COASTS - HOLDERNESS COAST CASE STUDY

Question 1

Where is it located in the UK?

Answer 1

Eastern England

Question 2

How large is the sediment cell and what two points is it between?

Answer 2

50km
Flamborough Head (chalk) to Bridlington Bay to Spurn Point

Question 3

How far has it retreated since Roman times?

Answer 3

6km

Question 4

How much have global temperatures risen by? (+ since when) and how much has sea level risen by (+ since when)?

Answer 4

1 degree Celsius since AD1500

Global sea level rise by between 10 and 25cm since 1900

Question 5

What is the geology of the area?

Answer 5

chalk (Flamborough Head) and clay

Question 6

What is the weather in the area?

Answer 6

winter storms > storm surges (stronger waves and higher sea levels)

Storm rain intensifies sub aerial processes > saturated clay cliffs resulting in increased runoff and slumping

Question 7

What is the prevailing wind and what does this cause?

Answer 7

From the NE > longshore drift > low energy environment of the Humber Estuary > formation of spits, mudflats and sand dunes

Question 8

Give some information about Flamborough Head

Answer 8

• chalk (resistant rock) headland
• horizontal bedding planes
• erosion > hydraulic action, wave quarrying, abrasion, undercutting of the cliff = wave-cut platforms, wave refraction e.g. Selwicks Bay

Question 9

Give some information about Spurn Head

Answer 9

• 6km compound spit
• growing at 10cm/year
• winter storms periodically threaten to breach the narrow neck and cut it off from the mainland
• 1800s groynes and revetments (1950s protected by Royal Engineers, now Yorkshire Naturalists’ Trust

Question 10

What has occurred within the management of the coastline?

Answer 10

1. Hold the line (protection of key settlements) e.g. Bridlington, Hornsea, Withernsea, and protect coastal road (Mappleton - gas processing facility)
2. No active intervention (essential material for Spurn Point - 20% of UK imports from Humber)
3. Little need to protect northern part of the sediment cell

Question 11

What has occurred at Hornsea and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 11

Holiday resort with promenade and hotel frontage (multiplier effect) so tourism is important
- maintaining sea wall, groynes (£5.2million), steel doors at beach entrance, sea wall slightly raised, sand dunes planted with trees

ADVANTAGES
- groynes effective locally with low cost and acceptable visually

DISADVANTAGES
- trapping sand scours Mappleton
- Groynes rarely work on their own
- continuous maintenance (expensive overtime)
- groynes dont hold mud

Question 12

What has occurred at Withersea and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 12

Resort (sea wall and groynes), wave return wall, rip rap, beach nourishment (£6.3 million total) > emphasis on comprehensive approach

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES