Coastal erosion - Holderness Coast

Question 1

Rate of erosion (Holderness coast)

Answer 1

• Coastline is 61m long
• Erosion causes cliffs to collapse
• 1.8m of land is lost each year

Question 2

Main reasons for erosion (Holderness coast)

Answer 2

• Easily eroded rock type -> Cliffs are made of boulder clay, likely to slump when it is wet (cc)
• Naturally narrow beaches ->Beaches slow waves down -> reducing erosive power -> less protection
• People worsening it -> Groynes built at Mappleton -> Stop material being moved further down -> beaches are narrower etc.
• Powerful waves -> Faces the PWD, brings waves from the NE -> Waves increase in power -> Coast is battered by highly erosive waves

Question 3

Impacts on peoples lives (Holderness coast)

Answer 3

• Homes are at risk of collapsing into the sea
• Property prices have fallen
• Accessibility -> Roads near the top are at risk of collapsing into the sea
• Business -> Risk of losing jobs (Seaside caravan park in Ulrome is losing 10 pitches a year)
• Gas terminal -> 25m from cliff edge (supplies 25% of Britain’s gas supply)
• 80,000 m2 of farmland is lost each year (farmers livelihoods)

Question 4

Environmental impacts (Holderness coast)

Answer 4

• Some SSSI’s are threatened (Lagoons near Easington are separated by a narrow strip -> Erosion will connect the lagoons to the sea and will be destroyed