Coasts - Case Study - Saltburn to Flamborough Head - High Energy Coastline

Question 1

How long is the coastline between Saltburn and Flamborough Head?

Answer 1

• 60km

Question 2

What type of coastal environment is Saltburn to Flamborough Head?

Answer 2

• High-energy coastline

Question 3

How does geology influence the coastline? (2)

Answer 3

1. Discordant coastline = headlands & bays more varied than along a concordant coastline
2. Differing rock types (different levels of resistance)
   a. Chalk (Flamborough Head & Selwick’s Bay) = resistant
   b. Kimmeridge clay (Filey Bay) = less resistant (0.8m/year)
   c. Shales (Robin Hood’s Bay) = less resistant (0.8m/year)
   d. Sandstone/limestone with interbedded glacial till (Saltburn) = resistant (0.1m/year)

Question 4

How do waves influence the coastline? (5)

Answer 4

1. Dominant waves from North & North-East
2. Long fetch (1,500km) = long time to build up energy = powerful waves
3. High tidal range (4m) = more potential erosion
4. LSD (North to South)- sediment movement interrupted by headland = sand and shingle accumulate (i.e. Filey Bay)
5. Wave refraction around headland (Flamborough Head) = formation of distinctive landforms

Question 5

How does wind influence the coastline? (2)

Answer 5

1. Prevailing wind from North/North-East drives high-energy waves
2. Aeolian processes (but very limited)

Question 6

Where has sediment within the coastline come from? (3)

Answer 6

1. Nearshore area- driven onshore as sea levels rose at end of last glacial period
2. Cliff erosion- i.e. from sandstone and chalk (resistant rock outcrops) & boulder clay deposits (gravel)
3. River Esk BUT limited due to construction of weirs and reinforced banks along its course (human activity)

Question 7

What landforms/cliff profiles are seen at Saltburn? (2)

Answer 7

1. Limestone/sandstone with interbedded glacial till = resistant (0.1m/year)- stepped profile reflects more varied geology
2. Horizontally-bedded strata = steepest cliffs along coastline

Question 8

What landforms/cliff profiles are seen at Robin Hood’s Bay? (3)

Answer 8

1. Shale = less resistant (0.8m/year)
2. Wave-cut platforms (active erosion = cliff retreat)- 1* = shallow gradient with max width of 500m
3. Possible shore platform created in last 6,000 years (constant level of erosion due to predom. stable sea levels)
4. Headlands (sandstone) = more resistant bands either side of bay (0.1m/year)

Question 9

What landforms/cliff profiles are seen at Filey Bay? (2)

Answer 9

1. Kimmeridge clay (weak) = extremely susceptible to erosion (0.8m/year)
2. Mass movement (slumping) = shallower angle cliff profiles

Question 10

What landforms/cliff profiles are seen at Flamborough Head? (5)

Answer 10

1. Chalk (resistant)- points of weakness = landforms
2. Joints/faults exploited by erosive waves = caves & arches (i.e. Selwick’s Bay where master joint in chalk has been enlarged)
3. Stacks (i.e. Green Stacks Pinnacle)
4. Geos (over 50)- most aligned to the NE/NNE (facing dominant wave direction)
5. Blowholes- where vertical master joints in the chalk have been enlarged

Question 11

Why are there few developed beaches along the coastline?

Answer 11

1. High-energy waves remove sediment before it can accumulate
2. High tidal range (4m)
3. Lack of estuarine environments that would provide sediment sinks

Question 12

Why are there few developed beaches along the coastline?

Answer 12

1. High-energy waves remove sediment before it can accumulate
2. High tidal range (4m)
3. Lack of estuarine environments that would provide sediment sinks