The Coastal Zone

Question 0

London and the Thames estuary potential impacts of coastal flooding.

Answer 0

Economic impacts:
1. Cost of damage.
2. Cost of emergency services and accommodation.
3. Businesses will have to close.
4. Insurance companies may go out of business because of the amount of claims.
5. Premiums will go up and some companies will be in debt.
Social impacts:
1. Health problems because of loss of property and damage to property.
2. They will not be able to return to their homes for as long as 9 months and will have to stay in temporary accommodations.
3. Infections and diseases from sewage water, which also creates contaminated water.
Political impacts:
1. Disruption to national government.
2. Increased taxes.
3. People would not like the government as much as they would have.
4. They would have to pay for emergency services.
Environmental impacts:
1. High levels of pollution.
2. Damage to famous historical buildings.
3. Impact on tourism.

Question 1

The three case studies

Answer 1

London and the Thames estuary
Wallasea island
Holderness coastline

Question 2

The strategy used for Wallasea island and its advantages.

Answer 2

A salt marsh was used after the sea wall was breached.
Advantages:
1. Salt marshes are very effective in protecting against flooding.
2. It is a natural process and keeps wildlife going in the coastline, mainly birds.
3. Protection for new sea walls being emplaced and agricultural land.
4. It slows down the water, so it does not have the energy to flood or erode the land.
5. It is sustainable as it works with the natural environment.
6. It improves the habitat for wildlife.
7. It improves the coastal defences of Wallasea a lot more.

Question 3

People’s opinion on using management retreat to protect Wallasea island.

Answer 3

Residents of nearby coastal villages such as creaksea:
1. They would not like this management retreat strategy.
2. It would cause a loss of a number of homes and they would have to relocate. They would want compensation.
3. They visually cannot see any protection with salt marshes so people would be worried about risk of flooding. With seawalls they would feel more safe.
National and local government:
1. Government would benefit greatly.
2. Making salt marshes is a lot cheaper than constructing seawalls.
3. They will see that there is no other option, as the value of land is very low and the area is sparsely populated.
4. The money for making the Salt marsh comes out of the taxpayers.
The RSPB and other environmental organisations:
1. Organisations such as RSPB would like to have the sea inundating as it will provide animal habitats for wildlife and seabirds.
2. There will be more of a natural look to the coastline and it will improve the view.
Local businesses in the area (caravan and campsite owners):
1. They would not like this management strategy.
2. It would result in the loss of land and property.
3. It would also result in the loss of income.
Farmers and and landowners:
1. They would lose a lot of their land and agricultural business.
2. This means a loss of income.

Question 4

The holderness coastline of Yorkshire.

Answer 4

CAUSES: 
1. Large fetch. 
2. Frequent storms.  
3. Narrow beach. 
4. Soft rock. 
5. Permeable rock. 
STRATEGIES: 
1. Mainly groynes. 
2. As a result sea walls and rip rap placed to the south of Mappleton.