Day one: East Prawle - Start Point

On day one, we analysed the areas of East Prawle to Start Bay, and noted key evidence that shows how geomorphic processes are able to shape a natural landscape over time. Such as weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition. Through doing this we could get a better understanding of how and why the coastal area between these two points had drastically changed so much, and could therefore answer the question “How had the physical landscape developed along the coastline between Prawle Point and Start Bay”. Through noting the key processes that were continuously shaping the landscape it could even help us understand how some of the sites we saw, such as Gammon Head and Langerstone Point may look in the future.

Here is a map of the south-east of England, which is highlighting the route from Prawle Point (green) to Start Point (red).

Before we started analyzing the geomorphic processes which are currently shaping the landscapes we viewed, we would first need to note how the waves which help determine the formation of certain landscapes through the process of erosion, are actually formed.

Definition of “fetch”

Fetch, is the geographic term for the length of water due to the strength of prevailing winds. Due to the fetch playing a large role in determining the size and strength of waves, it is often associated with coastal erosion and the process of long shore drift.  

Fetch (continued)

The fetch length plays a key role, along with wind speed in determining the size of a wave, being that the longer the fetch and faster the wind speed, the larger and stronger the wave will be. The fetch length determines the power and energy of the wave. If a fetch is very large, then the wave will be very large. If the fetch is very small, the wave will be small. The fetch is related to the orbit of the wave. In the UK most waves origin from the south-west and is where some of the largest waves come from towards the coast.

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Gammon Head

Gammon Head is one of the various sites which we viewed. It was very useful in helping us understand the significance of these geomorphic process that shape a natural landscape, due to it revealing many present day evidence along its surface.

Here I have analysed and highlighted the key noticeable points of gammon head:

Gammon Head formation

Now that you can see the present day ...

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