Protecting the UK's coastline
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how different methods of hard and soft engineering protect the UK's coastline from erosion.
Key learning points
- Hard engineering is the building of fixed structures to slow down the waves and the rate of erosion.
- Soft engineering is working with nature to reduce the risk of flooding and erosion.
- Examples of hard engineering include groynes, sea walls and gabions.
- Examples of soft engineering include beach replenishment and dune stabilisation.
Keywords
Erosion - the process of Earth’s surface, e.g. rock or soil, being worn away and transported from its original site
Cliff - a tall, vertical rock face
Wave - waves are the movements of energy across water
Beach - an area of land between low and storm tide marks made up of materials like sand, mud and stones
Common misconception
Students may think that coastal defences stop erosion entirely.
Coastal defences aim to protect the coastline from erosion, and can greatly reduce erosion but they can't stop it completely. Defences don't last forever, so eventually the power of the sea will regain strength in areas previously protected.
Teacher tip
You can demonstrate some coastal defences using small models and water. Take a thick piece of card representing a cliff, and another representing a sea wall. Stand them parallel in a watertight container and throw water at the sea wall. Which piece of card gets wettest and deteriorates quickest?
Licence
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