coastal - North Norfolk

• location of North Norfolk:

  • East Anglia, east of England
  • low lying coastline
  • saltmarshes, sanddunes, wide sandy beaches - 1 of the best beaches of the world featured in films
  • has Overstrand
• Overstrand:

  • population of 1000
  • 'village of millionaires'
  • holds great historical and economical value, with the cost of rehousing as over £50 million
  • eroded 1-2 metres a year
• geology and climate:

  • climate is fairly dry in summer and cool in winter = more vulnerable to geomorphic processes such as freeze thaw
  • coastline is made of sedimentary chalk with overlying soft boulder clay which is saturated from regular storm surges
• processes:

  • freeze thaw, mass movement = main between overstrand and Happisburgh
  • slumping as cliffs are saturated by heavy rain
  • storm waves undercut base of cliffs
  • 1-2 metres of cliff is eroded per year
  • LSD moves sand from east to west
• landforms:

  • North Norfolk Ridge
  • Overstand , constructive wave deposit creates beaches in front of cliffs
  • Blakeney point spit , 4 miles long, SSSI status
• Management

  • SMP = 'hold the line'
  • hard engineering techniques such as groynes , £1,000/M, to stop LSD
  • sea walls , £10,000/M, which dissipates wave energy to protect buildings such as expensive houses and hotels within the village of millionaires
  • gabions, £500/M, to stop LSD
  • they must consider aesthetics due to the booming tourism industry which boosts the local economy
• Bacton gas terminal

  • 8 miles along the coast from overstrand
  • SMP 'advance the line' via groynes
  • £20 million beach nourishment project
  • this is because it is a multi million pound infrastructure that provides a third of the Uks gas supply