2.3.1
Opportunities & Hazards
Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
Opportunities and Hazards of Living Near the Coast
Coastal areas offer benefits like tourism and fishing but pose hazards such as flooding and erosion, impacting local communities and environments.

Benefits of coastal living
- Coastal areas attract tourists, boosting local economies in geography.
- Tourist activities include beaches, water sports, and sightseeing.
- Tourism creates jobs in hotels, restaurants, and transport.
- Tourism encourages investment in infrastructure within coastal geography.

Benefits of coastal living
- Fishing is a key food source and livelihood near coasts.
- Fishing industries in coastal geography promote economic development.
- Coastal geography supports trade through harbours and ports for goods.
- Trade hubs connect coastal regions to global markets.

Opportunities
- Coastal areas are habitats supporting biodiversity.
- Beaches and cliffs offer recreational opportunities in coastal geography.
- Coastal areas have potential for renewable energy from wind and waves.

Further hazards
- Coastal geography shows flooding risks from high tides and storms.
- Storm surges in coastal geography can damage homes and infrastructure.
- Rising sea levels increase flood risk in coastal geography.
- Tsunamis are also a risk in tectonically active coastal regions.

Hazards
- Coastal erosion wears away land, damaging homes and infrastructure.
- Erosion harms beaches, reducing tourism and affecting fishing areas.
- Human actions like construction and deforestation can speed up erosion.
1Paper 1 - Changing River Environnments
1.1Characteristics of Rivers
1.2River Landforms
1.3Rivers: Opportunities & Hazards
1.4The Bradshaw Model
1.5The Drainage Basin & the Water Cycle
1.6Processes Operating in a Drainage Basin
2Paper 1 - Changing Coastal Environments
2.1Physical Processes that Shape the Coast
2.1.1Processes of Erosion2.1.2Corrosion & Corrasion2.1.3Transportation2.1.4Deposition2.1.5Longshore Drift2.1.6Types of Waves2.1.7Case Study: The Holderness Coast (UK)2.1.8Case Study: The Holderness Coast - Management2.1.9Case Study: The Holderness Coast - Defences2.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - Swash & Backwash
2.2Landforms
2.3Opportunities & Hazards
2.4Tropical Storms
2.4.1Tropical Storms2.4.2Structure of Tropical Storms2.4.3Causes of Tropical Storms2.4.4Effects of Tropical Storms2.4.5Hazards of Tropical Storms2.4.6Case Study: Hurricane Katrina - Effects2.4.7Case Study: Hurricane Katrina - Responses2.4.8Case Study: Cyclone Nargis - Responses2.4.9Case Study: Cyclone Nargis2.4.10Mathematical Skills: Weather Hazards2.4.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - Rainfall
3Paper 1 - Changing Ecosystems
3.1Antarctic
3.2Threats to the Antarctic
3.3Tropical Rainforest
3.4Tropical Rainforest: Threats
4Paper 1 - Tectonic Hazards
4.1The Structure of the Earth
4.2The Processes of Earthquakes & Volcanoes
4.2.1Earthquakes: Processes & Characteristics4.2.2Earthquake Hazards4.2.3Types of Volcano4.2.4Classification & Features4.2.5Volcanic Hazards4.2.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Lava4.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Location of Volcanoes4.2.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Focus vs Epicentre4.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Sliding Plates
4.3The Impacts of Tectonic Hazards
5Paper 1 - Climate Change
5.1Natural & Human Causes of Climate Change
5.2Impacts of Climate Change
5.3Responses to Climate Change
6Paper 2 - Changing Populations
6.1Populations Grow & Decline
6.2Population Structures Over Time
7Paper 2 - Changing Towns & Cities
7.1Where People Live
7.2Opportunities & Challenges of Urbanisation
8Paper 2 - Development
8.1Measuring Development
8.2Uneven Development
8.3Sustainable Development
9Paper 2 - Changing Economies
9.1Changing Employment Structures
9.2Globalisation
9.3Tourism
