Case studies - Coasts Flashcards
Background information on the Holderness coast:
-East coast of England.
-Extends 61km from Flamborough (N) to Spurn point (S).
-Fastest eroding coastline in Europe - 1.8-2km land lost a year.
-Most land lost = 10m in 2017.
What are the reasons for high rates of erosion in the Holderness coast?
Geology = Cliffs are made of boulder clay (erodes quickly), 72% mud + 27% sand, differential erosion occurs (creating headland at Flamborough head) due to underlying bedrock = chalk.
LSD = Strong prevailing wind moves material south along the coastline, strong winds create destructive waves.
Mass movement = Rotational slumping
High storm rates in this part of the UK - storm surges, rain intensifies sub-aerial processes.
Narrow beaches = Lesseffective at absorbing wave energy.
What are the main coastal processes occurring along the holderness coast?
-Erosion of exposed chalk.
-Wave refraction and weathering impact headland.
-Slumping cliffs further south (mass movement)
-Spurn point (spit in the south) - 3% material deposited here a year.
-Sand dunes near spurn head - aeolian transportation.
Landforms along the Holderness coast
Flamborough head
Resistant chalk headland - depicts erosion of a headland (arch, stack, wave cut platform etc). Form close to high tide levels when shingle in waves increases erosion.
Landforms along the Holderness coast
Spurn head
SSSI nature reserve - migrating birds
Sediments brought here by LSD are deposited by winds, waves and the river have created a large spit.
Currently growing at a rate of 10m a year, but storms threaten to detach it from the mainland.
Landforms along the Holderness coast
Holderness cliffs
More easily eroded boulder clay cliffs facing sea erosion and land processes. Waves + LSD move material southwards.
Landforms along the Holderness coast
Humber estuary (S)
Helped wind, tide, river processes to form dunes, mudflats, saltmarshes.
Predicted rise in sea level threatens 1/2 mill people who live here - 2m above sea level.
Describe the coastal management plan along the Holderness coast:
ICZM - Hollistic approach
Do nothing (Majority)
Hold the line (18%)
Managed realignment
Describe the management strategies at different parts of the holderness coast:
Skipsea (N) (Do nothing) - No management - Caravan park and road b1249 lost between 2009-2013.
Mappleton (Hold the line) - Rock groyne, rock armour, cliff regrading used, cost £2m installed in 1991. Terminal groyne syndrome (staving further south of sediment).
Easington (Managed retreat) - Rock armour £4m, protecting gas terminal which handles 25% of north sea gas.
How effective are the management strategies at Easington and Mappleton?
Mappleton - Houses and beach looks secure, but cliffs show early signs of slumping and cliff face below car park has begun to erode (2002)
Easington - The scheme fails to protect the actual village despite a publc enquiry. There are important SSSI sites to the south and there is conflict between environmental groups.
Where is Hemsby located?
Norfolk coast
What has happened at Hemsby?
Village has lost 70m of coastline in 50 years.
More severe erosion and storm surges recently have caused sever damage.
March 2018 (Beast from the East) - caused 7 homes to fall into the sea.
What are the SEE impacts on Hemsby?
S - Homes and businesses (livlihoods) are threatened. E.g. within 1 week a property was moved 17ft closer to the coast.
Eco - Threatens tourist industry (90% of economy).
Env - More beach gone = more coastal erosion.
Why is Hemsby not being protected?
Hard and soft engineering defences have been tried but are very expensive (£65mill).
Coastline is too soft and destroys natural coastline.
What are locals doing to protect Hemsby?
-Fundraising nights to raise money for sea defences.
-Villagers raised £30,000 to keep lifeboat running.
-Marketing to improve image of Hemsby.
-400 people attended meeting where petition to government was started.
What and where are The Sundarbans?
A vast forest in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal. Extends over 10,000km2 of Southern Bangladesh and India on the Bay of Bengal.
What coastal processes take place at The Sundarbans?
-Tidal action is the primary process.
-River channels flow across clay and silt deposits.
-Non-cohesive sediments are washed out of the delta and deposited on the banks or river mouths, where monsoon winds blow them into sand dunes.
Describe the characteristics of the Mangrove Forests:
-Shelter for terrestrial life (Herons, Egrets, Rasas monkeys).
-Leaves from forests fall, decompose and begin food chain.
-Provide shoreline protection from wave action.
-Form an ecosystem with seagrass and coral reefs.
-Prop roots** trap sediment** to build new land, also allow trees to handle force of tides.
-Roots can also be shelter for aquatic life.
Describe the ecological importance of the Mangrove Forests:
-World heritage site
-Amongst the largest mangrove area in the world.
-Only coastal tiger habitat.
-Rich biodiversity.
What opportunities do Mangrove Forests provide for locals and how are they limited?
-Tourism opportunities
-Ecosystems provide farming and food opportunities (fish, crabs, honey).
-Flat, fertile land is ideal for farming.
-Natural flood defence.
-:
-Tourists may feel uncomfortable with wildlife e.g. tigers.
-Flooding may cause salination of soil.
-Accessibility of islands is difficult.
What opportunities does deforestation of Mangrove Forests for construction provide for locals and how are they limited?
-Resources to build homes/infrastructure.
-Economic opportunities - sell timber + products made.
-Positive multiplier effect - economic advancement.
-:
-Products/houses built wouldn’t withstand tropical storms.
-Trees cut down release Co2.
What opportunities does shrimp farming for locals and how is it limited?
-Increases countries exports.
-If parts of forests have been converted for aquaculture - fishing can increase and people can make money out of it.
-:
-Introduces invasive species
-Mangrove forests are destroyed - damages ecosystems - reduces biodiversity.
-Lack of freshwater for irrigation and farming.
What are some goods and services available in the Sundarbans due to the Mangrove Forests?
Goods: Fuel (wood,chacoal), Food + Drink (Fish, shrimp, crabs, fruits, honey), Fishing materials (Floats, poles), Household items (Furniture, glue, wax).
Services: Provision (breeding grounds, fishing grounds), Protection (Flood, erosion, waves), Maintenance (biodiversity and genetic resources).
How do these goods and services provide opportunities for people?
-Allows locals to remain resilient to coastal challenges - forests provide protection.
-Fertility of soil provides plentiful of foods and can be used for economic opportunities.
-Resources could lead to new medicines.
