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Coastal Defences

  
 

Stop Coastal Erosion – Hard Engineering

  
 
Sea Walls.
•Can stop waves reaching valuable land.
 
   
 
Rock Armour
•A large barrier of rocks, can reduce the impact of waves.
 
 

 
 
Rock Barriers
•Can stop waves reaching valuable land.
 
   
 
Groynes
•Can stop sand being carried away by longshore drift.
Groynes trap the sand which is carried along the coast by longshore drift. 
The sand acts as a natural protection against the force of the waves. The waves break onto the beach and not the cliffs.
 
 

 
 
Beach Replenishment
•Builds up a beach by adding more sand or shingle.
 
   
 
Managed retreat

Also known as managed realignment.

 
It involves breaching an existing coastal defence, such as a sea wall, and allowing the land behind to be flooded. This land is then left to be colonised by saltmarsh vegetation. When established, the vegetation disperses wave energy, reduces erosion rates and provides new habitats.