Hard engineering

• What is hard engineering

  Using man made artificial structures to absorb wave’s energy and protect the coastline
• What is a sea wall

  A concrete wall built in front of the cliff
• What is an advantage of a sea wall

  Long lifespan, effective against erosion
• What is a disadvantage of a sea wall

  Expensive , looks unnatural
• What is rock armour / rip rap

  Large boulders placed in front of a cliff
• What are the benefits of rip rap

  Cheap, long lifespan , more natural
• What are the disadvantages of using rip rap

  Becomes slippery when wet , makes the beach inaccessible
• What are gabions

  Wire mesh boxes that are placed infront of the cliff
• What are the benefits of gabions

  Cheap , easier to build
• What are disadvantages of gabions

  Short life span , chemicals in the water can rust the mesh faster
• What are groynes

  Stone or wooden structures built perpendicular to the coast to trap sediment
• What are advantages of groynes

  Make the beach wider = increases tourism
• What are the cost the of using groynes

  Makes beaches further down the coastline smaller , expensive
• What does hard engineering strategies aim to do

  Absorb waves energy
• What do soft engineering strategies aim to do

  Create a wider barrier between the land and sea
• Where is Lyme Regis ?

  South Coast UK
• Why is Lyme Regis under threat to erosion?

  town is built on unstable cliffs
• Why is Lyme Regis the most rapid eroding coastline?

  Powerful destructive waves from the south west
• Why is Lyme Regis worth protection?

  Popular tourist destination of up to 15,000 tourists in the summer
• What is done to Lyme Regis ?

  390 meters sea wall built costing £20m
• How much in total did Lyme Regis cost?

  £43 million