Case Study: Coastal Environments At A Local Scale (Slapton Sands)

Question 1

How is Slapton sands protected from erosion?

Answer 1

Start point blocks wave energy from the south west from reaching the inside of the bay

Question 2

Which areas have low energy, and which area have high energy?

Answer 2

Start points experiences high energy, and slapton sands experiences low energy (deposition)

Question 3

How has flint ended up on Slapton sands?

Answer 3

Marine transgression

Question 4

What is marine transgression?

Answer 4

Erosion during a time of lower sea levels creates sediment that is ‘rolled’ toward the coast as sea levels rise.
This ends up trapped against the current coastline when sea levels reach their current height.

Question 5

What is an example of a barrier beach at Slapton?

Answer 5

Slapton sands

Question 6

What is an example of a headland at Slapton?

Answer 6

Start point

Question 7

What is an example of a bay at Slapton?

Answer 7

Start bay

Question 8

What is an example of stacks and stumps at Slapton?

Answer 8

The dancing beggars.

Question 9

What is an example of a beach at Slapton?

Answer 9

Blackpool sands

Question 10

What is an example of a lagoon at Slapton?

Answer 10

Slapton Ley

Question 11

How does slapton sands change as you go from north to south?

Answer 11

The beach width decreases from around 120m wide to 45m
The height does not change much

Question 12

Why does Slapton sands get thinner as you go south?

Answer 12

Littoral drift is moving sediment north

Question 13

What key infrastructure is on the slapton sands barrier beach?

Answer 13

A main road

Question 14

What is the Slapton Line Partnership

Answer 14

• Sub group from SMP
• Focus on maintaining A379
• Takes views of local people and other stakeholders

Question 15

How long is the slapton line?

Answer 15

50 miles