Natural Processes
What is the main natural force in creating waves?
Wind
The process of rocks, sand, and soil being worn away by wind, water, or other natural forces.
What is one of the main arguments against seawalls?
They cost a large amount of money to build and maintain
What is dune restoration?
Rebuilding and protecting sand dunes to prevent erosion
What is a groyne?
A structure sticking out from the beach to slow sand movement.
What natural process involves the wearing away of the land by the sea. It often involves destructive waves wearing away the coast
Erosion
What does sediment mean in coastal geography?
Small particles of sand, rock, and organic material transported by wind or water.
What coastal management solution involves setting rocks or sandbags out in a row perpendicular to the beach?
Groynes
How do shade cloth sand traps help coastal management?
They trap sand and prevent it from being blown away.
How does a breakwater protect the coast?
It reduces wave energy, allowing sand to build up behind it.
What are the characteristics of a destructive wave?
Weak swash, strong backwash. The strong backwash removes sediments from the beach; hence being called destructive.
What is longshore drift?
The movement of sand and sediment along a beach due to angled waves.
Which coastal management strategy involves setting rocks along the berm of the beach?
Ripraps
What is sand carting?
Transporting sand by truck from beaches with excess sand to eroded beaches.
What are ripraps made of, and what do they do?
Large stones that absorb wave energy and trap sand.
Which process consists of the transportation of sediments along a coast parallel to the shoreline through the movements of waves?
Longshore drift
What is a breakwater?
A structure built offshore to reduce wave energy and help sand accumulate on the beach.
Name three hard engineering strategies
Sea walls, ripraps, groynes, breakwaters, sand piping
Why is soft engineering considered more sustainable than hard engineering?
It works with natural processes rather than trying to forcefully control them, often resulting in less environmental disruption, lower maintenance costs, and a better ability to adapt to changing conditions over time, making it a more long-term solution.
What are the disadvantages of using hard engineering strategies to manage coastal erosion?
They are expensive and often short-term solutions.
What is deposition?
The process of moving and settling sediments from one location to another. Primarily through the natural forces of waves and wind.
What is dredging, and why is it used in coastal management?
Removing sediment from the seabed to manage sand movement and prevent erosion.
Name three soft engineering strategies used to manage coastal erosion.
Sand carting, Artificial Reefs, Human Relocation, Dune restoration, Fences and netting
What is sand pumping, and where is it used in Adelaide?
Transferring sand via underground pipelines; used in Glenelg to Kingston Park and Torrens Outlet to West Beach dunes.
Why are seawalls built, and what is a downside of using them?
They prevent coastal erosion and flooding but can cause more erosion in front of them.