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Unlock This CourseMaps are essential tools for coastal management. They help planners understand the coastline, identify risks and make important decisions about protecting communities and the environment. Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) rely heavily on detailed mapping to create effective strategies for managing our coasts.
Key Definitions:
OS maps use specific symbols and colours to show coastal features. Blue represents water, brown contour lines show height and various symbols indicate cliffs, beaches and coastal defences. Understanding these symbols is crucial for coastal management planning.
Contour lines are vital for understanding coastal landscapes. They show the shape of the land and help identify areas vulnerable to erosion or flooding. The closer together the contour lines, the steeper the slope.
When contour lines are very close together near the coast, this indicates steep cliffs. Wide spacing suggests gentle slopes or flat areas. Areas below 5 metres above sea level are particularly vulnerable to flooding during storm surges.
Contour lines very close together indicate vertical or near-vertical cliff faces. These areas may be prone to mass movement and rockfall.
Widely spaced contours show gradual slopes. These areas often have beaches and are easier to defend but may be more vulnerable to flooding.
Areas with few or no contour lines near the coast are very low-lying and at high risk from sea level rise and storm surges.
Maps help coastal managers identify different types of risks along the shoreline. By studying topography, land use and existing defences, planners can assess where problems are most likely to occur.
OS maps of the Holderness Coast clearly show the rapid erosion affecting this area. The maps reveal how villages like Mappleton are protected by rock armour, whilst other areas remain undefended. Contour lines show the low-lying nature of much of the coast, making it vulnerable to both erosion and flooding. Historical map comparison shows how the coastline has retreated over time, with some areas losing over 200 metres of land.
Flood risk maps combine topographic information with data about sea levels and storm patterns. Areas below 10 metres above sea level are considered at risk, with those below 5 metres at high risk.
Maps show flood risk through contour lines, drainage patterns and proximity to the sea. River estuaries and low-lying coastal plains are particularly vulnerable areas that require careful management.
SMPs divide the coastline into sections and use detailed mapping to determine the best management strategy for each area. The four main options are Hold the Line, Advance the Line, Managed Retreat and No Active Intervention.
Planners use multiple map layers including topography, geology, land use and infrastructure to make decisions. They consider what needs protecting, what can be sacrificed and where natural processes should be allowed to continue.
Maps identify areas with important infrastructure or settlements that must be protected. These areas typically have existing defences shown on OS maps.
Low-value agricultural land shown on maps may be allowed to flood, creating new saltmarsh habitats whilst protecting more important areas inland.
Remote areas with few human activities, clearly shown on maps, may be left to natural processes without expensive intervention.
Developing good map reading skills is essential for understanding coastal management. This includes using grid references, measuring distances and interpreting symbols and contours.
The Thames Barrier's location was chosen using detailed mapping of the Thames Estuary. Maps showed the narrowest point where a barrier would be most effective, whilst also considering shipping routes and urban development. The low-lying nature of much of East London, clearly visible on contour maps, demonstrated the urgent need for flood protection. Modern flood risk maps continue to guide decisions about future development in the Thames Gateway.
Maps allow precise measurement of distances, areas and heights. This data is crucial for calculating costs, assessing risks and planning defences. Scale is essential - most OS maps use 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 scales.
Understanding map scale allows accurate measurement of coastal retreat rates, defence lengths and areas at risk. A 1:25,000 scale means 1cm on the map equals 250m in reality.
Today's coastal management uses advanced mapping technologies including satellite imagery, LiDAR and GIS systems. These provide more detailed and up-to-date information than traditional paper maps.
Digital maps can be updated quickly, combined with other data layers and used to model future scenarios. They help planners visualise the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on coastal communities.
Provides regular updates on coastal changes and can track erosion rates over time with high accuracy.
Creates extremely detailed height maps showing small changes in coastal topography that traditional surveys might miss.
Allows multiple data layers to be combined and analysed together, improving decision-making for coastal management.
When analysing coastal maps in exams, always describe what you can see using specific evidence from the map. Mention grid references, heights from contour lines and distances measured using the scale. Link physical features to management challenges and explain why certain areas might need different management approaches. Remember to use geographical terminology correctly and support your answers with map evidence.