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Case Study: North Norfolk Coast - Coggle Diagram
Case Study: North Norfolk Coast
Where and what is it?
The North Norfolk Coast is located in East Anglia in the east of England.
It is a low-lying stretch of coastline with a variety of habitats including broad sandy beaches, salt marshes, sand dunes and some stretches of cliffed coastline, particularly east of Cromer.
The landscape is famous for its 'big skies' which attract tourists and artists.
Geomorphic Processes
Geomorphic processes operate at different scales, both spatially and temporally.
The North Norfolk Coast is exposed to powerful waves from the north-east, the direction of maximum fetch (over 4000km). When the winds come from the north-east waves are at their most powerful.
Longshore drift predominantly operates from east to west along this stretch of coastline, although opposing currents transport sediment southwards along the east coast of England, around the Wash
Mechanical weathering processes, such as freeze-thaw and mass movement (particularly slumping), are very active on the cliffs in the east of the region, particularly between Overstrand and Happisburgh. Unlike longshore drift, these processes are more localised and smaller scale.
Coastal erosion is active in the west, with coastal deposition dominating in the west.
How are geomorphic processes affected by geology and climate?
Geology
The entire region is underlain by the sedimentary rock chalk, which is exposed in places such as the base of the cliffs at Overstrand. Overlying the chalk is thick glacial sediment deposited by ice sheets that spread south from Scandinavia during the last glacial period.
Cromer Ridge - a 100 metre ridge just inland from Cromer is a terminal moraine, a glacial deposition that marks the furthest extent of ice advance.
Sands and gravels deposited by glacial meltwater streams are found along parts of the coast to the west of the region.
Till - unsorted glacial sediment - forms thick deposits along much of the coast, spreading some distance inland.
These glacial sediments are extremely weak. They are prone to mass movement and are rapidly eroded by the sea. In parts of the east of the region, cliffs are retreating by over 1m each year.
Climate
Changes in climate have had a significant impact on the North Norfolk coast. During the last glacial period, ice advanced over the area depositing huge thicknesses of sediment. Exposed to geomorphic processes this has been rapidly eroded in the east and redistributed in the west.
The present day climate of the region is relatively dry with warm summers and occasionally cold winters. Till dries out and cracks in dry conditions, making it more vulnerable to geomorphic processes. Cold spells in the winter will promote freeze-thaw, particularly if the clay contains deep cracks.
Coastal Landforms
The North Norfolk coast exhibits landforms of coastal erosion and coastal deposition. The north-east coast between Overstrand and Happisburgh is dominated by actively eroding till cliffs. In Happisburgh, some people have lost their homes due to rapid coastal retreat.
The north coast to the west of Sheringham is a coastline dominated by deposition. Longshore drift transports sediment from east to west, forming an extensive spit at Blakeney Point. Sand dunes and salt marshes are also features of this stretch of coastline.
Impact of human activity and management
The North Norfolk coast is widely used by people
There are many villages and small towns on the coast, linked by main roads. Economic activities include fishing, farming and forestry.
Much of the area is popular with tourists who visit the coast to enjoy the beautiful landscapes, taking boat trips and hiking or cycling along the lanes and paths.
The varied and undamaged coastal habitats, such as the salt marshes and sand dunes, are particularly popular with visitors.
In common with other coastal regions in England and Wales, the North Norfolk Coast is managed to balance the social, economic, and environmental demands on the coast. Planners face several physical challenges, including high rates of coastal erosion, occasional storm surges and long-term sea level change associated with climate change.
A number of coastal defense schemes have been introduced to address the issues.
At Holkham, the local landowner has planted pine trees to help stabilize the sand dunes. The Estate has also constructed boardwalks to enable visitors to access the dunes without damaging the vegetation or disturbing the wildlife.
At Wells-next-the-Sea, groynes have been constructed to protect the beach huts, gabions have been to help protect the National Coastwatch Institution lookout station. These forms of hard engineering trap sediment, building up the beach to protect the coastline from powerful waves. By interfering with sediment transfer, such measures can have harmful knock-on effects further along the coast where beaches can become starved of sediment.
Several hard engineering measures have been adopted in Cromer, Sheringham and Overstrand to protect the coastline, including sea walls and rock armour.
Coastal defences - particularly hard engineering schemes- have an impact on natural processes. Groynes interrupt the movement of sediment by longshore drift, and sea walls can deflect high-energy waves along the coast. It is often the case that coastal defences protect one area but cause increased problems elsewhere along the coast. Some people consider these artificial structures to be ugly, ruining the natural landscape.