Question 1: What is 'coastal erosion'?

Answer: The wearing away of land by wave action, currents, or wind-driven water.

Question 2: Define 'hard engineering' in coastal management.

Answer: The use of physical structures like sea walls and groynes to prevent erosion.

Question 3: What does 'soft engineering' involve?

Answer: Using natural processes and sustainable methods like beach nourishment and managed retreat.

Question 4: Name one example of a coastal management technique used in Cornwall.

Answer: Sea walls or groynes.

Question 5: Explain what 'managed retreat' entails.

Answer: Allowing certain areas of coastline to erode naturally while relocating infrastructure inland to reduce costs and preserve ecosystems.

Question 1: Which UK coastline is known for using both hard and soft engineering to prevent erosion?

Answer: The south coast of England

Question 2: Name the main natural process that causes the wearing away of cliffs in coastal areas.

Answer: Erosion by wave action

Question 3: Identify a key reason why coastal management is important in the UK.

Answer: To protect coastal communities and infrastructure from erosion and flooding.

Question 4: What is the purpose of constructing groynes?

Answer: To trap sand and build up beaches, reducing erosion.

Question 1: Based on the East Sussex case study, describe two methods used to manage erosion and flooding.

Answer: Installation of sea walls and beach nourishment to absorb wave energy and prevent land loss.

Question 2: Evaluate the effectiveness of the sea wall in East Sussex in protecting the coastline over the past decade.

Answer: The sea wall has effectively reduced erosion in the short term; however, ongoing maintenance costs and wave overtopping during storms indicate limitations. Combining it with softer methods could offer more sustainable protection.

Question 1: Explain why hard engineering methods like sea walls can sometimes have negative environmental impacts.

Answer: Hard engineering can lead to increased erosion downstream, disrupt natural sediment flow, and impact local habitats by reflecting wave energy, which can cause scouring.

Question 2: Analyse the causes of increased coastal erosion along the Holderness coast in East Yorkshire.

Answer: The soft boulder clay geology is highly erodible, combined with strong prevailing winds and wave action from the North Sea, exacerbating erosion and leading to rapid coastline retreat.

Question 1: To what extent do you think managed retreat is a sustainable solution for the UK’s vulnerable coastlines?

Answer: Managed retreat is sustainable as it allows natural processes to occur, reduces costs compared to hard engineering, and preserves ecosystems. However, it can be unpopular with residents, may lead to loss of land, and requires careful planning to balance environmental and social impacts.

Question 2: Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using hard engineering techniques versus soft engineering techniques in coastal management.

Answer: Hard engineering provides immediate and strong protection against erosion, but can be costly, visually intrusive, and environmentally damaging. Soft engineering is more sustainable and blends with natural processes but may require ongoing maintenance and be less reliable during severe weather events.