Porlock Bay

Question 1

How is climate change a threat to Porlock bay

Answer 1

• higher energy at the coastline may well increase the rate of transportation of sediment and th3 migration shore ward of the shingle ridge. Both instances will increase the vulnerability of the ridge
• climate change will increase the frequency of storms that have the potential to breach the shingle ridge as in 1996
• combined with eustatic sea level rise, this threat increases further

There is a likelihood that further land behind the shingle ridge may be lost to agriculture and will transition to Saltmarsh. Managed retreat may have to be adopted beyond the current saltmarsh

Question 2

General facts about porlock

Answer 2

High energy coastline in north-west Somerset
It is a shingle beach (pebbles)
Processes operating at Porlock include erosion, transportation and deposition
Behind the shingle ridge there was ecological succession (halosere) after it was breached in 1996. A decision was taken to adopt a managed retreat strategy

Question 3

Management of Porlock bay

Answer 3

Large harbour groyne at Porlock weir
Sea wall to protect the toll road - hold the line
Managed retreat - and the development of Saltmarsh
Hurlstone point SSSI