Coastal Management - Soft Engineering
Geography: Cambridge International GCSE (2027 Exams), topic 2.3.5
Which Soft Engineering Strategies Can Protect the Coast?
Soft engineering strategies artificially use the sea, physical and natural processes to protect coastal areas from flooding and erosion. Beach nourishment, dune regeneration, and beach reprofiling are examples of soft engineering strategies.
What is beach nourishment?
- Beach nourishment involves adding more sand to a beach.
- The sand can be purchased or moved from another part of the beach.
- Sand and shingle will naturally be pushed up against groynes and this sediment can be put back on other parts of the beaches.
What is beach reprofiling?
- Beach reprofiling involves changing the make-up of sediment and sand on a beach to protect the coastline.
- Creating wider beaches can slow waves and reduce the energy that waves have when they hit the shore.
- Reprofiling and moving sand & shingle can damage the wildlife living amongst it.
What is dune regeneration?
- Dune regeneration focuses on improving and maintaining sand dunes.
- Nourishing or planting plants can help to support the dunes and help them resist wind and absorb destructive waves' energy.
- Again, planting lots of vegetation all the way up and down sand dunes can be expensive.
Test yourself on Coastal Management - Soft Engineering
Which of the following is a soft engineering coastal defence strategy?
What are the three methods of soft engineering coastal defences?