UK Evolving physical landscape - 4 - Christchurch bay case study

Question 1

Where is Christchurch bay?

Answer 1

Christchurch Bay is an area located onEngland’s southcoastnear Bournemouth

Question 2

Physical processes:
What kind of waves does the bay get and how does this affect the bay?

Answer 2

Long fetch waves, they are very powerful and erode cliff bases

Question 3

Physical processes:
What are the cliffs made out of?

Answer 3

Easily erodeable sandstone and clay

Question 4

Physical processes:
How does the cliffs being made of weak sandstone and clay effect permeability?

Answer 4

This rock type is also very​permeable​.​Water infiltrates easily and saturates the cliffs during wet periods, which adds weight,increases instability and encourages​mass movement​​and ​collapse.

Question 5

Human processes:
Where are buildings being built in relation to the cliffs?

Answer 5

near to the cliffs

Question 6

Human processes:
How do heavy buildings effect the cliffs?

Answer 6

Extra weight on the cliff tops from buildings​combined with existing instability at the cliff bases can cause the cliffs to collapse

Question 7

Human processes:
What buildings have already been lost to the cliffs?

Answer 7

several houses and a cafe

Question 8

Human processes:
Have coastal defenses been at fault?

Answer 8

Coastal defences in some areas have failed to work, and have led to accelerated erosion in other areas.

Question 9

Human processes:
What has poor defense planning resulted in?

Answer 9

Poor planning around Barton-on-Sea has created an issue referred to as “​terminal groyne syndrome”​.

Question 10

Human processes:
How have groynes failed?

Answer 10

Groynes​ have been built on the coastline of Christchurch Bay to protect cliffs to the west, but this has ​starved the beach of sediment further east​ and caused very​ rapid erosion​.

Question 11

Human processes:
How have industrial developments affected the land?

Answer 11

Residential and industrial developments have created​impermeable surfaces further inland
and altered the​ natural drainage system of the coastal area.
More water is drained directly into the coastal cliffs rather than into soil water and ground water stores inland.
This results in saturation and collapsing of cliffs