Vulnerable Coastlines

Question 1

Define vulnerability

Answer 1

The potential to be harmed by a natural hazard.

Question 2

Define magnitude

Answer 2

A quantitative measure of the size of a natural event.

Question 3

Define capacity

Answer 3

The ability of a country or region to react to and recover from a natural hazard.

Question 4

What physical factors increase vulnerability?

physical factor

Answer 4

Magnitude
Duration
Predictability
Regularity

Question 5

How does magnitude increase vulnerability?

physical factor

Answer 5

Stronger the hazard, the more severe the impact.

Question 6

How does duration increase vulnerability?

physical factor

Answer 6

Longer the hazard lasts, the more severe the impacts are likely to be.

Question 7

How does predictability increase vulnerability?

physical factor

Answer 7

Hazards that hit without a warning will have more serious results.

Question 8

How does regularity increase vulnerability?

physical factor

Answer 8

If hazards occur often + quickly, than severity likely to be greater. Communities don’t have capacity to recover before next storm hits.

Question 9

What human factors increase vulnerability?

Answer 9

Wealth (economic factor)
Education (social)
Governments (social/economic)
Age (social)
Health (social)
Population density (social)
Time of day/day of week (social)
Emergency services (social/economic)

Question 10

How does wealth increase vulnerability?

human factor

Answer 10

Poor people less able to afford housing that can withstand extreme events.
Less likely to have money/insurance policies to help with recovery.

Question 11

How does education decrease vulnerability?

human factor

Answer 11

When population literate, written messages can spread info (before event or issue warnings + give advice).

Question 12

How can governments decrease vulnerability?

human factor

Answer 12

Support education + awareness, + build sea defences.

Question 13

How does age increase vulnerability?

human factor

Answer 13

Children + elderly more vulnerable - have fewer financial resources + often depend on others for survival.

Question 14

How does health decrease vulnerability?

human factor

Answer 14

Healthy person more able to escape dangers + recover after event.

Question 15

How does population density increase vulnerability?

human factor

Answer 15

Greater the number of people who live in area, the more severe the impact.

Question 16

How does the timer of day/day of week increase vulnerability?
(human factor)

Answer 16

Influences whether people at home, work or coastline.

Question 17

How do emergency services decrease vulnerability?

human factor

Answer 17

Richer countries have well-trained + well-resourced response teams that can rescue + treat people following a disaster.

Question 18

Define low-elevation coastal zones (LECZs)

Answer 18

Coastal areas that are less than 10m above sea level.

Question 19

Define Storm surge

Answer 19

A rapid rise in sea level caused by storms forcing water into a narrowing sea area e.g. an estuary.

Question 20

Define isostatic recovery

Answer 20

The weight of the ice acted like a see-saw and pushed down Scotland and raised the South East.
Now that the weight of the ice has gone Scotland is rebounding and the South East sinking back down.

Question 21

How are sea levels likely to increase the risk of coastal communities?

Answer 21

Sea levels likely to rise by 50-100cm by 2100, which can increase coastal flooding.

Question 22

How are warmer seas likely to increase the risk of coastal communities?

Answer 22

Warmer seas lead to increased frequency + strength of storms causing increased coastal erosion + storm surges.

Question 23

How are storms likely to increase the risk of coastal communities?

Answer 23

More violent storms will give heavier rainfall + increased risk of flash flooding.

Question 24

What are primary impacts?

Answer 24

Immediate consequences of an event.

People inside collapsing building during cliff collapse.

Question 25

What are secondary impacts?

Answer 25

Result from primary event - may last many years. | Destroyed buildings = people homeless

Question 26

Define delta

Answer 26

A landform created by the deposition of sediment carried by a river as the flow leaves its mouth and enter slower-moving or standing water (e.g. ocean, sea or lake).

Question 27

Define salination

Answer 27

The process that increases the salt content of water or soil.

Question 28

Define environmental refugees

Answer 28

People who have been forced to leave their traditional habitats because of a marked environmental disruption.

Question 29

What factors make coastal communities in the UK vulnerable?

Answer 29

``` High number of elderly Tourists/visitors who stay for short time only Low employment levels Seasonality of work Poor transport links ```

Question 30

What 3 factors does the size and energy of waves depend on?

Answer 30

Fetch Strength of the wind Length of time the wind has been blowing for

Question 31

What is a concordant coastline?

Answer 31

Where the geology is parallel to the coastline - has one type of rock.

Question 32

What is a discordant coastline?

Answer 32

Where the geology is at 90 degrees to the coastline - has different types of rock.

Question 33

What storm surge did you study?

Answer 33

Boston, December 2013

Question 34

Why is the south east coast of the UK more vulnerable to storm surges?

Answer 34

North sea | Funnel effect between UK and Europe

Question 35

What causes a storm surge?

Answer 35

Low air pressure causes a bulge in the sea. Bulge is pushed forward by the wind.

Question 36

What are two physical reasons why London is vulnerable to flooding?

Answer 36

Storm surges | Narrowing of the land (funnel effect)

Question 37

What are two human reasons why London is vulnerable to flooding?

Answer 37

Large population | Lots of buildings along the Thames

Question 38

How has London attempted to reduce the threat of flooding?

Answer 38

Thames Barrier

Question 39

What are the 5 features of destructive waves?

Answer 39

``` Occur in storm conditions Have high energy Long fetch (travelled a long distance) Responsible for erosion Greater backwash than swash ```

Question 40

What are the 5 features of constructive waves?

Answer 40

``` Occur in calm conditions Have low energy Transport material by Longshore drift Responsible for deposition Greater swash than backwash ```