Sheringham & Happisburgh coast 1

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This is the fetch; fetch is the distance that which a wave travels before it reaches its destination which is the beach

This chart shows that the highest of the three counts was 19 waves per minute with the least having a frequency of at least 15. This high frequency of waves suggests that the waves on the beach in Happisburgh were destructive. Destructive waves also have a short wavelength and a strong backwash. To conclude the destructive waves are strong enough to erode and take sediment from the beach.

This chart shows that the highest amount of waves per minute was 15 which was Happisburgh’s least; this means the waves are destructive but aren’t as frequent as the ones in Happisburgh therefore they do not erode land and cliffs as fast.

There are many different ways erosion can happen on the coast and it is hard to distinguish them from each other, there are 4 main types:

Corrasion/Abrasion

The eroding away of rock surfaces when waves pick up beach materials such as pebbles and they are thrown at the rock face.

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Hydraulic action

When waves hit the base of a cliff and air is compressed into cracks. When the wave retreats the air rushes out of the gap which means a lot of energy is released that is explosive and often this causes cliff material to break away.

Attrition

The wearing away of rock fragments as they rub against each other during transportation.

Corrosion/Solution

When certain types of cliff erode as a result of weak acids in the sea.

The Happisburgh cliff suffer from Hydraulic action, it is easy to see the damage this erosion causes.

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