Geography P1 ~ UK Physical Landscapes

Fluvial processes

Upper course :

• Erosion e.g. waterfalls

Middle course :

• Erosion + deposition

Lower course :

• Deposition e.g. levees

Processes - Erosion

Erosion ~

HAAS

Hydraulic action
Abrasion
Attrition
Solution

Processes - Transportation

Transportation ~

Solution in water
Suspension - small sediment
Saltation - bouncing ~ particles too heavy to be suspended
Traction - large particles rolled

Processes - Deposition

Deposition ~

• Sediment is deposited on the bed + banks of the river and at the mouth

The 4 processes of erosion in a river :

Hydraulic action

Hydraulic action

• The force of water hitting the river bed + bank
• Most effective when water is at high speeds

The 4 processes of erosion in a river :

Abrasion

Abrasion

• When the load is carried by the river and repeatedly hits the bed + banks
• Causes particles to dislodge and continue the flow of water

The 4 processes of erosion in a river :

Attrition

Attrition

• When stones being carried, knock against each other
  =
  Making stones smaller + rounder

The 4 processes of erosion in a river :

Solution

Solution

• When the river flow over limestone or chalk, and he rock is slowly dissolved ~ because it is soluble

Why does the long profile change?

Upper course

Upper course ~

• Has a high relief landscape
• When the water forms a channel, it flows down a steep gradient
  =
  gives river more potential energy ~ in areas there may be water pools + rapids

Why does the long profile change?

Middle course

Middle course ~

• More hilly relief
• Discharge increased as channel is deeper
• The rivers energy results in less VERTICAL erosion and cause LATERAL in meanders
• As vertical reduces, the gradient of long profile become CONCAVE

Why does the long profile change?

Lower course

Lower course ~

• The section closest to river mouth
• Lack of vertical erosion = gradient is almost flat

How + why does the valley cross profile change?

Upper course

Upper course ~

• Vertical erosion
  -High turbulence = more rocks scraping

~ As it flows downstream :

• More kinetic energy = Velocity = Erosive power

How + why does the valley cross profile change?

Middle course

Middle course ~

• Less gradient ~ begins to bend + erode laterally

Landforms resulting from erosion :

Interlocking spurs

Interlocking Spurs

• Projections of high land that alternate from either side of the valley
• Found in the UPPER course

Stages ~
1) Vertical erosion
2) Freeze-thaw = broaden valley
3) River takes easiest route ~ projections of high land enter valley

Landforms resulting from erosion :

Waterfalls

Waterfalls

Step 1: River Flow Begins

• A river or stream flows over land with varying rock types—hard (resistant) and soft (less resistant).

Step 2: Differential Erosion

• Softer rock erodes faster than harder rock due to processes like abrasion and hydraulic action.

Step 3: Formation of a Ledge

• The erosion of soft rock beneath a hard rock layer creates a drop or ledge—this is the beginning of a waterfall.

Step 4: Plunge Pool Develops

• Water falling from the ledge erodes the base through impact and swirling, forming a deep plunge pool.

Step 5: Undercutting

• Continuous erosion undercuts the hard rock layer, leaving it unsupported.

Step 6: Collapse of Overhang

• Eventually, the unsupported hard rock collapses into the plunge pool.

Step 7: Retreat of Waterfall

• The process repeats, causing the waterfall to gradually retreat upstream, forming a gorge.

Landforms resulting from erosion :

Gorges

Gorges ~

• A narrow, steep sided valley
• Located downstream of a waterfall

Landforms resulting from erosion :

Meander

Meander ~

• A bend in the river
• The river current is faster on the outside of the bend because the river channel is deeper (less friction to slow the water down).
• So more erosion taken place on the outside of the bend as the water hits the bend via a helicoidal flow, forming river cliffs
• Sand and pebbles are deposited on the inside of the bank where the current is slower, forming a gentle slip-off slope

Landforms resulting from erosion :

Ox-bow lake

Ox-bow lake ~

• As meanders migrate across the valley floor, they move closer to each other
• Gradually the neck of the meander narrows until it is completely broken through
• Forming a straighter channel and leaving the old meander to cut off, forming an Ox-bow lake

Landforms resulting from erosion :

Flood plain

Flood plain ~

• The wide valley floor on either side of a river

• When a river floods onto the flood plain, the water slows down & deposits the eroded material that it's transporting, building up the flood plain >>> higher.

• Meanders migrate (move) across the flood plain, making it wider. Meanders also migrate downstream, flattening out the valley floor.

• The deposition that happens on the slip-off slopes of meanders also builds up the flood plain

Landforms resulting from erosion :

Levee

Levee ~

• Raised river banks

How are ESTUARY MUDFLATS formed?

• Mudflats form in sheltered areas where tidal water flows slowly.

• As the river transports alluvium (material) down to the sea, an incoming tide transports sand and marine silt up the estuary.

• River fresh water begins to mix with salty sea water. Where the waters meet, velocity is reduced, which causes deposition. This builds up layers of material called mud flats

River Tees - an example of river valley in the UK and its major landforms.

Examples ~
Stages -

2. High Force waterfall (upper course)

3. Yarm meander (lower course)

4. Tees estuary (lower course)

The use of hydrographs to show the relationship between precipitation and discharge.

What is a HYDROGRAPH?

• A hydrograph shows how a river's discharge changes in responses to a rainfall event.

• The vertical axis measures precipitation (usually rainfall) in millimetres and discharge in cubic metres per second (cumecs).

• The horizontal axis measures time, usually in hours or days.

• On any hydrograph, the rising limb will be stepper than its falling limb.

• The rising limb is fed by surface runoff, which reaches the river quickly over impermeable surfaces.

• The gentler slope of the falling limb reflects how discharge is steadily falling once the surface runoff has stopped.

• Water is now reaching the river mostly in the soil as throughflow

The use of hydrographs to show the relationship between precipitation and discharge.

What is the LAG TIME?

It is the time difference between the peak rainfall (the highest amount of rain per time unit) and peak discharge (the highest recorded discharge following a rainfall event)

Physical + human factors affecting flood risk :

Geology

GEOLOGY

• Rock in mountains = Impermeable ( Doesn't allow liquid to pass through )

• Lower areas = Impermeable clay soil - usually compact

• Flooding is less likely in areas with permeable rock, as water is able to go through so It doesn't build up

Physical + human factors affecting flood risk :

Relief

RELIEF

• Steep slope = Runoff before rain can infiltrate soil

• Valley floor with steep sides has high flood risk

• Flat floor plains = High flood risk due to not enough gradient to remove water

Physical + human factors affecting flood risk :

Land use

LAND USE

• Buildings + roads are made from impermeable materials

• Rain on roads = runoff to drains = over flow of drains to rives = flooding

• Cutting down trees = no interception = increase volume of water reaching ground and rivers = increased discharge
  ( flooding )

The costs and benefits of hard engineering flood management strategies.

HARD engineering methods :

Dams and Reservoirs

DAMS AND RESERVOIRS

What ?

• A large concrete barrier across river to stop flow

Costs ?

• Possible flood risk when building
• Expensive
• Eroded material left in, and not along the natural course

Benefits ?

• Highly effective = the release of water is controlled so no flood
• Can be used for drinking water and hydroelectric power

The costs and benefits of hard engineering flood management strategies.

HARD engineering methods :

River straightening

RIVER STRAIGHTENING

What ?

• Reduce flood risk by widening + straightening a meander

Costs ?

• Flooding downstream = as water is carried faster

Benefits ?

• Water moves out of areas quicker
• Investment into properties near water increase = due to the lower worry of flooding risk

The costs and benefits of hard engineering flood management strategies.

HARD engineering methods :

Embankments

EMBANKMENTS

What ?

• Artificial raised banks

Costs ?

