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As we cycled along the Norfolk coastline, we took the chance to view some of the coastal defence strategies put in place to minimise coastal erosion. There are many busy tourist towns by the sea and must be protected. I have seen the measures used to reduce the impact of coastal erosion but I have also seen how the lack of these measures erode the coastline.
Wave Wall
Wave Wall
This prevents the waves from overtopping into the residential area, preventing a breach.
Rock Armour (Riprap)
Rock Armour (Riprap)
These rocks absorb the waves' energy, reducing pressure on the sea wall.
Groynes
Groynes
These structures cannot be seen in this image, as the tide is too high but they are walls that strut out into the sea, preventing longshore drift - where the prevailing wind causes waves to carry sediment in one direction along the beach. The groynes pile up this sediment, building the beach up so the land behind is eroded less. You can see the pole sticking out of the sea that marks the end of one, warning boats to not come close because of the risk of being stranded.
Reinforced Concrete Stepped Sea Wall
Reinforced Concrete Stepped Sea Wall
These steps absorb the waves' energy, reducing erosion.
North Hunstanton Cliffs
North Hunstanton Cliffs
According to wellsguide.com, these iconic cliffs are a major point of geographical interest. They are made of three different layers: white chalk, red iron-stained chalk and carrstone - an iron-rich sandstone that used to be used as a construction material in places like Sandringham (where we cycled through the day before).
Flood Defence System
Flood Defence System
In Wells-next-the-Sea, there is a flood defence system that prevents water from flooding into the tourist town. This was built in June 2012 and was an improvement to the previous version. Costing £116,000, it creates a tight seal when closed and is very aesthetically pleasing.
Source: Wells-Next-The-Sea | Flood Control International | Case Study
Riprap (Rock Armour)
Riprap (Rock Armour)
When we were there, is was extremely windy and the waves looked very powerful as they smashed against the rocks. In order to absorb lots of this energy, rock armour is used. This reduces force on the sea wall, improving the longevity of the system.
Sea Wall
Sea Wall
Sheringham is a very highly populated town so it needs to have a high sea wall to minimise the impacts of coastal erosion.
Geography lesson on a bike!
Geography lesson on a bike!
To see a summary of the landmarks we visited along the route, click below:
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