Coastal Environments (II) - Depositional Landforms
and Coastal Management
Teachers’ Notes
Level
S4-S6
Duration
20 minutes
Learning Objectives
1. To understand how sea waves produce different coastal landform features
2. To explain how wave deposition is affected by marine and geological factors
3. To understand the concept of deposition in geographical perspective
4. To understand different kinds of coastal management methods and their limitations
Curriculum Links
Geography (Secondary 4-6) Compulsory Part --2. Managing River and Coastal Environments: A Continuing Challenge (Contents related to Coastal
Environments)
Contents of the Programme:
This programme is part of the “Coastal Environments” series. It aims to support the learning
and teaching of the theme “Managing Coastal Environments: A Continuing Challenge” of the
curriculum of Geography (Secondary 4-6). The series include two programmes:
1. Coastal Environments (I) – Erosional Landforms
2. Coastal Environments (II) - Depositional Landforms and Coastal Management
Related contents and examples for illustration are listed as follows:
Contents
Examples
A. Submerged Coast and Emerged Coast
Ap Chau and Kwun Yam Beach
(Cheung Chau)
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B. Coastal Depositional Landforms
1. Source of depositional sediments
Compare Kwun Yam Beach and
2. Swash, backwash, constructive wave, destructive wave
Tung Wan (Cheung Chau)
3. Process of wave transportation:
a. Traction, saltation, suspension, solution
Kwun Yam Beach (Cheung Chau)
b. Longshore drift
4. Depositional landform features
a. Beach
Kwun Yam Beach (Cheung Chau)
b. Sand spit and Sand bar
Pui O (Lantau Peak)
c. Tombolo
Cheung Chau, Ping Chau
C. Development of a Coast
Cheung Chau
D. Coastal Management
Strategy of coastal management
Gold Beach (Tuen Mun)
a. Hard strategy (structural strategy)
Groyne,
breakwater,
seawall,
rock armour / riprap
b. Soft strategy (non-structural strategy)
Mangroves and reef cultivation
How to use this programme
The following suggestions are for teachers’ reference only and may be adjusted according to
classroom situation.
1. To help students to master and apply key geographical concepts, this programme first introduces
some fundamental knowledge of sea wave deposition, such as, factors affecting the deposition of
sea wave, longshore drift and so on. Then, these concepts are applied to explain the formation of
different types of coastal depositional landform. Teachers may consider using a similar approach
when teaching this topic.
2. The concepts of this programme are divided into several segments. The sequence is not mandatory.
Teachers may select the appropriate segments for use flexibly according to students’ learning needs
and interests.
3. The ability to integrate geographical knowledge in describing and explaining geographical
phenomena is emphasised in the Geography Curriculum. This programme tries to integrate the
knowledge of “sea wave erosion”, “sea wave deposition” and “coastal management” when
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introducing the beach preservation of the Gold Coast. Teacher may consider this case study as an
example of integrated analysis in the geographical perspective, and remind students of the rationale
and importance of integrating of geographical knowledge when dealing with geographical
problems.
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