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