Geographical careers in coastal management

This resource introduces students to geographical careers in coastal management. It specifically focuses on the role of professional geographer Lauren, a Coastal Project Engineer at Coastal Partners.

The also resource introduces students to 'tracer pebbles', which is a data collection technique used to track the movement of sediment along the coastline. For more information on tracer pebbles and the geographers behind the project, visit Tracer Pebbles — Coastal Partners.

Prior knowledge required for students to access this resource includes:

• Understanding of different types of coastal management (hard and soft engineering).
• Understanding of different processes of erosion, transportation and deposition.
• Understanding of longshore drift.

Curriculum links

This resource is aimed at GCSE students. GCSE curriculum links include:

Edexcel A
Topic 1: Changing landscapes in the UK, subtopic 1A.
1.5 Human activities can lead to changes in coastal landscapes which affect people and the environment 1.5, b. The advantages and disadvantages of different coastal defences used on the coastline of the UK (hard engineering, sea walls, groynes and rip rap and soft engineering, beach nourishment and managed retreat) and how they can lead to change in coastal landscapes.

Edexcel B
Topic 4: The UK's evolving physical landscape.
4.5 - The interaction of human and physical processes present challenges along coastlines and there are a variety of management options.

AQA
Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK.
3.1.3.2 - Different management strategies can be used.
to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes OCR A Topic 2.C Living in the UK Today 1.1 Landscapes of the UK 1.1.5 Landscapes are dynamic and differ depending on their geology, climate and human activity. Two case studies, one UK river basin and one UK coastal landscape, to cover management, works in combination with geomorphic processes to impact the landscape.

OCR B
Topic 3: Distinctive Landscapes 3.2, b. Case study of two landscapes in the UK, one coastal landscape and one river basin, to include the study of … human activity, including management, works in combination with geomorphic processes to impact the landscape.

WJEC
Key Idea 4.2: Managing costal hazards.
4.2.1 - How are coastlines managed?
4.2.2 - What is the most sustainable way to manage coastlines in the face of rising sea levels?