• 1:19 PM, 13.8.07
AH MY SEXY BLOG,i'm homeeeee so early.
T____T
okay!
music distracting me,
BUT IT'S OKAY.
WITHOUT MUSIC I'LL DIEEEE.
SOOO,
i think i'm gonna study coastal protection measures only.
:O
Coastal Protection Measures;
Hard Engineering.
[construction of structures.]
Seawalls.
Breakwaters.
Groynes.
Gabions.
(SBGG! - Spiritbreaker good game. LOL.)
Soft Engineering.
[applying knowledge of natural processes to stabilise the coast and reduce erosion.]
Stabilising coastal dunes.
Planting mangroves.
Beach nourishment.
Encouraging the growth of coral reefs.
Seawalls.
-made of concrete.
-absorbs energy of the waves and protects coast against strong waves. (during storms)
-not feasible in the long run;
~energy from waves redirected to the base of the seawall. (strong backwash)
~backwash wears away the base of the seawall.
~seawall weakens and collapses.
~therefore needs regular maintanence.
-expensive to build seawall (England: 1million pounds for 1km. Singapore: 3million dollars for 1km.)
-lasts around 15-30 years.
Breakwaters.
-made of granite.
-creates a zone of shallow water between itself and the coast.
-waves will break against it before reaching the coast.
-cost estimated to be around 1million dollars for each breakwater.
-unable to provide complete protection as they leave areas unprotected.
-those areas will be prone to more erosion.
-last around 15-30 years.
-example of breakwater = East Coast Park, Siloso Beach.
Groynes.
-low wall built at right angles.
-prevents materials from being transported away by longshore drift.
-enables transported materials to accumulate on the side of the groyne facing the longshore drift.
-unsightly piece of @&(*. D:
-beach will not be replenished by materials carried by the longshort drift on the other side.
-the beach further down the coast might be eroded away.
-lasts 15-30 years.
Gabions.
-wire cages containing small rocks.
-used to form a wall to protect coast against erosion.
-protect other stuff like seawalls.
-easily destroyed by powerful waves.
-wires rust easily.
-another unsightly piece of (#$#.
-lasts less than 15years
Stabilising coastal dunes.
-coastal dune = ridge of sand piled up by wind on the coast.
-common in countries where coasts have vegetation like spinifex and marran grass + exposed to strong winds from the oceans.
-formed as a result of vegetation trapping and stabilising sand.
-coastal dunes act as barriers along coast.
-protect human property like houses and roads against erosion and flooding.
-habitat for many animals (migratory birds)
-human activities have disturbed the coastal dunes.
-moving vehicles and people damage the vegetation on the coast.
-loss of vegetation -> sand easily blown inland -> covers nearby roads, farms and buildings. (think Gaara .)
-to stabilise, people plant vegetation along coasts.
-roots of vegetation trap and bind the sand together.
-vegetation cannot totally prevent erosion.
-to stabilise it in the long run, human activities need to be minimised along the coasts.
Planting mangroves along the shore.
-mangrove trees have prop roots or kneed roots that anchor the trees firmly.
-these roots bind the loose soil and prevent it from erosion.
-examples include Malaysia (4800km in 2005), Sulawesi in Indonesia.
-mangrove planting requires cooperation from the local people living in the area.
~don't let goats eat all the damn plants.
Beach nourishment.
-adding large amounts of sand to a beach that is being eroded.
-longshore drift removes sand from the beach and carries it further down coast.
-people bring in sand from other areas and fill up that area again.
(lol, wtf. they nothing better to do. ._.)
-effects of beach nourishment last for only about 10 years.
-furthermore, cost is extremely high.
-beach quality sand is tres expensive.
-needs regular maintenance.
-renewing 24 kilometres of Miami Beach costs US$64 million. (S$105 million.)
(wtf, they really too rich. t_t)
Encouraging growth of coral reefs.
-coral reef = masses of rock-like substances calle corals growing in shallow seas.
-reduces the speed of waves approaching the coast.
-if speed of waves is reduced, most of their energy will be lost.
-human activities like dynamite fishing (just stop and look at this. wtf?! DYNAMITE FISHING?!!?), sand mining and land reclamation have destroyed a number of coral reefs.
-all those stuff cause water pollution then problem worsen.
-coral noob, only can grow well in clear water.
-in Malaysia, government busybody, taken measures to encourage the growth of coral reefs.
~banned fishing within certain protected areas.
~built waste water treatment facilities in coastal settlements (duapai coral lol.)
~other places plant artificial reefs.
-success depends on cooperation of various people like industries, fisherman and governing authorities.
-requires constant effort to reduce water pollution.
OKAY.
FINISHED STUDYING FOR TODAY.
BYEBYE BLOG.
:DDD