3.2.3. Economic activities and management in coastal landscapes

Why are seaside resorts economically important?

They generate  revenue  through  tourism 

What are some major deep-water ports in the UK?

• Felixstowe

• Dover

• Southampton

Why are nuclear power stations often located on the coast?

They rely on  seawater  for  cooling 

What is the constant battle the UK coastline faces?

Natural marine processes  vs  human activity 

Which factors contribute to increased coastal flood risks?

• Rising sea levels

• Storm surges

• Climate change

What is the ultimate goal of coastal management?

To reduce the  risk of flooding  and erosion

What is the main purpose of hard engineering strategies?

To resist the  power of the sea 

Why are sea walls curved?

to deflect incoming wave energy back out to sea.

What do groynes trap?

Sediment  transported by  longshore drift 

What is a potential negative consequence of building groynes?

They can starve  beaches  further downdrift

What is rock armour?

large boulders that dissipate wave energy as water filters through the  open spaces .

What are gabions?

 Wire mesh cages  filled with  rocks 

How does soft engineering differ from hard engineering?

It works with  natural coastal processes 

How does beach nourishment work?

sand is dredged from offshore and piped onto the shore to force waves to  break earlier .

What are the advantages of soft engineering?

• Preserves the natural appearance

• Supports local ecosystems

• Generally cheaper

Why is marram grass planted during dune regeneration?

Its  roots   bind  the  sand  together

What is a significant disadvantage of soft engineering?

It is highly vulnerable to  severe storms 

What is another term for  managed retreat ?

Coastal realignment

Order the steps involved in managed retreat:

1. Identify a site of low-value land

2. Breach the existing defences

3. Allow sediment to build up and vegetation to colonise

4. Form a natural buffer zone (salt marsh)

What type of habitat is often created during managed retreat?

An intertidal salt marsh 

What does managed retreat involve?

deliberately allowing  low-value  coastal land to flood.

How does a newly formed salt marsh reduce flood risk?

It acts as a natural buffer zone 

Which management strategy is considered the most sustainable long-term option?

Managed retreat 

Why might hard engineering cause increased erosion further down the coast?

It disrupts  sediment movement 

What are the strengths of hard engineering?

• Highly effective at stopping erosion immediately

• Protects high-value infrastructure

• Offers long-term reassurance to residents

  
  

Why does managed retreat often cause fierce local conflict?

Landowners lose  farmland  or  property 

Which strategy is visually natural and creates valuable habitats?

Soft engineering 

Why is the Holderness Coast eroding so rapidly?

The cliffs are made of  structurally weak boulder clay 

How much is the Holderness Coast is retreating by?

an average of 1.5–2 m per year

Which defences were built at Mappleton in 1991?

Rock groynes  and  rock armour 

What direction does longshore drift transport sediment along the Holderness Coast?

Southwards

What is the maximum rate of erosion observed at unprotected farmland south of Mappleton?

Up to  10 m per year

Which locations on the Holderness Coast are defended by hard engineering?

• Mappleton

• Hornsea

• Withernsea