• Less access to river for fishing
• High maintenance cost

Benefits ?

• River can hold more water volume
• Earthen embankments provide habitats for riverbank animals

The costs and benefits of hard engineering flood management strategies.

HARD engineering methods :

Flood relief channels

FLOOD RELIEF CHANNELS

What ?

• Back-up channel parallel to the river

Costs ?

• Increased discharge where it re-joins the river
• If water levels get too high, the relief channel could also flood

Benefits ?

• Flooding prevented due to discharge reduced
• Gates on relief channel can be controlled

Physical + human factors affecting flood risk :

Precipitation

PRECIPITIATION

• Storms
  =
  Heavy rain
  =
  Saturate soil
  =
  Rain water enter river
  =
  Higher discharge + floods

AND

• Sudden snow melt

The costs and benefits of soft engineering flood management strategies.

SOFT engineering methods :

Flood warnings = preparations

FLOOD WARNINGS + PREPARATIONS

Costs ?

• Only effective if people listen and take action
• Doesn't physically help the situation

Benefits ?

• Cheap
• Able to have time to prepare

The costs and benefits of soft engineering flood management strategies.

SOFT engineering methods :

Flood plain zoning

FLOOD PLAIN ZONING

What ?

• Categorizes land into zones

Costs ?

• Limited impact = many urban areas are already in the at risk zones
• Habitats destroyed

Benefits ?

• By restricting building on high - flood risk zones = the risk of flooding effecting people will decrease
• Low cost

The costs and benefits of soft engineering flood management strategies.

SOFT engineering methods :

Planting trees

PLANTING TREES

What ?

• Intercept the rainfall + take up water through roots

Costs ?

• Loss of potential grazing land
• Changed appearance

Benefits ?

• Reduce water flowing downstream = runoff
• More CO2 absorbed

The costs and benefits of soft engineering flood management strategies.

SOFT engineering methods :

River restoration

RIVER RESTORATION

What ?

• Restore previously hard engineered rivers into a natural channel

Costs ?

• Possible loss of agricultural land + flooding crops
• Potentially expensive

Benefits ?

• New wetland habitats + increase biodiversity
• Increase water storage = reduce risk of flooding

River Jubilee Flood Relief Channel - an example of a flood management scheme in the UK.

WHY was the flood management scheme required?

WHY ?

• Prone to major flood once in 5 to 7 years
  1990 : 500 affected
• Increase in population = urban areas needed

River Jubilee Flood Relief Channel - an example of a flood management scheme in the UK.

HOW does the flood management scheme work?

HOW ?

• Diverts the river from Thames to upstream of Maidenhead and re-joins downstream at Windsor
• Incorporates flood embankments

River Jubilee Flood Relief Channel - an example of a flood management scheme in the UK.

Environmental PRO + CON

ENVIRONMENTAL

PRO ~

• Parks, boating and wildlife reserves add value to local community

CON ~

• Flood gates aren't aesthetically pleasing

River Jubilee Flood Relief Channel - an example of a flood management scheme in the UK.

Social PRO + CON

SOCIAL

PRO ~

• 3,000 properties protected in Eton + Windsor

CON ~

• Less affluent areas suffer from much higher discharge

River Jubilee Flood Relief Channel - an example of a flood management scheme in the UK.

Economic PRO + CON

ECONOMIC

PRO ~

• Sale of mineral generate £5 Million yearly

CON ~

• Most expensive flood relief scheme in UK - £330 Million

Waves

~ Constructive

CONSTRUCTIVE WAVES

Located ?

• Sheltered bays

Wavelength ?

• Long

Frequency ?

• Low ~ 8 to 10 mins

Wave height ?

• Less than 1 metre

Angle of approach ?

• Shallow

Swash vs backwash ?

• Strong swash, weak backwash

Influence on beach profile

• Builds beaches

Waves

~ Destructive

DESTRUCTIVE WAVES

Located ?

