4.a human activity - intentional - MINEHEAD Flashcards

1
Q

what is the purpose of intentional activity?

A

coastal management is an INTENTIONAL CHANGE
planned, deliberate
aim to** protect land behind from floods, retreat, mass movement, threshold events**
with groynes, sea walls etc

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2
Q

why are coastlines managed and how are they managed?

A

the aim of coastal management is to protect people and the environment from the impacts of coastal erosion and flooding.
however, tough decisions have to be made about where to spend the money and also to consider the impacts of management strategies to the coastal system.
the next step is to come up with a Shoreline Management Plan (SMP)

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3
Q

what is a shoreline management plan?

A

An SMP oversees a sediment sub-cell.
it assesses the risk to people and the environment and devises a sustainable strategy for flood and coastal defences.

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4
Q

what are the 4 options for managing a coastline?

A

Do nothing - take no further action
Retreat the line - allow the shoreline to move inshore in a controlled manner (managed retreat/realignment). there is intention here to allow the land behind the coastline to be reclaimed by the sea (often forming a saltmarsh)
hold the line - maintain or sustain the present shoreline using soft and/or hard engineering techniques.
advance the line - use coastal defence works to move the shoreline into areas now covered by the sea. not common but it does hapen in large port cities where space is at a premium.

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5
Q

what is the do nothing coastal management plan?

A

take no further action

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6
Q

what is the retreat the line coastal management plan?

A

Retreat the line - allow the shoreline to move inshore in a controlled manner (managed retreat/realignment). there is intention here to allow the land behind the coastline to be reclaimed by the sea (often forming a saltmarsh)

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7
Q

what is the hold the line coastal management plan?

A

maintain or sustain the present shoreline using soft and/or hard engineering techniques

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8
Q

what is the advance the line coastal management plan?

A

use coastal defence works to move the shoreline into areas now covered by the sea.
not common but it does happen in large port cities where space is at a premium.

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9
Q

how does a curved sea wall work in coastal management?

A

this deflects waves and reduces overtopping.
the recurved face rotates the wave backwards so that some of the energy is reflected back at sea.
this impedes the next wave, reducing its energy, and thus its erosive power.
the nature of the wall also prevents all but extreme coastal flooding

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10
Q

how does Rip Rap/rock armour work in coastal management?

A

a permanent, erosion-resistant ground cover of large, loose, angular stone boulders.
the boulders absorb wave energy and so reduce erosion and flooding
some consideration needs to be given to the size of the boulders and the rock type to ensure resilience

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11
Q

how does (stepped) revetments work in coastal management?

A

they can be made of wood or concrete (although concrete step now seem to be favoured)
they allow the backwash to lose energy and so encourage deposition building up the beach profile

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12
Q

how do groynes work in coastal management?

A

these are constructed from a variety of materials, including concrete and wood
they are rarely used on their own and are placed in what is known as a groyne field.
they interrupt LSD so that sand accumulates between the groynes and helps build up the beach profile.

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13
Q

how does managed retreat work in coastal management?

A

this where the coastline is left undefended, so that the coastal processes may flood the land, often creating a salt marsh.
this then creates a natural buffer to protect land further inland.
it is inexpensive, sustainable and creates good habitat

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14
Q

how does beach nourishment work in coastal management?

A

sometimes known as beach recharge, this strategy depends on a source of sediment nearby, which can then be dredged and placed on the depleted beach
this builds up the beach and helps create a natural buffer against erosion and flooding.
also helpful for the tourism industry by bolstering the local beach

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15
Q

what is the management strategy Gore point to Hurlstone Point and the justification for it?

A

MANAGED RETREAT in short and longer term.

low value land
already a salt marsh there

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16
Q

what is the management strategy Selworthy Cliffs and the justification for it?

A

DO NOTHING

land has no settlements behind/hills behind cliff, therefore not important land to keep safe.
cliffs act as a natural barrier

17
Q

what is the management strategy Minehead and the justification for it?

A

HOLD THE LINE by maintaining and improving defences

keep beach wide for tourism
populated, high value land
bay made of mudstones (vulnerable)
3x the amount of beach material on the updrift side of the groyne
sediment provided to Minehead due to slow erosion = increased inputs

18
Q

what is the management strategy The Warren (golf course) and the justification for it?

A

Continuing to provide protection by HOLDING THE LINE.
In the long term (as it becomes unsustainable) = managed retreat
not important in ST, but if flooded, massive impact on Butlins

19
Q

what is the geology of West Somerset?

A

Porlock Bay = softer Permian Triassic marls
Old Red Devonian Sandstone (quartzite)
Minehead = mudstone

20
Q

what was the cost of the management strategies in Minehead?

