Coastal Erosion Case Study - Holderness Flashcards
What is the average rate of erosion at Holderness?
1.8m a year
How long is the Holderness coastline?
61km
What i the erosion causing?
Cliff collapse
Why is the coastline retreating?
The eroded material is then washed away
Why is rock type a reason for rapid erosion?
The cliffs are mostly made up of boulder clay which is easily eroded and likely to slump.
Why are naturally narrow beaches a reason for rapid erosion?
Beaches slow waves down reducing their erosive power
How are people worsening the erosion?
Groynes were built at Mappleton which stopped material being moved further down the coast. This means the beaches are narrower and more easily eroded
Why are powerful waves a reason for rapid erosion?
Holderness faces the prevailing wind direction which brings waves from the north east Arctic Ocean. Waves increase in power over this ling distance, so increase in erosive power
How are homes near the sea affected?
The cliffs risk collapsing and the homes could fall with them
How have property prices been affected?
They have fallen sharply for those near the coast
How as accessibility been affected?
Roads near the cliff tops have collapsed or been closed, so settlements can be affected
Why is the gas terminal at Easington at risk?
It is only 25m from the cliff edge and supplies 25% of the UK’s gas
How much farmland is lost each year?
80,000km2
How are SSSIs affected?
Many are threatened, such as the lagoons near Easington, which are separated by a narrow strip of shingle
