Coastal landscape: Holderness Coast

Question 1

describe the shape and characteristics of sediment cell 2, with the rates of erosion at Bridlington, Hornsea and Mappleton and Spurn Head

Answer 1

north of Bridlington, resistant white chalk makes up a headland, Flamborough Head,, where erosion rates are low
from Bridlington to Withernsea, low resistance boulder clay (glacial till) lies in front of the chalk layer, and erosion rates are very high
at spurn head, deposition of alluvium and glacial till has built a spit.
the predominant wind is from the north east and the LSD direction is north to south.
finer material is moved out to sea.
periods of extreme low pressure can create storm surges several metres high which have breached spurn head in the past

Question 2

the average erosion rate for SC2 is

Answer 2

2m a year

Question 3

the erosion rate for Bridlington bay is

Answer 3

1-10m a year

Question 4

cost benefit analysis is

Answer 4

when an area is surveyed to compare the costs of building defences to protect current assets versus the cost of letting erosion destroy current assets

Question 5

the 4 arguments for protecting Spurn Head are:

Answer 5

• the spit provides habitats for wildlife and the site is still of interest for the local naturalist society
• until 1960, the Army maintained a base a there, so there is a considerable investment which should not be neglected
• the lighthouse provides safe passage for shipping, so the access road to maintain it must be defended
• the spit acts as a barrier for Hull, and so protects it from coastal flooding

Question 6

the 3 arguments for not protecting spurn head are:

Answer 6

• the low lying area of land is frequently breached by major storms, such as in 1849, 1950 and 2013, so maintenance costs would be high
• this temporary sediment store should be allowed to erode so that locations downdrift are not starved from sediment
• defences are economically unsustainable

Question 7

spurn head is……………years old

Answer 7

8000, fromt he last ice age

Question 8

in hornsea, ……………groynes have been built resulting in th erate of erosion only being………….m over 160 years

Answer 8

14 groynes

250m

Question 9

in mappleton, sediment starvation and lack of defences have meant ………m of erosion in 160 years

Answer 9

500m