Crowded Coasts 2.3.4 Flashcards
Enquiry Question: How can coastlines be managed in a sustainable way? (42 cards)
What is hard engineering in coastal management?
The use of man-made structures like sea walls or groynes to prevent erosion and flooding.
Give two examples of hard engineering strategies.
Sea walls and groynes
Why are hard engineering approaches often economically costly?
They require expensive materials, construction, and long-term maintenance.
How can hard engineering affect erosion rates downdrift?
By trapping sediment, it starves downdrift areas, increasing erosion there.
What is soft engineering in coastal management
A method that works with natural processes to protect the coast more sustainably.
Give two examples of soft engineering strategies.
Beach nourishment and dune stabilisation.
How does beach nourishment work?
Sand is added to the beach to absorb wave energy and reduce erosion.
How does dune stabilisation help protect the coast?
Vegetation (e.g. marram grass) binds the sand, reducing wind and wave erosion.
What is managed realignment or marsh creation?
Allowing certain areas to flood and develop into salt marshes that absorb wave energy.
What is cliff regrading and drainage used for?
To reduce the angle of a cliff and drain water, helping prevent mass movement.
What is a shoreline management plan (SMP)?
A strategy that manages coastal erosion and flooding by considering sediment cells.
What are the four SMP policy options?
Hold the line, advance the line, managed realignment, and do nothing.
What does ‘hold the line’ mean?
Maintaining the current position of the coastline using defences.
What does ‘do nothing’ mean in coastal policy?
Allowing the coast to evolve naturally, without any intervention.
Who are key stakeholders in coastal management?
Local residents, businesses, farmers, environmental groups, and local authorities.
Why do coastal policies often lead to conflict?
Because some groups benefit while others suffer, creating ‘winners and losers’.
Who might be a ‘winner’ in a ‘hold the line’ policy?
Homeowners or business owners whose properties are protected.
Who might be a ‘loser’ in a managed realignment policy?
Farmers or landowners who lose usable land to flooding.
What are the social effects of coastal management decisions?
Stress, loss of homes, broken community ties, or displacement.
How can coastal management affect property value?
Areas with high erosion risk may experience reduced property prices.
How can businesses be impacted by coastal defence policies?
If protection is denied, businesses may lose infrastructure and revenue.
Why might conservationists oppose hard engineering?
It can damage natural habitats and interfere with ecological processes.
What is a cost-benefit analysis (CBA)?
A process to compare the financial cost of a defence project to its potential benefits.
What kinds of costs are included in a CBA?
Construction, maintenance, environmental degradation.
