Coasts- Barton on Sea

Physical causes of erosion at Barton on Sea

High energy wave environment with destructive waves with a long fetch from the south west are more capable to erode.
Longshore drift from west to east starves beach of material so cliffs are eroded more easily.
Offshore dredging starves the Barton beach of material.
Groyne systems to the west starve the Barton beach of material so that the cliff is able to be eroded more easily.
Rock structure- bottom layer of clay and a top layer of sand. The water is able to infiltrate into the sand due to sand being permeable. However, it is not able to infiltrate into the clay. This reduces friction between the sand and the cliff so the cliff is able to slump more easily.
Cliffs are capped with porous and permeable gravel meaning water can infiltrate into the cliffs easily, making the land vulnerable to landslides.

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February 1974 – 200 metres of cliff foot defences damaged after bad storm occurred.
By December 1993 – cliff toe displaced by 8 metres.
September 2001 – sea defences collapsed close to Cliff House. Rotational slip resulted in drainage system collapsing.
November 2003 – Small signs of movement noticed after heavy rain occurred.
By January 2007 – 60% of original sand and shingle been eroded away.
By April 2007 – lateral cracks in the cliff face extend for 300 metres between Cliff House and Barton Court Shopping area.

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The sea defences that were damaged by the storm in February 1973 were worth £166000.
Small number of older houses that are quite close to the cliff and will probably be lost in the next 10-20 years meaning local residents will have to find somewhere else to live.
Area is located between the New Forest and the sea so attracts tourists. Coastal erosion may mean in the future that people will no longer be permitted to walk along the cliff due to danger of it crumbling. The area may lose out on money from tourists.

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