Case Study: East Norfolk Coast Flashcards
Describe the location
A North Sea coastline in the NE of East Anglia in Eastern England
Describe the direction of Longshore drift here
North to South
Name the 4 key villages from North to South
- Bacton
- Happisburgh
- Sea Palling
- Winterton
Identify key human and physical features at Bacton
- Population of 1,200
- Site of British Gas Terminal
Identify key human and physical features at Happisburgh
- Population of 1,400
- Surrounded by low value farm land
Identify key human and physical features at Sea Palling
- Population of 650
- Land close to sea level
- Norfolk Broads wetland lies behind
Identify key human and physical features at Winterton
- Population of 1,200
- Low lying area behind ridge of sand dunes (nature reserve)
Outline the main processes operating along this coastline
-Rapid coastal erosion – hydraulic action (wave pounding and cavitation) with high energy waves.
-Mass movement – landslides and rotational cliff slumping particularly in winter due to runoff over the cliffs and ground water seeking through cliffs.
- Transport processes – longshore drift moving sediment southwards plus backwash removing sediment from beaches particularly during storms leaving a narrow beach.
- Flooding – due to low pressure storms over the North Sea creating surges and high waves. Rising eustatic sea levels increases the risk.
Outline the main 3 landscape outcomes of these processes
- Low cliffs, 6-10m high at Happisburgh which is a retreating erosion landform
- Beaches, deposition landform
- Sand dunes, deposition landform
Outline the impact of geology on this coastline
- Mainly glacial ill (boulder clay) overlain by sands
- This creates low, unstable cliffs vulnerable to undercutting by wave action & collapse due to slumping after heavy rain
Identify 3 factors that will increase the risk of coastal erosion and flooding along this coastline in the future
- Rising sea levels due to eustatic change
- Increased frequency & intensity of low-pressure storms
- More intense rainfall leading to higher runoff
What is the current average rate of erosion along this coastline
2m per year
Outline the main hard engineering strategies used to protect Happisburgh from cliff erosion and flooding
- Groynes
- Wooden revetments
- Rip rap
The 1996 SMP6 represented a more sustainable approach in what 5 ways
- Environmentally sustainable
- Economically justifiable
- Socially acceptable
- Holistic and integrated rather than piecemeal
- Covers the next 100 years which takes into account rising costs
Why was the traditional approach unsustainable?
Cost of maintaining defences would have been to high given:
- Geology of the coast as the glacial till cliffs were rapidly eroding
- The sizeable fetch and North Sea storms resulted in destructive waves removing large amounts of sediment
- Frequent storm surges and rising sea levels led to an increased flood risk
Identify the 4 main stakeholders in SMP6
- The Environment Agency
- North Norfolk District Council
- Local councils
- Regional Coastal groups of local residents
SMPs involve cost-benefit analysis. Give an example of the social, economic and environmental factors they must consider
- Social factors: The safety and security of people living along the coast
- Economic factors: The impact of some defences on tourism, the cost of defences and value of the land.
- Environmental factors: The nature of habitats and levels of biodiversity of ecosystems along the coast
Outline & explain the current management strategy for Bacton
- Hold the line through hard engineering strategies
- The gas terminal is of national & international importance and the soft rocks make it vulnerable to erosion
- The sea walls will be maintained
- New riprap and groynes will be installed
How will the strategy at Bacton impact other areas along the coast?
- Trapping sediment at Bacton will increase the rate of erosion further down
- Sediment bypassing could be used to prevent this but it’s very expensive
Outline and explain the current management strategy for Happisburgh
- Managed retreat
- Flood risk is minimal given the higher relief
- Despite high rates of erosion, the population is low and the value of farmland is low
Outline the impact of managed retreat on residents.
- Financial loss
- Plummeting house prices
- Loss of land and property
- Distress
What support has been offered to residents in Happisburgh?
- Legal advice
- Redevelopment funds
-Planning and architectural services
Outline and explain the current management strategy for Sea Palling.
- Hold the line in the short and medium term.
- Managed retreat in the longer term.
- Monitor the extent and impact of saltwater intrusion on Broadland
- The initial plan to advance the line with 9 offshore reefs has been abandoned due to the high cost (£16 million) and negative impact of starving down drift areas of sediment (e.g., at Winterton).
Give figures to illustrate the economic importance of Broadland/Norfolk Broads to the local economy.
Over 7 million tourists visitors a year contributing £400 million to the local economy.
