Coasts Case Studies Flashcards
(3 cards)
Slapton Sands
-landforms/landscapes of the coast: largest landform = 4km barrier beach at Slapton sands. Formed by marine transgression and led to creation of freshwater lagoon (Slapton Ley). Several areas = wave-cut platforms incl.Hallsands and an area in front of limpet rocks. Large sediment store (Skerries Bank) helps with circulation of sediment around the sub-cell.
-Background to Slapton: Start Bay coastline is a sediment sub-cell. The bar is 15 miles long from Start point (south) to Warren point (north). Historically, bay was a fishing region but now relies far more heavily on tourism.
-Management: heavily managed areas= Torcross & Beesands (sea walls & rock armour are visible). 250,000 tonnes of shingle was moved from Strete to Torcross only to be washed away in 1 night. Slapton line partnership are taking an SMP approach & considering the view of many stakeholders. Only high value areas are being protected (Torcross & Beesands) following a cost-benefit analysis. Natural processes & climate change = risk of future management.
-Processes in Start Bay: coastline has areas of high & low energy, both erosional & depositional landforms are evidence of this. Marine transgression occurred in start bay due to sea level rise, has created 2 barrier beaches as material got stuck between the 2 headlands. Storm winds (winter) damage to defences & recent beach removal.
Odisha
-Characteristics: Total of 485km of coastline. Population in 2018 reaches 46 million growing at a rapid rate (13% in last 10 years). Huge range of wildlife= mangroves, olive Ridley turtles, sea grasses, sand dunes, salt marshes, lagoons etc.. Mainly a coastline of deposition = forms sediment store of Bay of Bengal.
-Opportunities: Both sea & lakes of Odisha rich in fish stocks making it a primary store of income. 35% of coast contains valuable minerals & metal ores. 150 bird species in Chilika lake bird sanctuary = popular for tourists. Renewable energy by wind & tidal power.
-Risks: long term threat from climate change, 46.8% of Odisha is depositional p, 36.8% erosional & 14.4% stable. So entire area undergoes constant change. Odisha at risk from large tropical storms, this could increase in frequency & intensity due to climate change. 2013 Cyclone Pailin destroyed 500,000ha of farmland & led to 1 million being evacuated.
-Responses to management: Resilience: Despite annual threat from monsoons, tropical storms & rising sea levels, people of Odisha remain resolute to stay in their ‘home’. ICZM plans designed to be resilient & sustainable in management. Adaptation: major focus to provide fishing families with an alternative source of income to remove their need to live on the coast. Becoming dairy or poultry farmers further inland= popular & successful. Management: Authorities now mitigate by broadcasting warnings, conducting staged evacuation & providing relief supplies ahead of the storm. Wetlands international (an NGO) is now working with Odisha and to provide a natural barrier to erosion & storm surges.
Maldives (mini case study)
-Maldives Background: low land level (<2m, 1.8m). Hundreds of low lying, small islands with 187 people inhabited. All people are coastal. Economy is based on tourism & fishing. Worry of fishing-warmer oceans & acidification levels leads to coral bleaching (kills off corals). Changes to coastal processes. Worry for tourism- loss of beauty- can only get there by plane. Ports becoming unusable. More extreme weather.
-Responses: creating artificial islands. (6m above sea level). Sea wall built around capital city of malè (Japan paid for this!) pledge to be carbon neutral. Plans to move to India, Sri Lanka or even Australia. Held world’s first underwater cabinet meeting.
