Unit 8 - Essays - Sustainable Management of a Coastline Flashcards
(4 cards)
Using a case study, evaluate the attempted solutions to the problems of sustainably managing a stretch, or stretches, of coastline.
(Case Study: USA Eastern Seaboard)
Using a case study, evaluate the attempted solutions to the problems of sustainably managing a stretch, or stretches, of coastline.
(Case Study: USA Eastern Seaboard)
Paragraph 1 – Hard Engineering: Seawalls and Groynes
Used in urbanised areas like Miami Beach and New Jersey Shore.
Seawalls protect infrastructure but reflect wave energy, causing downdrift erosion (e.g., terminal groyne syndrome).
Groynes trap sediment locally but starve neighbouring areas.
Paragraph 2 – Soft Engineering: Beach Nourishment
Applied in Miami and New Jersey to widen beaches and support tourism.
Aesthetic and wave-buffering benefits, but costly and temporary (requires replenishment every 3–5 years).
Sand sources are depleting.
Paragraph 3 – Soft Engineering: Dune and Wetland Restoration
Used in areas like Chesapeake Bay and Outer Banks.
Natural buffers absorb storm surges and support biodiversity.
Slow to develop and vulnerable if vegetation is damaged.
Paragraph 4 – Managed Retreat and Strategic Withdrawal
Attempted in Outer Banks with “rolling easements” and buyouts.
Reduces long-term risk but politically unpopular and resisted by homeowners.
Paragraph 5 – Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
Projects like “Rebuild by Design” (New York) promote regional coordination.
Still limited by fragmented federal–state–local authority coordination.
Poorer regions lack resources to fully participate.
Conclusion – Judgement
Mixed results: Hard engineering offers short-term gains but long-term problems.
Soft and nature-based solutions are more sustainable, but underfunded. ICZM offers long-term promise but is not yet widespread.
To what extent is hard engineering more successful than soft engineering in coastal management?
To what extent is hard engineering more successful than soft engineering in coastal management?
Paragraph 1 – Effectiveness of Hard Engineering (USA)
Seawalls protect property but cause terminal groyne syndrome (e.g., Miami).
Often used where infrastructure is high-value (urban coasts), but expensive and inflexible.
Paragraph 2 – Success of Soft Engineering (USA)
Beach nourishment supports tourism (e.g., NJ Shore), but needs frequent replenishment.
Wetland and dune restoration protect biodiversity and absorb storm surges long-term.
Paragraph 3 – Success of Soft Engineering (Mangawhai–Pakiri)
Dune planting and fencing restored stability and involved local communities.
Avoided damage from artificial barriers and supported ecosystem health.
Paragraph 4 – Limitations of Both Approaches
Soft engineering fails when undermined by mining or lacks funding.
Hard defences fail in dynamic zones (e.g., barrier islands) or worsen erosion elsewhere.
Paragraph 5 – Contextual Success
Hard engineering works in dense, high-value urban zones.
Soft engineering better in rural or conservation-prioritised zones with space and time.
Conclusion – Judgement
Soft engineering is more sustainable and effective long-term. Hard engineering can offer immediate protection but often causes new problems unless integrated with softer, adaptive measures.
Using a case study, evaluate the relative importance of problems of sustainably managing coasts.
(Case Study: USA Eastern Seaboard)
Using a case study, evaluate the relative importance of problems of sustainably managing coasts.
(Case Study: USA Eastern Seaboard)
Paragraph 1 – Sea-Level Rise and Erosion
Major threat to barrier islands (e.g., Outer Banks, NC – erosion up to 6m/year).
Increases storm vulnerability and costs of defence (e.g., beach nourishment).
Paragraph 2 – Urbanisation and Development Pressure
Coastal cities like Miami overdeveloped, reducing space for dunes and wetlands.
Makes managed retreat nearly impossible.
Paragraph 3 – Over-Reliance on Hard Engineering
Structures disrupt sediment flow and worsen erosion elsewhere.
Short-term focus ignores dynamic sediment processes.
Paragraph 4 – Ecosystem Loss
Wetlands and mangroves (e.g., Chesapeake Bay) declining due to development and rising seas.
Loss of natural buffers increases risk and damages biodiversity.
Paragraph 5 – Economic Inequality and Unequal Protection
Wealthy areas (e.g., Palm Beach) get more funding.
Poorer or minority communities underprotected or relocated.
Conclusion – Judgement
Sea-level rise and urban development are the most pressing and interconnected challenges.
Effective solutions must address both environmental and social sustainability.
‘The successful management of a stretch of coastline is helped by an understanding of the operation of sediment cells.’ With the aid of one or more examples, how far do you agree?
‘The successful management of a stretch of coastline is helped by an understanding of the operation of sediment cells.’ With the aid of one or more examples, how far do you agree?
Paragraph 1 – Definition and Relevance of Sediment Cells
Sediment cells are closed systems of erosion, transport, and deposition.
Understanding flow prevents downdrift erosion caused by hard structures.
Paragraph 2 – Sediment Disruption in Mangawhai–Pakiri
Offshore mining removed sediment from the longshore drift system.
Reduced beach width, spit collapse, and dune instability show failure to respect cell balance.
Paragraph 3 – Terminal Groyne Syndrome in the USA
Hard defences (e.g., groynes) trap sediment in one area, starving others.
E.g., New Jersey beaches experience unequal erosion due to poorly coordinated structures.
Paragraph 4 – Beach Nourishment and Sediment Redistribution
Miami and NJ shore nourishment succeeded temporarily due to understanding where sediment naturally moves.
Regular monitoring supports targeted replenishment.
Paragraph 5 – Dune Restoration and Natural Feedback Loops
Understanding sediment trapping by vegetation (e.g., Mangawhai dunes) helps rebuild resilience.
Works better when sediment pathways are preserved.
Conclusion – Judgement
Strongly agree: Management based on sediment cell understanding avoids unintended consequences and supports sustainable, system-based solutions.
