4.1.1 Why are some coastal communities VULNERABLE to erosion and flooding?

4.1.1 (Key idea: 4.1 Vulnerable coastlines)

What is vulnerability?

The extent to which a community/service/area is likely to be damaged or disrupted by the impact of a hazard

How many people live on the UK coastline?

3 million people

Fill in the gap: Storm _

Storm surges

Communities along which sea are particularly vulnerable to storm surges (due to strong winds and low pressure)??

Communities along the North Sea are particularly vulnerable

What can these storm surges along the North Sea coastline result in?

Sea levels rising by up to FIVE METRES for SEVERAL HOURS, causing fatal flooding

What is an example of a storm surge that happened along the North Sea?

The 5.8 metre storm surge of 5 December 2013 along the East coast of England on the North Sea

What was the main result of this 5.8 metre storm surge? In Lincolnshire and Norfolk

1. Widespread flooding and a number of properties in Lincolnshire fell into the sea as the surge eroded the coast

2. In Hemsby in Norfolk, seven homes were toppled over and collapsed

If the geology of a cliff is weak, what is it usually made of?

Weak cliffs are made of boulder clay (till)

What is till?

Sands, muds and gravels left by glaciers

What is a hard, more-difficult-to-erode, rock on cliffs?

Granite rock

What is the geology of the Holderness coast?

Primarily boulder clay

When eroded, what shaped cliffs are boulder clay cliffs likely to produce?

Shallow, sloping cliffs

When saturated, what are these eroded cliffs of Holderness prone to?

Rotational slumping

What is the fetch in the North Sea?

A long fetch of over 500-800km

Describe the waves and the reason for them around the North Sea:

Powerful destructive waves, from the Atlantic currents that circulate around the North Sea

Fill in the gaps:

On the Holderness coast, the cliffs below the farm retreated _ metres in _ months

The cliffs below the farm retreated three metres in three months

Fill in the gap:

_ _ are the main cause of the rapid retreat of the cliff

Cliff falls are the main cause of the rapid retreat of the cliff

Climate change is predicted to affect the UK’s coastline by: [2 points to say]

1. Rising sea levels

2. Increasing both the number and intensity of extreme weather events

Fill in the gap:

Coastal communities in the UK are _ _ than the national average and oten have a higher _ _, making them especially vulnerable

Coastal communities in the UK are often poorer than the national average and often have a higher average age too, making them especially vulnerable

True or False? Coastal communities that have low elevation are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels

True

What is low elevation?

<10 metres above sea level

How many people is the Nile Delta home to? And many of whom are living on land that is ? above sea level?

Over 39 million people, many of whom are living on land that is <2 metres above sea level

By how many mm is the Mediterranean Sea rising a year?

The Mediterranean Sea is rising about 1.2mm a year

What do rising sea levels contaminate the land with?

Salt

Fill in the gap:

It is predicted that _% of delta land could be ruined by rising sea levels in the next 10 years

It is predicted that 10% of delta land could be ruined by rising sea levels in the next 10 years

What are FOUR factors that affect a community’s vulnerability?

1. Wealth

2. Education

3. Age

4. Access to Technology

Why are poor communities more vulnerable to erosion and flooding? (what are they not able to afford for protection?)

Poor communities are less able to afford housing that can withstand extreme weather events, such as storms

Why are poor communities more vulnerable to erosion and flooding? (what are they not able to afford for recovering?)

Poor communities are less likely to have insurance policies that would allow them to recover lost items and rebuild homes

What are HICs more likely to be able to afford to reduce the risk of flooding that poorer communities can’t?

Flood barriers and water pumps

Why might e.g. rescue services reduce vulnerability?

Trained professionals reduce vulnerability by having action plans when an emergency arises to reduce the impact of coastal hazards

What can education also lead to (regarding hazards)?

An increasing awareness of a hazard, giving communities time to take necessary action

Why is high access to technology an important factor in reducing vulnerability? (what does this mean for time to act on the threat of an event?)

Satellites can be used to monitor sea levels to map storm surge courses

What members of the community are more vulnerable?

The elderly and young children

Why are elderly and young children more vulnerable?

1. Young have less experience and are more dependent

2. Elderly are less mobile, poorer eyesight and are more dependent

Why are elderly and young children especially vulnerable to the after-effects of coastal hazards such as diseases?

They are dependent on others to take them to be treated and often have to wait for help