• Exposed bays

Wavelength ?

• Short

Frequency ?

• High ~ 10 to 14 mins

Wave height ?

• More than 1 metre

Angle of approach ?

• Steep

Swash vs backwash ?

• Weak swash, strong backwash

Influence on beach profile

• Destroy beaches

Wave characteristics

What CAUSES waves?

CAUSE ?

• Energy transfer from wind to sea
  =
  Wind blows over surface of sea
  =
  Creating friction ~ forming waves

Wave characteristics

Why are some waves STRONGER than others?

STRENGTH ?

• Depends on its fetch ( The distance its travels in open water )
• Strong wind = larger waves
• Longer wind blows over sea = longer waves

Wave characteristics

Why do waves BREAK?

WAVES BREAKING ?

• As the waves moves into shallower water, they begins to stack up as frictional drag with the seabed increases
  =
  Base of the wave slows down and top is faster so it TILTS and BREAKS

Coastal processes

How does WEATHERING weaken a cliff face?

WEATHERING

Weathering is the breaking down of rock in situ (where it is).

Coastal processes

What is CHEMICAL weathering?

CHEMICAL WEATHERING

Chemical weathering is caused by a chemical reaction when rainwater hits rock and decomposes it or eats it away:

What are the different types of CHEMICAL weathering?

CARBONATION ~

• Carbonic avid in rainwater reacts with calcium carbonate in limestone

HYDROLYSIS ~

• Acidic rain breaks down then rots rock

OXIDATION ~

• Rock broken down by oxygen + water

Coastal processes

What is MECHANICAL weathering?

MECHANICAL WEATHERING

Mechanical (physical) weathering results in rocks being disintegrated rather than decomposed

What are the different types of MECHANICAL weathering?

FREEZE-THAW WEATHERING ~

• When water enters cracks and freezes at night, causing a 9% increase in volume.
• This extra volume exerts extra pressure on the rock around the crack, causing rock fragments to break away

SALT WEATHERING ~

• When salt spray from the sea gets into a crack in a rock.
• It may evaporate and crystallise, putting pressure on the surrounding rock and weakening the structure

Coastal processes

How does MASS MOVEMENT shape a cliff face?

Mass movement :

• The downslope movement of rock, soil or mud under the influence of gravity

Mass movement

~ Slumping

SLUMPING ~

• The soft boulder clay is quickly eroded through hydraulic action and abrasion.

• Sub-aerial processes, such as rainfall, also cause erosion.

• This often happens where layers of boulder clay, left behind by melting glaciers, become saturated and cause the cliff to slump

Mass movement

~ Land slide

LAND SLIDE ~

• Happens along a relatively straight slip plane, where rock falls as a block which maintains contact with the cliff.

• The leading edge of the slide collects as a pile of rocks on the beach or in the sea

Mass movement

~ Rock fall

ROCK FALL ~

• Freeze-thaw weathering, which results in falling rocks losing contact with the cliff face.

• At the bottom of the rock, they fan out to form a scree slope

Mass movement

~ Mud slide

MUD SLIDE ~

• Mudslides occur when saturated soil and weak rock flows down a slope

• Mudslides are usually wet, rapid and tend to occur where slopes are steep

Coastal processes

What conditions cause DEPOSITION?

DEPOSITION -

When material that is being transported is dropped by constructive waves. Deposition is likely to occur when:

• Waves enter an area of shallow water.

• Waves enter a sheltered area, e.g. a bay.

• There is little wind.

• A river or estuary flows into the sea reducing wave energy.

• There is a good supply of material and the amount of material being transported is greater than the wave energy can transport

Coastal processes

What are the processes of coastal EROSION?

EROSION -

Marine (coastal) erosion is the removal of material by waves:

• HYDRAULIC ACTION - The relentless force of destructive waves pounding the cliff base.
  This causes repeated changes in air pressure, creating an explosive effect that weakens the rock.

