Norfolk Flashcards
Describe the location of the east Norfolk coast
A North Sea coastline in the NE of East Anglia in Eastern England.
Direction of Longshore drift East Norfolk
North to south
4 key villages north to south
Barton
Happsiburgh
Sea Palling
Winterton
Key human and physical features of Bacton
Population of 1200
Site of British Gas terminal
Key human and physical features of Happisburgh
Population of 1400
Surrounded by low value farm land
Human and physical features of sea palling
Population of 650
Land close to sea level, Norfolk Broad Wetlands lie behind
Winterton human and physical features
Population of 1200
Low lying area behind ridge of sand dunes
Main processes operating along the 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 sea levels increases the risk (eustatic sea level rise).
Main landscape outcome of the processes?
• Low cliffs (6-10 high at Happisburgh) – retreating (erosion landform)
• Beaches (deposition landform)
• Sand dunes (deposition landform)
Impact the geology has on the coastline
Mainly glacial till (boulder clay) overlain by sands. This rock has created low, unstable cliffs vulnerable to undercutting by wave action and collapse due to slumping after heavy rain.
Identify factors that will increase the risk of coastal erosion and flooding along this coastline in the future.
• Rising sea levels due to eustatic change (thermal expansion and melting ice sheets).
• Increased frequency and intensity of low-pressure storms.
• More intense rainfall leading to higher runoff.
What is the current average rate of erosion along this coastline.
2 metres per year
Outline the main hard engineering strategies used to protect Happisburgh from cliff erosion and flooding.
Groynes, wooden revetments, and riprap (rock armour).
The 1996 Shoreline Management Plan (SMP6) represented a more sustainable approach. In what way?
• Environmentally sustainable.
• Economically justifiable.
• Socially acceptable.
• Holistic and integrated rather than piecemeal (covers a sub-cell of
sediment cell 3).
• Covers the next 100 years – taking into account rising costs.
Why was the traditional approach unsustainable?
The cost of maintaining the defences would have been too high given:
• The geology of the coast – the glacial till cliffs were rapidly eroding.
• The sizable fetch and North Sea storms resulted in large
destructive waves removing large amounts of sediment.
• Frequent storm surges and rising sea levels led to an increased
flood risk.
Main stakeholders in SMP6
The Environment Agency, North Norfolk District Council, local councils, stakeholders in SMP6. Regional Coastal groups (local residents).
SMPs involve cost/benefit analysis (weighing up the cost against the benefits of a plan). Give examples of the social factors they must consider.
• Social factors – the safety and security of people living along the coast.
SMPs involve cost/benefit analysis (weighing up the cost against the benefits of a plan). Give examples of the economic factors they must consider.
Economic factors- impact of some defences on tourism, the cost of defences, value of the land
SMPs involve cost/benefit analysis (weighing up the cost against the benefits of a plan). Give examples of the environmental factors they must consider.
Environmental – the nature of habitats and levels of biodiversity of ecosystems along the coast (although it is hard to place a price on this).
Outline and explain the current management strategy for Bacton.
• Hold the line through hard engineering strategies.
• The gas terminal is of national and international importance and
the soft rocks make it vulnerable to erosion.
• The sea walls will be maintained, and 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 south. Sediment bypassing could be used to help prevent this, but it is very expensive.
Outline and explain the current management strategy for Happisburgh.
• Managed retreat.
• Flood risk is minimal given the higher relief here.
• Although rates of erosion are high the population is relatively low,
and the value of the 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.
