North Norfolk CS

• Formation of a spit - Blakeney Point 


  • Blakeney Point is a spit that extends 6.4km along the North Norfolk coastline
  • Sediment is transported along the coastline through longshore drift in a westerly direction due to the prevailing wind from the NE
  • Longshore drift continues down the beach, leading to mass transportation of sediment until the mainland ends
  • Sediment is deposited and builds up causing an extension of the mainland out into the sea as a spit.
• The saltmarsh at Blakeney Point is called Stiffkey Marsh
• Blakeney Point has formed a recurved hook due to secondary winds causing deposition of sediment to occur at a different angle than previously
• What is the process of longshore drift?

  • Longshore drift is the process by which sediment is transported along a coastline by the movement of waves and currents.
  • Constructive waves push sediment at right angles in the swash and backwash along the beach
• How does geology influence geomorphic processes on the north Norfolk coastline?

  • glaciers deposited sands and clays which make up the cliffs during last ice age 12,000 years ago
  • North Sea has been wearing away the soft deposits which have not yet been consolidated into solid rock
  • The cliff’s material is soft and crumbly and can absorb rainwater so is prone to rotational slumping, which provides sediment for the beach
• How does climate influence geomorphic processes on the north Norfolk coastline?

  • Relatively dry and warm so the clay landscape is susceptible to drying out and cracking
  • This means that the clay cliffs are at risk of slumping during prolonged rainfall
  • North Sea storms bring strong winds and speed up erosion
  • Extreme cold causes freeze-thaw weathering at the top of the cliff which can weaken the rock and cause collapse
• Coastal management in Holkham


  • Holkham estate has planted pine trees near the coast to stabilise the sand dunes by reducing how much the sand is moved around by the wind
  • Put boardwalks down to prevent visitors from damaging vegetation and wildlife
• Coastal management in Wells-next-the-sea 


  • Groynes constructed along the beach to protect the beach huts by interrupting the movement of sediment by longshore drift
  • Gabions (metal cages filled with rocks) used to protect the National Coast watch tower from erosion at the base
  • Sea wall built to deflect waves back to sea and therefore stop erosion and reduce risk of flooding
• Coastal management at Brancaster


  - Rock armour (large resistant rock boulders) placed along the base of the cliff to absorb the energy of the waves and reduce erosion
• Formation of Hunstanton cliffs and south beach bay

  • Hunstanton cliffs consist of different types of geology including resistant sandstone topped with chalk.
  • Headlands and bays occur where there are alternating bands of hard and soft rock running perpendicular to oncoming waves (discordant coastline)
  • The more resistant rock erodes slower by hydraulic action, abrasion and solution leaving a headland
  • the softer rock is eroded away to form a sheltered bay, where material is often deposited to form a beach