• ABRASION - Occurs as breaking waves, concentrated between the high and low watermarks, which contain sand and larger fragments wear away the base of a cliff or headland. It is commonly known as the sandpaper effect.

• ATTRITION - When waves cause rocks and pebbles to bump into each other and break up. Smooths pebbles with time

Coastal processes

How is material TRANSPORTED by waves?

MATERIAL TRANSPORT -

Transport onto the beach:

• Load is transported by waves.
• The larger and heavier the load particle, the greater the velocity to transport it.
• The lightest load is carried by suspension (floating) or saltated (leap-frogging)
• Heavier load is moved onto a beach by traction (rolling).

Transport along the beach parallel to the shore:

• Longshore drift is the movement of material along the shore by wave action.
• It happens when waves approach the beach at an angle. The swash (waves moving up the beach) carries material up and along the beach.
• The backwash (waves moving back down the beach) carries material back down the beach at right angles. This is the result of gravity

How does ROCK STRUCTURE affect landforms?

DISCORDANT COASTLINES

• Coastlines where the geology alternates between strata (or bands) of hard rock and soft rock
• Hard rocks are more resistant to erosion and tend to form headlands, while softer rocks erode at a faster rate to form bays.

CONCORDANT COASTLINES

• Has the same type of rock along its length.
• Concordant coastlines tend to have fewer bays and headlands

How does erosion coastal form BAYS and HEADLANDS?

HEADLAND

• A cliff that sticks out into the sea and is surrounded by water on three sides.
• Headlands are formed from hard rock, that is more resistant to erosion, such as limestone, chalk and granite

• Headlands form along discordant coastlines where bands of soft and hard rock outcrop at a right angle to the coastline.

• Due to the different nature of rock erosion occurs at different rates. Less resistant rock (e.g. boulder clay) erodes more rapidly than more resistant rock (e.g. chalk) forming a sheltered bay area.

How is a CLIFF formed by erosion?

Cliffs and wave-cut platforms are landforms of erosion commonly found along the coast.

• Processes of coastal erosion and weathering are responsible for shaping cliffs.

• Less resistant (soft) rock erodes quickly, forming gentle sloping cliffs.

• More resistant (hard) rock forms steep cliffs.

• Where cliffs are made from more resistant rock, wave-cut platforms are often formed.

• A wave-cut platform is a wide, gently sloping surface found at the cliff's base and extends into the sea.

How does coastal erosion form a WAVE-CUT PLATFORM?

A wave-cut platform is formed when:

1. The sea attacks a weakness in the base of the cliff. For example, this could be a joint in chalk.

2. A wave-cut notch is created by erosional processes such as hydraulic action and abrasion.

3. As the notch becomes larger, the cliff becomes unstable and collapses as a result of gravity.

4. The cliff retreats inland.

5. The material from the collapsed cliff face is eroded and transported away. This leaves a wave-cut platform

Erosional landforms :

1 ) CRACK

• Crack in base of headland is enlarged through hydraulic action
• Further enlarged by weathering processes - salt crystallisation

2) CAVE

• Crack widens and cave is formed through abrasion + hydraulic action
• The cave increases in size as refracted waves concentrate their energy on the sides of the cave = widening i

3) ARCH

• When two caves are aligned, waves may cut through to form an arch - wave cut notches widen the arch
• Over time the roof will weaken by freeze-thaw = collapsing

4) STACK

• Base of stack will be eroded through abrasion and hydraulic action

5) STUMP

• Waves will cut notches into the stack = then will collapse forming a stump

What is a BEACH PROFILE?

BEACH PROFILE

• A beach is a landform of coastal deposition that lies between the high and low-tide levels.
  Most beaches are formed from sand, sand and shingle or pebbles.

• A beach that forms in a bay is crescent-shaped, but its shape is distorted by longshore drift.

• A beach profile shows the gradient of a beach from the back of the beach to the sea.
  A sandy beach generally has a gentler profile compared to a pebble beach which has a steep, stepped profile

Sandy beaches :

• Where strong swash waves move sandy material up the beach with a spilling wave.

• Backwash will be weaker.

• The biggest pieces of sand will be found at the wave limit - further up the beach.

• Sandy beaches usually have a gently sloping profile.

Shingle beaches :

• Where strong swash waves will be assisted by windy and stormy conditions to throw larger pieces of shingle further up the beach.

• The smallest material will be found on the beach face and larger pieces of shingle will be thrown to the back of the beach.

• Shingle beaches = steeper.

How is a SAND DUNE formed?

• Sand dunes are accumulations of sand and other sized sediments that gather on a beach.

How is a SAND DUNE formed?

• The sea brings sediment to the beach and then the wind redistributes that sediment.

• When the wind encounters the beach obstacles velocity falls and sediment is deposited.

• This makes amount of sand or sediment at the front of the sand dune system, known as an EMBRYO DUNE

• Over time pioneers such as Marram grass take root on the dune, their root systems helping to stabilise the sand & fix it in place. FORE DUNES develop then develop, followed by YELLOW DUNES.

• The GREY DUNES become less yellow in colour as plants die off, adding nutrient and humus to the sand dune improving the soil so more diverse plants can move in, leading to MATURE DUNES

• Eventually, the climatic climax vegetation is reached, which in the UK would be forest e.g. oak, silver birch.

How is sand moved via SALTATION?

• 95% of sand movement results from saltation

• When grains of sand bounce along the beach as they are picked up and dropped by the wind

How does deposition form a coastal SPIT?

A SPIT

• An extended stretch of beach material that sticks out to sea - joined to mainland at one end

• Due to long shore drift

• When coastline changes direction or power of waves is reduced, material transported is deposited

• Deposited sediment builds up over time to make a long ridge of material creating a spit

Example of a spit

Spurn Point on the Holderness Coast is an example of a coastal spit, as is Hurst Castle Spit

How does deposition form a bay BAR?

• A ridge of sand/shingle that joins two headlands

• Formed by longshore drift transporting sediment along coastline

• Behind the bar, a lagoon is created

Swanage - an example of a coastline and its major landforms of erosion & deposition.

• Made up of soft ( clay + sands ) and hard ( chalk and limestone ) rock.

• Soft rock erodes quicker

• Hard rock sticks out = a headland

Swanage bay - the area where soft rock has eroded between two headlands ~ including Durlston Head

Old Harry Rocks

• Located on the headland between Swanage and Studland bay

• Is a headland, then from high energy waves, it formed a stack
  e.g. Old Harry

The costs and benefits of HARD engineering coastal management strategies.

Sea walls

HARD Engineering Methods

SEA WALLS

What ?

• To protect settlements
• Recurved - waves reflect on themselves

Costs ~

• Expensive
• Can restrict access to beach
• Can increase erosion of beach material

Benefits ~

• Sense of safety + security
• Long life span - provide defence
• Doesn't disrupt sediment movement by longshore drift

The costs and benefits of HARD engineering coastal management strategies.

Rock armour

HARD Engineering Methods

ROCK ARMOUR

What ?

• Large boulders at base of cliff - absorb energy from waves

Costs ?

• Expensive
• Access to beach is difficult
• Costs increased if rock is imported

Benefits ?

• Not restricting beach access
• Structure is quick + easy to construct
• Not impede movement of sediment

The costs and benefits of HARD engineering coastal management strategies.

Gabions

HARD Engineering Methods

GABIONS

What ?

• Wire- mesh cages with rocks or pebbles
• Absorb + dissipate wave energy

Costs ?

• Expensive
• Difficult to access beach
• Restricted to sandy beaches

Benefits ?

• Quick to build - cheap to maintain
• Last 20 to 25 years
• Do not affect sediment movement

The costs and benefits of HARD engineering coastal management strategies.

Groynes

HARD Engineering Methods

GROYNES

What ?

