East Anglia Flashcards
East Anglia:
East Anglia is sediment cell 3 of the UK coastal system. Running geographically from the Wash to the Thames are eight towns of interest.
Blackney Point:
4-mile spit, curving due to recent change in the prevailing wind direction.
Made up of 97% flint.
The spit has cut off Clay-next-the-sea from the sea, causing the loss of their harbour and the migration of fishermen’s families away.
Weybourne:
Suffers from rapid erosion, due to its cliffs. They’re made from unconsolidated sands and it’s base consists of chalk with flint nodules.
The permeable sand absorbs rainwater, making them unstable and causing.
Sheringham:
Experiences waves that have travelled 4100km from the North Pole and 600km from Denmark.
Due to their large fetch, waves have high energy and so high eroding capacity.
Happisburgh:
Cliffs consist of glacial till, which is permeable and so absorbs rainwater, causing it to slump. Its base is clay, which is vulnerable to marine erosion.
Since wave fetch is long and Happisburgh Beach is narrow, output>input.
Wooden revetments (built 159) became easily damaged due to frequent storms. They were going to be replaced by a sea wall in the 1990s, but the value of the land wasn’t high enough for DEFRAs Cost Benefit Analysis. Now, rock armour is used, but is ineffective in reducing erosion.
Sea Palling:
Installed 9 artificial reefs (costing £350 million) and 2 million cubic meters of beach nourishment.
This has increased Sea Palling’s beach, adding to its tourist attraction.
Some would say it’s a sustainable approach, since:
Socially - Tourists and locals are happy for a long time after the beach was created.
Economically - high initial cost, but minimal maintenance costs after.
Environmentally - no damage caused to the coast, maybe increased sea life at reefs.
Great Yarnmouth:
128m long sea wall installed to stop the land receding and prevent flooding.
Wooden groynes are used to trap sediment and create a beach in front of the wall. However, there is little sediment to trap.
Cost £7.6 million. Area is seen as high value to the DEFRA, hence expensive management used.
Lowestoff & Southwolde:
Lowestoff & Southwolde are being negatively impacted by the management schemes used by northern towns.
Groynes, artificial reefs, and sea walls are reducing sediment available further along the sediment cell. With little sediment in front, the cliffs are exposed to more marine erosion.
Known as Terminal Groyne Syndrome.
