IGCSE Geography 0460
Geography 0460 Case Studies
2.3 Coasts
OPPORTUNITIES
Location: Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Facts:
- 2000km → Longest reef in the world
- One part is a marine park that is protected from development and fishing
- Important ecosystem → Home to over 9,000 species, including 6 species of turtles, whales, dugongs, and a variety of fish, coral, and marine invertebrates
- Nursery for juvenile marine animals to mature before going to deeper seas
- Marine tourism in unprotected areas
→ Scuba diving, snorkeling, boat tours
→ Contributes $6 billion a year, providing jobs and supporting Australia’s economy
→ Draws millions of tourists annually - Provides protection from coastal storms and erosion
HAZARDS
Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines
Facts:
- In November 2013, lasted 9 days
- Wind speeds >300km/h
- Strong storm surge of >6m
Effects:
- 6000 killed
- 80% of buildings in Leyte province destroyed
- No electricity and mobile phone signal
- The hardest-hit areas were among the poorest, they were left with no homes, possessions, or money
- $15 billion US dollars spent
- Farmland, fishing boats destroyed → Cannot sell food
MANAGEMENT
Location: East Coast Park, Singapore
Facts:
- Erosion of fine sand beaches due to torrential rain (approx 2000mm) and strong waves
Hard engineering:
- Seawalls
- Breakwaters (stones and concrete, parallel to the coast)
- Sand bags
Soft engineering:
- Sand nourishment (often imported from Malaysia, Philippines)
- Providing artificial strcutures for corals to grow
- Growing sand creeper plants to trap sand particles and stabilize the beach
Last updated: Apr 2025