A

£13.5 mill

21
Q

what does the socio-economic profile of Minehead rely on?

A

Butlins

22
Q

how does Butlins impact Minehead?

A

main input of income
popular all year round
minehead beach = key attraction for tourists
positive multiplier effect as tourists spend money = creates jobs

23
Q

what are the advantages of using OS maps?

A

easy to read/interpret
gives scale = can compare differences and measure
spatially/proportionally accurate
layers of info -physical/human/land uses -rich source of data

24
Q

how are the groynes impacting the beach profile?

A

intentionally trapping beach material
3x the amount of sediment on the updrift side of the groynes
building up the beach which acts as a coastal buffer and is also an attraction for tourists

25
Q

what are the inputs to the West Somerset coastline?

A

no fluvial inputs
erosion from cliffs (hard rock, not very significant)
marine inputs - LSD = sediment from the WEST
historic input due to sea level rise

26
Q

what are the outputs of the West Somerset coastline?

A

backwash from sea wall
LSD
destructive/storm waves

27
Q

pros of aerial photos

A

easy to see land uses
easier to update with changes
can see time of year
visually easy to see human vs physical
allows for more visual comprehension
vulnerable land clear to see

28
Q

cons of aerial photos

A

can’t tell height of land/specific sizes/scale
lack of detailed info, can’t tell what things are
no contours
no tidal change
North/South

29
Q

what is phase 1 of the scheme in Minehead?

A

launched in Jan 1997
the following elements will be constructed during the first phase:
sea wall
the town culvert diversion and outfall plus drainage works
raised areas along the promenade, including new shelters and seats
rocks groynes
rock armouring in front of the new sea wall
new access ramps onto the beach
landscaping

30
Q

what is phase 2 of the scheme in Minehead?

A

the second phase will involve the replenishment of the foreshore using sand and shingle dredged from the Bristol Channel
all the material for this will be brought in by barge and pumped ashore between the newly created rock groynes
bulldozers will be used to move the material into place and form the new beach

30
Q

how has the defended coastline at Minehead impacted coastal retreat over the next 50-100 yrs?

A

holding the line at minehead = very little/no retreat
unprotected cliffline in front of coastline = flanking will occur as well as coastal flooding
about 200m predicted in this area
3-4m per year. eroding cliffs fast now there is now beach protection.
golf course will flood which creates huge problems for Butlins

31
Q

how do hard engineering strategies in Minehead alter sediment budgets?

A

during the construction of hard engineering strategies, they will cause a large amount of damage to the beach by removing sediment in order to be put in place
material removed from the system has to be added back to build it back up again
infers that the beach is retreating -> NEGATIVE SEDIMENT BUDGET
resistant rock in cliffs to west therefore little input of sediment
-> most sediment is relict, from large SL rise
sea wall = large backwash means that in a storm there is an increase in outputs

32
Q

what is the effect on the golf course at Minehead?

A

retreat of 100m in next 80 yrs
risk of flooding increased significantly - unlikely to protect for much longer (allow managed retreat)
leads to risk of flooding (sea eroding and flooding from unprotected East)

33
Q

how will the sea wall impact the system at Minehead?

A

0.6m high sea wall
effective at preventing erosion, even if its expensive
curved front deflects the waves
curved top deters people from walking on it
landward side is faced w/ attractive local red sandstone
wide walkway with seating areas built alongside the sea wall (tourists and locals)

34
Q

how will the rock armour impact the system at Minehead?

A

dissipates some of the wave energy
therefore effective at preventing erosion from waves
90,000 tonnes
expensive but low maintainence
rocks chosen blended w/ landscape
can have a short life span but can be effective at preventing erosion.
fishing and wildlife can also benefit

35
Q

how will the groynes impact the system at Minehead?

A

4 rock groynes
traps sediment moved by LSD (flow) to build up shoreline
this absorbs wave energy and reduces flood risk in Minehead
this has caused the beach to grow by up to 80m width
the terminal groyne at E starves the area infront of the golf course therefore is more vulnerable to erosion/flooding
in the next 50-100yrs, predictions of erosion/coastal retreat of up to 100m predicted
good for tourists as provide shelter from wind and creates a bigger beach
however can increase rates of erosion further down the coast

35
Q

how will beach nourishment impact the system at Minehead?

A

building up beach 2m in height, therefore waves break further out to sea = decerased chance of flooding
v.expensive and has to be maintained
300,000 tonnes
provides excellent sandy beach for tourists

36
Q

how much did the defences at Minehead cost?

A

Phase 1 cost £9.2m
Phase 2 cost £3.5m
1.8km long overall