Soft Engineering Flashcards
What is beach nourishment?
It’s moving sand, shingle from areas of accumulation to zones of denudation. This makes the beach wider which increases the distance a wave has to travel to reach the cliffs so waves will lose more energy therefore less erosion at the cliff
What are the advantages of beach nourishment?
- Not visually and environmentally intrusive long term
- Low specific point cost
- Can be undertaken at any key points throughout the year
What are the disadvantages of beach nourishment?
- Has to be maintained regularly
- Costs increase the longer beach nourishment takes
- Can be visually and environmentally intrusive when the work is being carried out
What is beach profiling?
It’s adjusting the gradient of the beach to maximise frictional drag on approaching waves. Will take place after winter storms in the autumn
What are the advantages of beach profiling?
- Not visually and environmentally intrusive long term
- Low specific point cost
- Can be undertaken at any key point throughout the year
What are the disadvantages of beach profiling?
- Has to be maintained regularly
- Cost will increase the longer beach profiling takes to complete
- Visually and environmentally intrusive when work is being carried out
What is dune restoration?
Sand dunes are a natural defence to coastal erosion so must be left undisturbed. Boardwalks abs paths are constructed and sections of sand dune systems are marked as out of bounds to the public so erosion of dunes is reduced
What are the advantages of dune restoration?
- Maintains natural environment and habitat
- Can be done at a relatively low cost
What are the disadvantages of dune restoration?
- May take time for dunes to grow abs be established in a way it reduces coastal erosion
- Tourists may ignore footpath restrictions
What are living shoreland barriers?
It’s when marshland is created to break up the waves and reduce their speed to reduce erosion. Marshlands also prevent flooding and can be created by encouraging marshland vegetation (like glassworts)
What are the advantages of living shoreland barriers?
- Increases the natural habitat
- Encourages species diversity
- Relatively low cost
What are the disadvantages of living shoreland barriers?
- Takes time to establish marshland vegetation
- Species creates may be sensitive to pollution or contamination from the area
- Marshland may not adjust to rising sea levels
