Coasts: Hazards & Opportunities

Flashcards covering coastal hazards, opportunities, management strategies, tropical storms, and ecosystems based on the IGCSE Geography transcript.

What are three examples of natural coastal hazards?

Storms, flooding, and tsunamis

According to the transcript, what are the environmental impacts of dredging and harbour sediment disposal?

Damage to the environment, loss of species, visual and water pollution, saltwater ingress, health risks, eutrophication, and introduction of invasive species

What causes a storm surge?

Extremely low-pressure storms (like tropical storms) which cause a rapid rise in sea level

In terms of global trade, what is significant about the Port of Singapore?

It is a critical hub in the global supply chain, connecting to 600 ports worldwide

Which port is described as the world's busiest and a major economic hub in China's Yangtze Delta?

The Port of Shanghai

Which European port handles almost 1 million tonnes of fish annually and serves as a major hub for seafood processing?

Vigo port, Spain

What is the most urbanised coastal region in the world according to the notes?

Asia—specifically, East Asia and Southeast Asia

What are the geographical boundaries of the Jurassic Coast in the UK?

It stretches for $155\,km$ ($96\,miles$) from Exmouth in Devon to Poole in Dorset

What is the economic value of tourism to the Jurassic Coast annually?

Over 15 million visitors generate $\pounds 1.2\,billion$ for the local economy

The Jurassic Coast represents how many years of Earth's history in sequence?

$185\,million$ years of history including the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous eras

What are the four management approaches available for Shoreline Management Plans (SMP)?

Hold the line, Advance the line, Managed realignment or retreat, and Do nothing

What is Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)?

A method aimed at using a combination of coastal defence methods to best reflect all stakeholders' needs

How does beach replenishment act as a coastal defence?

It involves pumping or dumping sand and shingle back onto a beach to absorb wave energy and widen the beachfront

What is 'cliff re-grading'?

A strategy where the angle of a cliff is softened to reduce mass movement and wave-cut notching at the base

What are the disadvantages of a concrete seawall?

It is very expensive to build and maintain, restricts beach access, and is unsightly

What range of ocean temperatures is required for tropical storms to form?

In excess of $27^\circ\text{C}$ to a depth of $50\text{--}60\,metres$

What are the regional names for tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico compared to the South China Sea?

They are called Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Typhoons in the South China Sea

What wind speed defines a Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale?

More than $157\,mph$ ($252\,km/h$)

What secondary impact did Cyclone Idai have on Mozambique in March 2019?

It destroyed almost $715,000\,hectares$ of crops, leading to food shortages

How much has sea level risen along Florida's coast since 1950?

About $8\,inches$ ($20\,cm$)

What is the cost of each beach nourishment project in Nassau County, Florida?

Between $\$10\,million$ and $\$20\,million$

What are the project goals of the Brittany Bay Park & Living Shoreline Project in Miami Beach?

Reduce flooding and erosion, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, and community resilience

At what temperature do corals grow best?

$$22^\circ\text{C}\text{--}25^\circ\text{C}$$

What are zooxanthellae?

Microscopic algae that live in coral polyp tissue and provide food through photosynthesis

What is a Fringing reef?

Low, narrow bands of coral running parallel to the coast around a landmass, covered by narrow, shallow lagoons at high tide

What are some strategies to protect mangroves according to the notes?

Creating national parks, managing logging (e.g., 30-year harvest rotations), and community-run eco-parks

How much does the Great Barrier Reef contribute to the Australian economy annually?

More than $\text{AU}\$6\,billion$ (about $\text{US}\$4\,billion$)

What are the nitrogen and sediment reduction targets of the Reef 2050 Plan by 2025?

Reduce nitrogen by $60\%$ and sediment by $25\%$

What are Fluker posts in the context of the Great Barrier Reef?

Monitoring tools where tourists take pictures of the reef and transfer them to a site for professionals to examine

Which organism has destroyed up to 40% of coral cover in some parts of the Great Barrier Reef?

Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS)