Christchurch bay Case Study

Question 1

Where is Christchurch bay?

Answer 1

England’s south coast, near Bournemouth

Question 2

What issues has the area experienced?

Answer 2

Landslides and cliff collapses due to extensive coastal erosion

Question 3

What physical processes are eroding Christchurch bay? (waves)

Answer 3

• experiences full force of waves brought from the Atalantic
• waves have a long fetch, so they are very powerful
• waves erode cliff bases through hydraulic action and abrasion which makes then unstable and prone to collapsing

Question 4

What physical processes are eroding Christchurch bay? (rock type)

Answer 4

• cliffs are made of sandstone and clays
• very soft so are easily eroded
• this rock type is also very permeable, so cliffs are greatly saturated, increasing their weight so they’re more likely to collapse

Question 5

What human processes are eroding Christchurch bay?

Answer 5

• extra weight on cliffs from buildings
• ## failed coastal defences have actually led to increased erosion

Question 6

What physical processes are eroding Christchurch bay? (rivers)

Answer 6

• several rivers in the area flow to the coast through steep sided coastal gorges
• water usually permeates these gorges, adding a lot of water to the cliffs and decreasing stability