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

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

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

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

Human activity

Langstone Head

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

• Sea wall

• Rock armour

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

  and preserve the headland as a tourist attraction

• 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

The Promenade

• Revetment (10 years)

• Gabions (10 years)

• Sea wall (30-50 years)

• Rock armour (10 years)

• 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

• 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

The Spit