HARD ENGINEERING
This involves making large scale changes to the coast and building massive structures to protect against erosion.
SEA WALL
A large concrete barrier built at the base of a cliff. It protects against erosion because it is made of resistant concrete and if it's curved it can reflect wave energy. It is expensive to build (£2000-£5000 per metre) and looks ugly. It may restrict access to the beach.
GROYNES
These are wooden, rock or concrete fences built across the beach. These prevent material being carried away by longshore drift. This builds the beach up which acts as a natural defence against erosion. These look ugly and do not last very long. Sand is prevented from being washed away but this may mean somewhere else may lose their beach.
RIP RAP
These are large boulders of resistant rock placed near a cliff face or coastline. They absorb wave energy and look quite natural. They can be expensive - especially to transport. They still let some wave energy through and can restrict access to the beach - especially for the elderly and very young.
REVETMENTS
These are thin slatted wooden or concrete beams built at the base of a cliff (bit like groynes but in the air). These absorb wave energy and do not interfere with longshore drift. Regular maintainence is needed and they are quite expensive.
GABIONS
These are rocks placed inside cages and stacked up near the base of cliffs and along the coast. They stop the waves eroding the coastline and absorb the energy of the waves. They look unsigthy and are very expensive to maintain.
OFF-SHORE REEFS
These are rock or concrete barriers built on the sea bed a short distance from the coast. Waves break on the barrier before reaching the coast. They reduce wave energy and allow a wide beach to develop. They are very expensive to build and maintain. They can also interfere with boats and shipping.
SOFT ENGINEERING
This involves using smaller structures to protect against erosion. A lot of the time these are environmentally friendly and use natural materials.
BEACH REPLENISHMENT
A method of making the beach bigger by adding sand which has been taken from somewhere else (usually offshore). This looks completely natural. It provides a beach to attract tourists and it is quite cheap. The beach absorbs the wave energy and protects the land and buildings behind it. The sea keeps eroding it away so it has to be replaced every few years.
MANAGED RETREAT
This is where people and activities are gradually moved back from the vulnerable areas of the coast. This is a natural method because it allows processes to happen without interference. There is quite a lot of disruption to people's lives and businesses and a lot of compensation has to be paid.
CLIFF STABILISATION / REGRADING
The cliff face is made longer so it is less steep and therefore less likely to collapse. This can help prevent mass movement like landslides. The method is relatively cheap. Properties on the cliff may have to be demolished and other methods still need to be used to protect the base of the cliff.
Coastal management
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
This is the process of dividing the coast into zones that can be managed with a holistic approach.
Holistic Approach
An approach to management which treats the entire coastline as one area (a combined system)
Using an ICZM may mean that some areas are not protected (like Flamborough Head) because they are hard rock or there is nothing to protect. Other areas along the same coast may be protected with hard engineering (like the groynes, rip rap and sea wall at Hornsea) because things there are worth protecting. Some areas may have soft engineering (like the beach nourishment at Hornsea).
All these working together provide the best protection for the area.
This diagram shows an example of how dividing the coast up works.
This is for Christchurch Bay on the Swanage Coast.
This video describes how the Holderness coast is being protected using an ICZM scheme.