• Wooden barriers perpendicular to ocean - to retain material

Costs ?

• Expensive
• Can be a barrier to people walking
• Not attractive

Benefits ?

• Act as windbreakers
• Cheaper to repair compared to other schemes
• If maintained well, they can last decades

The costs and benefits of SOFT engineering coastal management strategies.

Beach nourishment

SOFT Engineering Methods

BEACH NOURISHMENT

Why ?

• Made higher + wider by importing sand

Costs ?

• £20 per m2
• Could effect other areas - disrupt the ecosystem

Benefits ?

• Fairly cheap - able to retain natural appearance

The costs and benefits of SOFT engineering coastal management strategies.

Beach reprofiling

SOFT Engineering Methods

BEACH REPROFILING

What ?

• Redistributing sediment from lower to upper part

Costs ?

• £5 per metre
• Only works when wave energy is low

Benefits ?

• Cheap + simple way to reduce waves energy

The costs and benefits of SOFT engineering coastal management strategies.

Dune regeneration

SOFT Engineering Methods

DUNE REGENERATION

What ?

• Build up dunes + increase vegetation

Costs ?
= £20 per metre

• Land needs to be carefully managed - could involved temporary fencing

Benefits ?

• Provide barrier between land and sea
• Wave energy is absorbed
• Stabilisation is cheap

The costs and benefits of managed retreat e.g. coastal realignment.

What is COASTAL REALIGNMENT?

This form of managed retreat involves creating new 'inter-tidal zones' between the sea and land where the sea is allowed to flood the land.

e.g.

• At Medmerry in Sussex, the earth embankment, originally built in the 1960s to prevent the sea flooding the land, has now been breached so that natural mudflats are slowly being created by the advancing tide

BENEFITS of coastal realignment

BENEFITS

• The salt marshes can store large quantities of water which act as a buffer to erosion = reducing the risk of flooding to nearby towns.

• Tourists from the surrounding area may visit the salt marsh and spend money in local businesses. Total economic benefits ~ £91 million to the area.

• The creation of a natural salt marsh and mudflat provides habitats for wildlife to flourish.

COSTS of coastal realignment

COSTS

• Land is lost as it is reclaimed by the sea.

• Landowners need to be compensated - this can cost between £5,000 - £10,000 per hectare.

• Cost of scheme: £30 million (including £10m of land purchasing costs)

Lyme Regis - an example of a coastal management scheme.

Why does Lyme Regis NEED managing?

WHY ?

1. Lyme Regis lies on slipped land that is made up of unstable soft clays moving over stronger limestone.

2. Old sea wall and groynes offer little protection from the sea. ~ 170 houses close to the sea front are under threat.

3. Tourism is the main source of income to Lyme Regis, so coastal management needs to protect jobs & income too

Lyme Regis - an example of a coastal management scheme.

What MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES were used?

STRATEGIES USED

1. Stabilising the land behind the beach
   ~ fixing unstable slipped land to firmer rocks below using 1,000 fixing pins.

2. Protecting the foreshore from attack from the sea with a new sea wall and an extended offshore barrier.

3. Replenishing the two areas of the beach with sand and shingle (from France) offering protection to the promenade

Lyme Regis - an example of a coastal management scheme.

POSITVE effects

POSITIVE EFFECTS

• Visitor number have increased 20%,

• Long-term protection against coastal erosion & landslips = more secure future for town's residents & businesses.

• More sand & shingle on the beach = better for tourism.

• The harbour is better protected helping local businesses & fisherman = protecting jobs and livelihoods

Lyme Regis - an example of a coastal management scheme.

NEGATIVE effects

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

• Increased tourist numbers has created conflict with the local people over increases in traffic & litter.

• More than £35 million has been spent since 1994 to prevent coastal erosion
  = expensive for just 5,000 residents.

• The protection will only last approximately 50 years. There may have to spend this amount of money again in 50 years.

• Sale of houses and businesses on the seafront after 50 years could be difficult