Coastal Environments - Coastal Erosion Case Study - Holderness Flashcards
What is the average rate of erosion at Holderness per year?
1.8 meters per year.
In the heaviest effected areas, what are the annual erosion rates?
10 meters per year.
What are the main reasons for the rapid erosion of Holderness? Give 2?
Easily eroded rock types - Most of the cliffs are made of till which is both easily eroded and prone to slumping.
Narrow beaches - Wide beaches protect the cliffs by reducing the waves erosive capabilities. Narrow beaches do not do this.
Powerful waves - There is a long fetch and the coast faces the dominant wind direction creating powerful, destructive waves.
What causes Holderness’ narrow beaches?
Flamborough Head stops sediment from replenishing the beaches along Holderness. It is made of chalk so dissolves instead of providing sediment for beaches.
Coastal defenses.
What are the social effects of the rapid erosion at Holderness?
Property prices along the coast have fallen dramatically.
Since Roman times, around 30 villages have been lost.
What are the economic effects of the rapid erosion at Holderness? Give 3?
Tourist rates have dropped by about 30%.
Some caravan parks are losing land every year.
2 million pounds has been spent to try and slow the erosion.
A gas terminal which provides 25% of Britain’s gas supply is just 25 meters from the cliff.
80,000 square meters of farmland is lost every year.
What are the environmental effects of the rapid erosion at Holderness?
Some SSSIs are threatened. The main ones are the lagoons which are only separated from the sea by a narrow strip of shingle.
What is an SSSI?
Site of Special Scientific Interest.
