rhone case study 1 (old)

where is the Rhone located

south of france, flows into the Mediterrenean sea, the delta lies between two major distributaries of the Rhone (petit and grand) which diverge 4km north of Arles

how are deltas formed

when sediment deposited by rivers and tidal currents accumulates faster than waves can erode it

when did the delta form

over the last 7000 years since the sea level rose at the end of the ice age. when a flood moved the course of the rhone it started to take its shape which it has today

what is the spit called

Beauduc Spit, L’Espiguette spit, Gracieuse Spit,

when did the rhone change

in the 19th century when human management reduced the channels from three to one

how long is the coastline

90km

what shape is the delta

lobate

what type of sediment makes the delta

clay, sand and silt

what is flocculation

when fine particles are caused to clump together

why is it a low energy coastline

enclosed hsape of mediterrenean sea means small fetch, low wind speeds from NW. high levels of sediment from river deposition creates a gently sloping landscape, waves break early on shore and energy is dissipated by the beach

what are the waves like

most frequent wave direction is SW but the waves are weak, waves from SSE are less frequent but more powerful

how has climate change impacted the Rhone Delta

sea level rise of 2mm/year, increased rate of erosion of beach and dunes, rates of coastal retreat between 2 and 8 metres

what coastal defences have been employed

15 million euros spent, groynes, rip rap, sea walls

whats the shape of the rhone delta

arcuate delta, has a curved and fan-shaped smooth edge, wave dominated

what beaches are there

plage de l’espiguette at the spit, behind which is a sheltered low energy area of deposition, plage piemanson in cell 2, plage napoleon in cell 1