10.13 Coastal management: soft engineering

Question 1

What is soft engineering

Answer 1

Soft engineering does not involve building artificial structures, but takes a more sustainable and natural approach to managing the coast

Question 2

What is beach nourishment

Answer 2

Sand is pumped onto an existing beach to build it up.

Question 3

Beach nourishment advantages

Answer 3

• Blends in with the existing beach
• Larger beaches appeal to tourists

Question 4

Beach nourishment disadvantages

Answer 4

• Needs to be constantly replaced.
• The sand has to be brought in from elsewhere.

Question 5

What is beach reprofiling

Answer 5

The sediment is redistributed from the lower part of the beach to the upper part of the beach.

Question 6

Reprofiling advantages

Answer 6

• Cheap and simple.
• Reduces the energy of the waves.

Question 7

Reprofiling disadvantages

Answer 7

• Only works when wave energy is low.
• Needs to be repeated continuously.

Question 8

What is dune nourishment

Answer 8

Marram grass planted on sand dunes stabilises the dunes and helps to trap sand to build them up.

Question 9

Dune nourishment advantages

Answer 9

• Relatively cheap.
• Maintains a natural-looking coastline.

Question 10

Dune nourishment disadvantages

Answer 10

• Can be damaged by storm waves.
• Areas have to be zoned off from the public, which is unpopular.