and maintain
- deprive down- drift beaches of sand

Question 16

H- Rip- rap

Answer 16

Boulders of granite and other hard rock that are placed at the base of a cliff and absorb wave energy.
+relatively cheap and look natural within coastal environment
-can move during storm events

Question 17

H- Revetments

Answer 17

Sloping structures made out of wood/ concrete placed at the base of a cliff to absorb wave energy.
+expensive to built but relatively cheap to maintain , more natural looking than sea wall
-They create a strong back swash

Question 18

H- Offshore Breakwater

Answer 18

Concrete blocks/ boulders deposited off the coast, force waves to BREAK sooner offshore.
+produce “buffer effect”, decrease wave energy, don’t affect beach
- very expensive, can be damaged in storm events

Question 19

H- Gabions

Answer 19

Rock filled cages built at the base of a cliff. Absorb wave energy and reduce erosion.
+relatively cheap to install
- can be damaged in storms,

Question 20

H- Tidal Barriers and Barrages

Answer 20

Barrier- built across river estuaries, contain floodgates that can be used to protect against flooding

Barrage- dams built across river estuaries= MAIN PURPOSE IS TO GENERATE ELECTIRICTY- water is trapped behind dam at high tide, controlled release of water generates electricity.

VERY EXPENSIVE, may disrupt sediment flow.

Question 21

Define soft engineering?

Why soft engineering?

Answer 21

The use of natural systems and processes that are environmentally friendly to manage costal erosion and flooding.
Seen as more SUSTAINABLE by stakeholders, generally cost less than hard.

Question 22

S-Beach Replenishment?

Answer 22

Sand and shingle are added to beaches from elsewhere- DREDGING.
This increases the width of the beach and therefore decreases wave energy.
+increased buffering, absorbs wave energy, more natural
-dredging can disrupt tourism and marine life

Question 23

S- Beach Stabilisation?

Answer 23

Decreasing the angle/ slope of a beach and planting vegetation= wider beach= decreased wave energy.
+decreased erosion, absorbs wave energy
-cheap, natural, adds to and creates habitats.

Question 24

S- Managed Retreat?

Answer 24

Allowing the sea/ erosional processes to breach sea defences and allowing land to flood.
Over time, vegetation will COLONISE and marshland will form.
+new habitats, very cheap, marshland absorbs w.e
-conflicts can arise over which areas should be flooded, compensation.

Question 25

S- Cliff regrading and Drainage?

Answer 25

Decreasing the angle or overhang of a cliff and fitting drainage pipes within it to decrease saturation from infiltration and likelihood of land slumps/ slides.
+ cheap and prevents mass movement
- if becomes too dry can crumble and collapse

Question 26

S- Dune regeneration/ stabilisation

Answer 26

Planting marram grass and fencing off areas with board walks from tourism.
+ natural, creates habitats
- usually not followed/ respected by tourists

Question 27

Soft Engineering Case Study?

Answer 27

Wallasea Island in Essex- JOEY IS BUILT LIKE A WALL

• The pre-existing wall was badly affected by erosion due to lack of maintenance and strong backwash.
• This lead to managed retreat/ realignment, and then a new sea wall being built behind this- no opposition from Wallasea Farms (land owners).

COST 8 MILLION

Question 28

What is a SMP?

Answer 28

Shoreline Management Plan- management strategies that
Focus on sustainability eg: soft engineering is more sustainable than hard as it costs less and effects the environment less.
NATIONAL/LOCAL POLOCIES- 22SMP’s over 11 s.c
(All the local authorities in one sediment cell cooperate to form a SMP)

Question 29

What principle are sediment cells based on?

Answer 29

The sediment cell principle- intervention is largely self contained.

Question 30

What are the coastal management options within a SMP?

Answer 30

1. Hold the line
2. Advance the line
3. Managed retreat
4. Do nothing

Question 31

What is a ICZM plan?

Answer 31

Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan- management strategy that considers all elements of the coastal system.
LAND, WATER, PEOPLE, ECONOMY

Question 32

How is the ICZM integrated?

Answer 32

1. Environment viewed as a whole
2. Different uses are considered eg: fishing, tourism, industry.
3. It’s a DYNAMIC strategy , decisions are re-evaluated of demands change.

Question 33

What scale is the ICZM?

Answer 33

Local, Regional and National involved

Question 34

What processes are involved once a ICZM plan is established?

Answer 34

Managing and monitoring Implementation

Info Collection

Planning

Decision Making ( reoccurring cycle )

Question 35

Near ICZM Plan: Sefton Coast

Answer 35

Lies between the estuaries of the Mersey and Ribble in north-west England.
Takes into account wildlife: “SEFTON COAST LIFE PROJECT= more conservation”
Sefton Coast Partnership (SEP) is an informal association of land managers, land owners and the community council.
WHOLE SCALE plans.

Question 36

Far ICZM Plan: Odisha Coast

Answer 36

S-E coast of India, borders with the Bay of Bengal

Loss of energy as estuaries meet sea= hexadeltic region- 6 deltas. LOW LYING

Question 37

Opportunities in Odisha?

Answer 37

Flat land for settlements
Aqua farm industries such as shrimps
Tourism
Potential for wind and tidal energy due to offshore winds.

Question 38

Risks in Odisha?

Answer 38

Storm surges due to low lying land

Hot climate= cyclone facilitation eg: Cyclone Phalin in 2013, 44 dead and 700,000 billion in losses.

Question 39

Management and ICZM ?

Answer 39

Manage major issues such as coastal erosion
Tackle vulnerability to cyclones- 50 cyclone shelters
Protect mangroves and environment quality.

55 new shelters- Jajpur= 11
Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA)

Question 40

Holderness Coast (Quiz yourself on sheet) ?

Answer 40

North coast- Borders the North Sea
Flamborough Head, Bridlington Bay and Spurn head Spit =61km

One of Europe’s fastest eroding coastlines at 2m/ annum.
By 2050 Holderness is predicted to see a sea level rise of 5cm

Human Intervention at Mappleton has have increased erosion further down the coast.
1.9 million plan at Mappleton in 1991 introduced groynes and rock barriers.

Question 41

How much did the human intervention at Mappleton on the Holderness Coast cost and when?

Answer 41

1.9 MILLION

1991- accelerated erosion rates elsewhere.