What is causing coastal erosion in Happisburgh?
What is causing coastal erosion in Happisburgh?
There are several reasons why the coast at Happisburgh is eroding so rapidly: Rock type – the cliffs are made from less resistant boulder clay (made from sands and clays) which slumps when wet. Naturally narrow beaches – these beaches give less protection to the coast as they don’t reduce the power of the waves.
How is erosion affecting Happisburgh?
The Happisburgh Sand Member is easily eroded and undercutting of the cliff toe reduces slope stability and cliff failure occurs. The beach surface is low and scouring of the upper surface of the till extends the till platform. In summer, the beach surface is higher and covers the ‘winter platform’.
Why is Happisburgh easily eroded?
The cliffs at Happisburgh are six to ten metres in height, and comprise of sands, silts and clay much like the rest of North Norfolk, making them very soft and susceptible to erosion. Coastal policy for Happisburgh in recent years has changed from ‘Hold the Line’ to ‘Managed Realignment’.
What is coastal erosion BBC Bitesize?
Coastal erosion is the wearing away and breaking up of rock along the coast. Destructive waves erode the coastline in a number of ways: Hydraulic action: Air may become trapped in joints and cracks on a cliff face. When a wave breaks, the trapped air is compressed which weakens the cliff and causes erosion.
What has happened in Happisburgh?
Happisburgh has lost land to the sea throughout the centuries. The rate of erosion has been erratic – at times large areas have disappeared overnight, and at others the cliff has remained virtually the same for some years.
What is Happisburgh famous for?
Happisburgh Lighthouse is the oldest working light in East Anglia, and the only independently run lighthouse in Great Britain.
Why is coastal erosion a problem in East Anglia?
The coastline of the whole region is comprised of soft sediments, making it vulnerable to erosion. In Norfolk and Suffolk there is a mix of cliffs and low-lying coastal habitats (open coast dune, shingle-ridge systems and estuary-based salt marshes).
What is the geology of Happisburgh?
GEOLOGY. The cliffs at Happisburgh range in height from 6 to 10 m and are composed of a layer-cake sequence of several glacial tills separated by beds of stratified silt, clay and sand. The basal unit within the stratigraphic succession at Happisburgh is the How Hill Member of the Wroxham Crag Formation.
What are the 4 causes of coastal erosion?
Coastal erosion may be caused by hydraulic action, abrasion, impact and corrosion by wind and water, and other forces, natural or unnatural.
Is Happisburgh falling into the sea?
The rate at which Happisburgh is being lost to the sea is increasing, but the village is not just being attacked by the waves – surface water running off the land is also causing the cliffs to crumble. The village in North Norfolk, has long been facing the threat of coastal erosion and climate change.
How did Happisburgh get its name?
Happisburgh is a historic village on the north-east coast of Norfolk. Pronounced “Haze-bruh”, and spelt ‘Hapesburg’ in the Domesday Book, the name means ‘Haep’s Town’. Despite much publicity about Happisburgh and coastal erosion, the village has an exciting long term future.