9.3.1Factors Leading to the Growth of Tourism9.3.2The Butler Model9.3.3Benefits of Tourism - Economic9.3.4Benefits of Tourism - Social, Cultural & Env.9.3.5Problems with Tourism - Economic9.3.6Problems of Tourism - Social, Cultural & Env.9.3.7Managing Tourism - Sustainability & Ecotourism9.3.8Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs9.3.9Case Study: Blackpool (UK)9.3.10Mathematical Skills: Changing Economic World
10Paper 2 - Resource Provision
10.1Food
10.2Patterns of Food Supply & Demand
10.3Challenges of Food Supply
10.4Energy
10.5Patterns of Energy Supply & Demand
Jump to other topics
1Paper 1 - Changing River Environnments
1.1Characteristics of Rivers
1.2River Landforms
1.3Rivers: Opportunities & Hazards
1.4The Bradshaw Model
1.5The Drainage Basin & the Water Cycle
1.6Processes Operating in a Drainage Basin
2Paper 1 - Changing Coastal Environments
2.1Physical Processes that Shape the Coast
2.1.1Processes of Erosion2.1.2Corrosion & Corrasion2.1.3Transportation2.1.4Deposition2.1.5Longshore Drift2.1.6Types of Waves2.1.7Case Study: The Holderness Coast (UK)2.1.8Case Study: The Holderness Coast - Management2.1.9Case Study: The Holderness Coast - Defences2.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - Swash & Backwash
2.2Landforms
2.3Opportunities & Hazards
2.4Tropical Storms
2.4.1Tropical Storms2.4.2Structure of Tropical Storms2.4.3Causes of Tropical Storms2.4.4Effects of Tropical Storms2.4.5Hazards of Tropical Storms2.4.6Case Study: Hurricane Katrina - Effects2.4.7Case Study: Hurricane Katrina - Responses2.4.8Case Study: Cyclone Nargis - Responses2.4.9Case Study: Cyclone Nargis2.4.10Mathematical Skills: Weather Hazards2.4.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - Rainfall
3Paper 1 - Changing Ecosystems
3.1Antarctic
3.2Threats to the Antarctic
3.3Tropical Rainforest
3.4Tropical Rainforest: Threats
4Paper 1 - Tectonic Hazards
4.1The Structure of the Earth
4.2The Processes of Earthquakes & Volcanoes
4.2.1Earthquakes: Processes & Characteristics4.2.2Earthquake Hazards4.2.3Types of Volcano4.2.4Classification & Features4.2.5Volcanic Hazards4.2.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Lava4.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Location of Volcanoes4.2.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Focus vs Epicentre4.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Sliding Plates
4.3The Impacts of Tectonic Hazards
5Paper 1 - Climate Change
5.1Natural & Human Causes of Climate Change
5.2Impacts of Climate Change
5.3Responses to Climate Change
6Paper 2 - Changing Populations
6.1Populations Grow & Decline
6.2Population Structures Over Time
7Paper 2 - Changing Towns & Cities
7.1Where People Live
7.2Opportunities & Challenges of Urbanisation
8Paper 2 - Development
8.1Measuring Development
8.2Uneven Development
8.3Sustainable Development
9Paper 2 - Changing Economies
9.1Changing Employment Structures
9.2Globalisation
9.3Tourism
9.3.1Factors Leading to the Growth of Tourism9.3.2The Butler Model9.3.3Benefits of Tourism - Economic9.3.4Benefits of Tourism - Social, Cultural & Env.9.3.5Problems with Tourism - Economic9.3.6Problems of Tourism - Social, Cultural & Env.9.3.7Managing Tourism - Sustainability & Ecotourism9.3.8Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs9.3.9Case Study: Blackpool (UK)9.3.10Mathematical Skills: Changing Economic World
10Paper 2 - Resource Provision
10.1Food
10.2Patterns of Food Supply & Demand
10.3Challenges of Food Supply
10.4Energy
10.5Patterns of Energy Supply & Demand
Practice questions on Opportunities & Hazards
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1List the hazards that coastal areas pose: Fill in the list
- 2
- 3
- 4Choose the correct statements:True / false
- 5
Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium
Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions
Mini-mock exams based on your study history
Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books