LESSON 10: PREVENTION &

MITIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF

COASTAL PROCESSES, LAND
DEVELOPMENT & WASTE
DISPOSAL
EARTH & LIFE SCIENCE, GRADE 11 , QUARTER 1
COASTAL PROCESSES
• are naturally-occurring processes that
bring alterations to the coastal zones.
They are interactions of marine,
physical, meteorological, geological,
and biological events.
A. COASTAL EROSION
• (or shoreline retreat) is the loss of coastal lands due to
the net removal of sediments or bedrock from the
shoreline.
• common phrase referring to the loss of subaerial
landmass into a sea or lake due to natural processes
such as waves, winds and tides, or even due to human
interference.
Coastal erosion can be either a:
• rapid-onset hazard (occurs very
quickly, a period of days to weeks)
• slow-onset hazard (occurring over
many years, or decades to
centuries).
FIVE MAIN PROCESSES WHICH CAUSES COASTAL
EROSION
1. Corrasion happens when waves pick up beach material
(e.g. pebbles) and hurl them at the base of a cliff.
• the scraping away of a rock by the action on it of rock
fragments moved by wind or water.
2. Abrasion occurs as breaking waves which contain sand and
larger fragments erode the shoreline or headland. It is
commonly known as the sand paper effect.
FIVE MAIN PROCESSES WHICH CAUSES COASTAL
EROSION
3. When waves hit the base of a cliff air is compressed into
cracks. When the wave retreats the air rushes out of the gap.
Often this causes cliff material to break away. This process is
known as hydraulic action.
4. Attrition is when waves cause rocks and pebbles to bump
into each other and break up.
5. Corrosion/solution is when certain types of cliff erode as a
result of weak acids in the sea.
COASTAL PROCESSES
B. Submersion is the sustainable cyclic portion
of coastal erosion where coastalsediments move
from the visible portion of a beach to the
submerged nearshore region, and later return to
the original visible portion of the beach. The
recovery portion of the sustainable cycle of
sediment behavior is (accretion).
COASTAL PROCESSES
• C. Saltwater intrusion is the movement of saline water into
freshwater aquifers, which can lead to groundwater quality
degradation, including drinking water sources, and other
consequences. Saltwater intrusion can naturally occur in
coastal aquifers, owing to the hydraulic connection between
groundwater and seawater. Because saline water has a higher
mineral content than freshwater, it is denser and has a higher
water pressure. As a result, saltwater can push inland
beneath the freshwater.
COASTAL PROTECTION
Some structures and methods can help protect the coasts from
erosion and submersion. They are usually constructed along the
coasts.
• Seawalls and bulkheads are structures that are built parallel to
shores that protect the coasts from wave actions.
• Groynes and jetties are structures that are built perpendicular to
shores to prevent coastal erosion by promoting beach build-up as
they trap sand.
COASTAL PROTECTION
• Breakwaters are offshore structures that protect coasts from
parallel waves and in turn, prevent erosion and submersion.
• Beach nourishment is a method where a large amount of sand is
added to the coasts. This will createa new beach or widen an
existing one. However, this method is costly which deters
communities to use it.
• Sandbags are used to counteract waves that hit the shores. They
also diminish the effect of a storm surge that can cause submersion.
REDUCING COASTAL EROSION
Aside from coastal protection, different ways can be done to reduce the impact of coastal
erosion. Some of them are less expensive than constructing structures along the coasts.
• Development of infrastructures must be constructed in safe distances from the
coasts.
• Beach dewatering involves pumping outwater from the shores to prevent erosion.
• Artificial seaweeds can be placed in the water near the coasts to reduce the speed of
current that promote erosion.
• Ban of mining activities near coasts prevents erosion caused by mining.
• Plant cover and vegetation around coasts aid in protecting coasts from erosion.
HUMAN ACTIVITIES AFFECTING OUR
COASTAL AREAS
• Human activities such land development,
waste disposal, and construction cause
different changes in coastal features. It is vital
that impacts of these activities be prevented or
mitigated to help the coasts in with standing
coastal processes.
WAYS TO PREVENT OR MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF LAND
DEVELOPMENT, WASTE DISPOSAL, AND CONSTRUCTION ON
COASTS

a. COASTAL LAND DEVELOPMENT

• • Coastal land development is due to the demand in space,
structures, and facilities that are used for various human needs. It
aggravates the effects of coastal processes. It increases the
incidents of sand miningand sediment runoff that contribute
to coastal erosion. In addition, the increase in establishments
leads to higher demand for freshwater whichthen contribute to
saltwater intrusion.
In the Philippines, PD 1586 has established the implementation of
Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). EIA allows the
determination of the possible environmental consequences of
implementing a project, and it also plans possible preventive and
enhancing methods for mitigation of the determined risks.
b. WASTE DISPOSAL
The increase in development and population may lead to increased
• amounts of waste disposed of in a coastal area. The wastes are
sometimes disposed of in landfills built near the coasts. The
construction of these landfills not only causes land and water pollution
to the coastal area but also amplifies the effects of coastal erosion and
results in saltwater intrusion.
• Effective solid waste management planning and
implementation must be carried out by the residents and
users of coastal areas. Managing solid wastes at the
community level prevents coastal deterioration. Industrial
wastes must also be properly managed and not released in
coastal areas.
c. CONSTRUCTION
Constructions on coasts are consequences of the increasing
land
• development in the area. If done haphazardly, these
constructed infrastructures can cause more harm to the coast.
 COPING WITH SALTWATER
INTRUSION
The following methods help in dealing with saltwater intrusion.
• Monitoring and assessment ensure effective management of saltwater intrusion
cases.
Regulations from governing units aid in coping with saltwater intrusion. Structures
must be regulated to have a safe distance from the sea to prevent excessive
groundwater extraction from the reservoir that contributes to saltwater intrusion.
• Artificial recharges pump freshwater to the reservoir to prevent saltwater from
intruding through the coasts.
• Barriers can be constructed along coasts to prevent further advancement of
saltwater if already present.