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Our Shoreline
(SMP Subcell 5F)
 The
first SMP divides the shoreline of England & Wales into a series of cells and subcells
(map right, click to enlarge), defined by coastal type and processes such as the movement
of sediment (sand, shingle, etc) within and between them. The
shoreline from Durlston Bay to Hurst Spit is known as Subcell 5F.
Process &
Management Units
Subcell 5F contains seven 'Process Units'
identified by 3 letters on the map below (e.g. DUR is Durlston Bay).
Process Units are subdivided into a number of 'Management Units'
(numbered on the map). The
SMP review will identify one of four
shoreline management policy options for each Management Unit. Management Unit boundaries
will be reviewed during SMP2.
iClick
on any section of the map below for a brief description of the issues to
be considered by this review for each of the Process Units:
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Sediment
Transport
(click to
enlarge) |
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This map (left)
illustrates the movement of beach
sediment - predominantly sand and gravels
- along our shoreline,
driven by wave energy and direction. This process is also
known as longshore drift.
Beach sediment moves from west to east
along most of the Dorset coast, but prolonged periods of east or
southeast winds can reverse this trend.
By interrupting longshore movement,
sediment can be contained on a beach to provide not only an improved
recreational facility, but an effective natural coastal defence.
Groynes are the most commonly used method, but interruption of
sediment movement along any coast can cause serious problems
downdrift through sediment 'starvation', and the potential for
increased erosion.
For further information about coastal
processes visit the
Dorset Coast Digital Archive website. |
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Map courtesy of SCOPAC (www.scopac.org.uk) |
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