Coastal Management Strategies (Edexcel A Level Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Bridgette Barrett
Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn
Hard Engineering
Coastal management is essential to build resilience in coastal communities around the world
Climate change, increase tropical storm intensity, more frequent storm surges and sea level change are increasing the rates of coastal erosion and flooding
These hazards need to be adapted to, as they are already happening in many places
Preventing coastal erosion through hard engineering is generally effective but it is very expensive
Hard engineering can also often be unsightly
There are lots of different hard engineering strategies, to decide which is most appropriate in a particular area a cost benefit analysis must be carried out
Some areas are left with no protection because the costs are deemed to outweigh the benefits
Structure | How it works | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Groynes | Structures built perpendicular (at right angles) to the shore. Sediment is trapped as it is transported by longshore drift. The beach builds up which absorbs wave energy |
|
|
Sea Walls | Walls with a curved or stepped surface that absorb and reflect wave energy |
|
|
Rip Rap/ Rock armour | Large concrete or granite boulders at the foot of a cliff. The spaces in between the boulders cause waves to bounce between many surfaces, reducing the energy of the wave |
|
|
Revetments | A sloped or ramp like structure that breaks up wave energy |
|
|
Offshore Breakwater | Rock barrier a little out to sea from the shoreline. This breaks the waves and dissipates their energy before they reach the coast. |
|
|
Soft Engineering
Soft engineering works with natural processes and material
Soft engineering methods can be an integral part of the management strategy, in order to adapt to sea level change as well as coastal erosion, through developments such as salt marshes
Method | How it works | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
Beach nourishment/ replenishment | Adding sand or shingle to a beach to widen it - this creates more surface area to absorb wave energy |
|
|
Cliff Regrading and Drainage | Reducing the angle of the cliff to stabilise the slope. Drainage of water also stabilises the cliff against mass movement |
|
|
Dune stabilisation | Planting species like Marram grass so that the roots bind the dunes. The dunes absorb wave energy and protect the land behind. |
|
|
Marsh Creation | This is a form of do-nothing or managed retreat. Land is allowed to be flooded by the sea and then left to become a salt marsh. This absorbs wave energy and also creates a buffer to rising sea level and projects higher value land. |
|
|
Sustainable Management
Sustainable management of the coastal zone is wider than preventing erosion
It involves a range of strategies including:
Mitigation of flood and erosion risk using a range of techniques
Adaptation to erosion and flood risk
Education of local communities
Supporting livelihoods dependent on the coastal zone such as fishing
Monitoring of coastal changes
Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is based on the idea of sustainable coastal management
As well as targeting all the areas listed it also seeks to resolve conflicts which may occur
Conflicts occur as a result of sustainable management because:
Farmers may lose productive land due to managed retreat or do-nothing policies because their land has less value than that in towns
People may lose their homes and have to relocate in areas where the cost-benefit analysis decides the areas cannot be protected
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In the exam you will be expected to know a range of advantages and disadvantages for the different types of coastal management. You will also be expected to be able to give examples of these advantages and disadvantages in real life locations. This demonstrates to the examiner that you are able to apply your knowledge and understanding.
Last updated:
You've read 0 of your 10 free revision notes
Unlock more, it's free!
Did this page help you?
