- Many human activities take place on the coast
- The effects of these may be:
- Direct or indirect
- Positive or negative
Table of Impacts on Coasts
Activity |
Impact |
Development |
- Buildings on the coasts increase the weight pressure on cliffs
- Coastal location increases the demand for housing
- Buildings and tarmac affect the drainage patterns
- Tourism leads to increased:
- Numbers of buildings: hotels, campsites, attractions
- Pollution as a result of more traffic, litter and waste
- Income for the local area
- Jobs
|
Agriculture |
- Increased soil erosion
- Clearance of trees and vegetation can lead to more surface run off and reduced coastal habitats
- Farmland may be lost due to rising sea levels and coastal erosion
|
Industry |
- It is uncommon for the industry to locate directly by the sea so the impact is less than for other activities and tends to be indirect
- Nuclear power stations such as Sellafield and Hinkley Point are located by the coast
- Concerns regarding radiation leaks such as at Fukushima in Japan
- Gas terminals such as Easington in East Yorkshire can be vulnerable to coastal erosion
|
Coastal Management |
- Humans manage coasts to reduce erosion and protect development/industry
- Hard engineering includes groynes, sea walls, rip rap
- May reduce erosion at the site but may increase it down the coast
- Are often unattractive causing visual pollution
- Soft engineering includes beach replenishment, cliff drainage, planting vegetation
- May reduce erosion
- Works with the environment
|