Dawlish Warren case study

Landforms

  • Langstone Headland - ^^old red sandstone^^ (less resistant rock) is eroded by hydraulic action and abrasion
  • ^^Wave cut platform^^ - cliff eroded by the waves
  • Beach - deposition of sand during ^^storm-level tide^^ (a lot of sand on this land), sand deposited during low-tide (less sand)
  • Spit - longshore drift in in the ^^S and SW direction,^^ deposition of sand. Behind there is a marsh and nature reserve as it is shelters

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Processes

Cliff face

  • ^^Biological weathering^^ - roots and animals
  • Headland - ^^mass movement^^

Cliff foot

  • ^^Abrasion^^
  • ^^Hydraulic action^^
  • ^^Wave pounding^^
  • ^^Attrition^^
  • ^^Corrosion^^
  • Transport - ^^longshore drift^^
  • ^^Deposition^^ - along the beach

Beach

  • ^^Abrasion^^
  • ^^Hydraulic action^^
  • ^^Wave pounding^^
  • Transport - ^^longshore drift^^ (west - east)
  • ^^Deposition^^ - on beach

Spit

  • Transport - ^^longshore drift^^
  • ^^Deposition^^ - beach, spit, sand dunes

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Climate influences on geomorphic processes

  • ^^Prevailing winds^^ from south west which can bring ^^storms^^, increasing erosion as Langstone Head
  • ^^Wet winters^^, which make ^^mass movement^^ on ^^relict cliffs^^ more likely

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Geology influences on geomorphic processes

  • The ^^relict cliffs^^ and area around Langstone Head are composed of ^^Old Red Sandstone^^, which is more easily eroded by hydraulic action and abrasion

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Human activity

Langstone Head

  • Break water - to trap materials moved by longshore drift and build up the beach

  • Sea wall

  • Rock armour

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  • These protect the railway line (links London to Plymouth)

    and preserve the headland as a tourist attraction

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  • These have caused the spit to shrink further down the coastline, due to a lack of transported material, but has preserved the headland

  • Sea wall prevented cliffs behind the railway being affected

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The Promenade

  • Revetment (10 years)
  • Gabions (10 years)
  • Sea wall (30-50 years)
  • Rock armour (10 years)

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  • Rely on tourism (500,000 each year)
  • 40 local businesses
  • 5 holiday parks - 300 caravans
  • Car park - revenue
  • 20,000 visitors per day in summer

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  • Help to absorb energy of the waves and protect the economically valuable land uses behind the promenade
  • Visually intrusive - dominate the beach
  • The beach is only accessible through steel steps in the rip rap

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The Spit