Coastal Flooding Flashcards
(10 cards)
What are the effects of coastal flooding?
Global warming is causing the sea level to rise as its melting ice increasing the amount of water and heating oceans so the oceans get warmer and expand which will increase the amount of water
Storm surges responses
Sea wall and groynes installed in sea palling
Thames barrier constructed
Flood defence system for London is created
32,000 people evacuated
Official service for forecasting coastal flooding
Storm surges social effects
40,000 people made homeless
No warnings passed due to phone lines being blown by the gales
32,000 people evacuated
24,000 homes damaged
1950s no stations operating at night when needed
Economic effects
Damage run to £50, million at 1953
200 miles of railway was out of action
Infrastructure out of action
Environmental effects
Tidal surge down north Sea locally exceeded 5.6 m above sea
Over 1600 km of coastline is damaged
Storm side travelled up Thames and flooded west ham in East London
Storm surges the future
Climate scientist estimate one in 50 year events could become one in 20 year events
Beaches splits Deltas will erode faster
Sea level rise of 50 cm makes the defence is useless only choice to abandon areas or build higher defences
Happisburgh
Located north east of England, north of Norwich on the coast west to sea palling and east to cromer
Cliff collapse
Chemical biological physical weathering at the top of cliff face
Coastal erosion at cliff base
Soft rock will collapse more easily, especially when saturated
Cliff collapses in four different movement falls slumping landslides and mud flow
Building on top of the cliff adds to the load and can weaken it leading into cliff collapse
Significance of happisburgh
Is low lying and has beaches
The cliffs are separated by beds of clay and sand and shows what’s eroding
Destructive waves could affect it as it’s easily eroded and will reduce slope stability
Are homes falling into the sea?
Yes, due to cliff collapse
