Question

describe how humans have modified coastal processes including both "soft" and "hard" structures

Answer 1

People have more affinity to live near the coastal area. So the human activities have modified coastal processes. Anthropogenic influence includes deforestation, withdrawal of groundwater , could effect the sea.

Soft Structures.

1) Dredging- Dredging is the removal of sand, silt, clay from the coastal region in order to benefit ourselves with easy shipping and transportation. Dredging may be problematic with the flow dynamics of fluid of coastal region as the sediments are hand removed from it.

2) Beach nourishment- It is just the opposite of dredging, in this beach is nourished in a way, that means the sediments are added to the beach. By adding sediments, it can alter the sediment transport and be problematic with the hydrodynamics of the coastal region.

3) Beach scraping- This is the reshaping of the beaches and dune landforms.

Hard structures- Hard structures are placed to counter the erosional character of the sea or ocean. Several hard structures are made along the coastline like groins, seawall, etc.

1) Groins- They are perpendicular to the shores and are built to maintain updrift beaches.

2) Seawall, bulkheads, revetments- This are built parallel to the shore in order to safeguard coastal properties, and the human built structures.

This are the few soft and hard structures .