Generic Enquiry Task: Management of eroding coastline (2017 submission)
Theme Generic Enquiry Task
2
Investigate the strategies needed
to manage an area of eroding
coastline.
Key Question
Page in
Specification
2.1 How are coastlines managed?
19
How the task may be contextualised
Centres may provide candidates with an overarching enquiry question such as:
How effective is the coastal management strategy used at Overstrand on the North Norfolk
coast?
Alternatively, centres may present the task to their candidates as a hypothesis such as:
The coastal management strategies used at Sheringham and Weybourne on the North
Norfolk coast are appropriate. (Sheringham is hold the line and Weybourne is retreat from
the line)
The focus must be on coastal management strategies on an eroding coastline. Consideration of
geomorphological processes, the types of sea defences used may figure but in a supporting role
only. Coastal processes and the linkage to landforms would not be an appropriate focus.
Primary and Secondary data
Primary data
Your choice of beach/site is critical to the success of the assessment. Ease of access to the site,
safety including tidal and weather conditions, and features facilitating effective group management
vary from site to site and must be taken into account. Relevant factors for data collection include:
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Longshore drift, measured with tape, paint coloured stones or disposable float
Wave orientation and period measured using compass, stopwatch and observation.
Effectiveness of groynes, build-up of sediment on either side.
Beach profiles (beaches as an effective measure in preventing coastal erosion).
Photo/sketch annotation.
Questionnaires to various stakeholders.
Land use mapping in immediate hinterland.
Talk from coastal manager with NNDC.
Approaches to assess/evaluate coastal defences as part of a particular strategy, either bi
polar or field sketch/description/comments/cost.
Secondary data
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Erosion rates data, North Norfolk District Council websites
Historic maps/photos for comparison with present.
Annotation of maps, geology maps, digital maps, GIS map information.
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Aerial photos.
North Norfolk Shoreline Management Plan.
How to encourage independent thought:
Students however should be encouraged to be a part of the development of the fieldwork planning
and a consideration of the most effective ways of collecting data. Time must be allowed for students
to become involved in the planning process before the fieldwork is conducted (see page 34 of the
specification).
One successful approach could be for the department to set the measurement/criteria of one
factor/variable as the primary focus for all students but for teams of students to discuss, at the
planning stage what other factors/data might be relevant. They can then set up their own data
collection of these factors eg design of questionnaires for various stakeholders. Data is collected
during the fieldtrip and allows for a wide range of individuality, knowledge, range of skills and
evaluation to be developed by students in the write up phase.
The amount and range of secondary supporting data and how it is selected and processed to
support the primary evidence also allows for independence to be exhibited.
Application AO2 (see page 36 of the specification)
Your students will only able to access marks for AO2 if they link their observations of the place
visited to their wider knowledge of coastal locations or their wider understanding of coastal erosion
processes, and/or the concepts / theories of coastal management. Some discussion as to whether
the coastal management strategies observed are typical or atypical is productive line of analysis for
AO2. Comparisons could be made with other parts of the UK or with the Netherlands for example
using evidence from case studies in textbooks and on video clips.
Your more able students may be able to provide a context for the chosen location within the local
Shoreline Management Plan ie who is responsible for what, where and how strategies are decided.
The situation in North Norfolk can then be examined and the strategies at the actual sites visited
related to the bigger picture both locally and nationally.
More able students will be able to explain why a one size fits all approach is not used along the
same stretch of coastline and how the different elements relate to each other to form a coherent
plan/management strategy. Views on the appropriateness/effectiveness of the strategies employed
can be offered based on the evidence collected.
Useful weblinks
www.old-maps.co.uk This company provide historic maps of many parts of the UK which may be
browsed on-line for free.
http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Schools/Fieldwork+and+local+learning/Fieldwork+techniques/Coasts.ht
m The RGS has a useful webpage that describes coastal fieldwork and data presentation.
http://www.northnorfolk.org/coastal Use this page of the North Norfolk Council to follow links to
information on coastal management. The Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is available at:
http://search3.openobjects.com/kb5/ncc/northnorfolk/results.page?qt=SMP
http://www.happisburgh.org.uk/ The website of Coastal Concern Action Group provides excellent
secondary evidence (including aerial and historic photos) of coastal erosion at Happisburgh,
Norfolk.
http://geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/topics/holdernesscoast.html This website, designed for
secondary geography students, includes photos and descriptions of coastal erosion and
management along the Holderness Coast.
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Is the home page for Natural England. Their website should be
searched by region, and you should be able to access Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs).
http://news.google.com old photos, guidebooks, newspapers.
Digital maps GIS Google maps Maps/photos of the North Norfolk coast with GIS layers
road/rail/population density/average income/height/power lines/water supplies/bio diversity
values/cliff geology and stability.