Managing Coasts

There are many different hazards found in coastal environments.

The sea can flood roads and houses built near the coast. How many hazards can you think ofQuestion

Humans manage the environment in different ways to make coasts sustainable:

groynes harbour wall
sea wall doing nothing


The beach is managed so that tourists continue to visit.Discussion Point

 
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Kent NGfL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hazards: dangers from physical features or human activities in the environment.
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Cliff Collapse:
An example of a hazard would be cliff collapse. The waves erode the base of the cliff and it becomes unstable. Rocks and soil fall from the top of the cliff onto the beach below. back

How long do you think before this house falls into the sea?

How many other hazards can you think of in the coastal environment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sustainable: an environment which is managed (changed) by humans so that it can continue to be used in the same way without further damage.
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Groyne: a wood or stone structure, built by humans, that sticks out into the sea to stop pebbles and sand being washed along the beach by the waves and current (longshore drift).
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Harbour wall:

a stone or concrete structure built to protect the harbour from strong sea waves, currents and winds.
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Harbour Wall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sea wall:

a stone or concrete wall built to prevent waves breaking over roads and flooding buildings.
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sea wall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doing nothing: Allowing coastal processes of erosion and deposition to shape the environment naturally.
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Discussion Point

Can you make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of managing the coastal environment?

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