The movement of water and sediment down a beach caused by waves coming into shore at an angle. the uk moves material from west to east
how are beaches formed
when material is transported by longshore drift and deposited by constructive waves.
where are sandy beaches found
sheltered bays, they have shallow gradients
where are pebble beaches formed
areas where cliffs have been eroded by high energy waves, they have a steep gradient
spit
narrow ridge of shingle stretching out into coastline, forms due to longshore drift at a change of coastline. shingle gets deposited
bar
ridge of shingle that extends across a bay/rive mouth. behind it, fresh/saltwater forms a lagoon.
settlement affecting the coastline
20million people live near the coast. 29 villages lost due to coastal erosion
tourism affecting the coastline
13% jobs at Dawlish are tourism. coasts often managed for tourists (with groynes etc)
infrastructure affecting the coastline
roads/railways/shipping ports/oil refineries.
esso sees 2000 ships dock every year
construction affecting the coastline
dredging the sea to construct ports can have adverse affects on wildlife. they can also adjust the sediment cells
agriculture affecting the coastline
farmland will be impacted due to sea level rise because of increased coastal erosion because it's low economic value and low priority in management
bournemouth beach
tourism, settlement and infrastructure
southampton port
settlement, infrastructure, construction
holderness coastline
agriculture, settlement
how was dawlish affected by coastal erosion
south devon
roads, railways, homes damaged due to storms in 2014
rising sea level uk
english channel expected to rise 15cm by 2030, caused by thermal expansion and melting ice sheets/glaciers
what is a storm/storm surge
large increase in sea level due to a storm. strong winds drive up the waves, whilst low pressure allows the sea level to rise up 3m above normal.
winter UK 2014 storms
UK hit by a series of low pressure systems, bringing heavy rainfall and extremely strong winds. some areas of the south west had their wettest january since records began
hold the line
maintain the existing coastline with defences
managed realignment
allow the shoreline to change naturally, but manage the process and the impacts
advance the line
build new defences on the seaward side
sea wall
-protects base of cliff. made of resistant concrete that deflects energy
-expensive and ugly, restricts access
groynes
-maintain a wide beach and attract tourists
-high maintenance cost, could impact other areas of coastline in sediment starvation
beach replenishment
-looks natural, attracts tourists, cheap
-material easily eroded and needs constant replenishment
slope stabilisation
-prevents mass movement, safer for people using the beach
-difficult to install, very expensive
waves
caused by friction that is generated when wind blows across the surface of the sea
destructive waves
strong winds, powerful waves, cause coastal erosion. tall, steep. backwash stronger than swash, so material is carried out to sea
constructive waves
light winds, cause deposition not erosion. stronger swash, so material is deposited on the beach
attrition
small rocks collide with eachother. break up, becoming smaller and rounder, until the rock becomes sand
abrasion
rocks thrown against the coastline. wears the coastline away over time
hydraulic action
large waves break against the cliff. water forced into the faults/cracks causing immense pressure. when it is released, it produces a force that makes the crack wider.
solution
chemicals in the sea react with the rock so it dissolves. occurs mainly with limestone.
discordant coastline
bands of different rock strengths run 90degrees to coastline. in dorset, clay, chalk and limestone form a discordant coastline
concordant coastline
bands of rock run parallel to the coastline
headland
rocks of higher resistance erode slower. as a result, high resistance rocks protrude out producing headlands
bays
formed in the same way as headland. constructive waves often bring sediment to form a beach.
cliffs
made through the process of hydraulic action and abrasion. destructive waves create a wave cut notch. as the notch gets eroded, the cliffs above become unstable, collapse, and are removed by waves
wave cut platform
below a wave cut notch, an area of exposed rock is left, which is not smooth. it continues to get eroded
cave
destructive waves break against the cliff face. hydraulic action widens the crack, eventually widening enough to form a cave
arch
waves erode the cave via abrasion and hydraulic action, which cause them to break through the middle of it forming an arch