coasts - case study: holderness coast

Question 1

how long is the holderness coast

Answer 1

61km long - starts at Flamborough Head (n) and ends at Spurn Point (s)

Question 2

why is the holderness coast the fasting eroding coast in the UK

Answer 2

1) geology - chalk in the north and clay down the rest of it make the coast very non-resistant
2) wave type - destructive waves from the north sea have a powerful backwash and take away from the coast. hydraulic action, attrition and abrasion also occur.
3) LSD - this carries away materials along the coast
4) narrow beaches - give less protection to the coast since it doesn’t reduce the wave power
5) man made structures - groynes stop LSD in one place but narrow unprotected beaches elsewhere (not getting the deposited material from LSD)

Question 3

why is it important to save the coastline

Answer 3

it is a multi-use area
- attracts tourists: jobs/tourism industry
- retirement homes: settlements
- 13 million tonnes of important cargo at the port
- Easington gas terminal: 1000 jobs and 25% of UK gas supply

Question 4

how much does the coast retreat per year

Answer 4

1 to 2 metres

Question 5

why is the village of Mappleton being protected

Answer 5

it is perched on a cliff on top of the H coast and has around 50 properties - the erosion puts the village under threat

Question 6

Mappleton protection

Answer 6

1991: decision was made to protect M
2milli was spent on two hard engineering types
- rock armour/revetments
- 2 rock groynes
now M is no longer under threat and the cliffs aren’t dangerously eroding
the beach groynes have stopped material moving south from M by LSD

Question 7

why is Mappleton’s protection worse for surrounding areas

Answer 7

wherever you protect the coastline, it will have a knock-on effect elsewhere.

• increase in erosion at Great Cowden because of the M groynes
  –> destroyed farms
  –> loss of 100 chalets at holiday park
• some people disagree with the location of the sea defences, especially if their land becomes less protected
• some sea defences negatively impact tourism, reducing income
  –> seawalls are an eyesore
  –> gabions can trap wildlife/kids and habituate rat nests

Question 8

why does climate change increase the threat of erosion

Answer 8

it increases the threat of higher sea levels, meaning that other places will need to consider the sustainability of coastal defence strategies for the future

Question 9

management strategies

Answer 9

bridlington - protected by a 4.7km long sea wall
hornsea - protected by a sea wall, groynes, and rock armour
withersea - tried to widen beach with groynes, uses sea wall
mappleton - protected by rock groynes
spurn head - protected with groynes and rock armour