Costal systems and landscapes - Case studies Flashcards
Describe the Holderness coastline
Stretch of coastline in eastern England, compromised of:
- Flamborough Head
- Bridlington Bay
- Spurn Head
Give some factors affecting the Holderness coastline
- Wind blowing from the north-east drives powerful waves towards the coast, occasionally these form storm surges leading to significant erosion and flooding.
- Some areas (Hornsea) have been protected with hard engineering structures, however these have depriver areas further south.
Where/what is Flamborough Head
- Juts into the North Sea from the east coast
- Made of chalk
What is happening at Flamborough head?
- Sea is eroding and undercutting the base of the cliff leading to rockfall, overtime forming wave-cut platforms
- Approaching waves are refracted by the coastline, they lose their energy and deposit sedimen
What is happening along the coastline of Bridlington Bay
- Retreated by 5km since Roman times, accounting for the loss of several settlements and ports
- Erosion exceeds 1m per year; one of the most rapidly eroding coastlines in Europe
- Erosion creates vast amount of sediment which feeds the cell elsewhere + reduces erosion
What coastal management defences were put in place in Spurn Head and why?
- After a massive breach in 1849 groynes and revetments were put in place
- With military forts based at Spurn Head they took over management, after it was brought by the Yorkshire Naturalist’ Trust who could not afford the maintenance
What is Spurn Head?
- Temporary sediment store
- Frequently destroyed by storms
- Spit made from derived sediment from the Holderness coastline
Where is Odisha?
- State on the eastern coast of India, bordering the Bay of Bengal
- India’s 9th largest state by area
Give some opportunities Odisha presents for human occupation and development:
- Huge potential for offshore wind, tidal and wave power
- Wide variety of costal flora and fauna
- Costal beaches and wildlife sanctuary’s invite tourists
- Large stocks of fish, many locals are employed in costal fishing
Give some risks for human occupation and development:
- Majority of the state living on the costal plain, vulnerable to storm surges and tsunamis
- Human intervention has interfered with sediment transfer, resulting in severe erosion in certain areas
How have Odisha resisted, mitigated and adapted to tropical cyclones?
- Providing relief supplies ahead of an approahcing storm
- Broadcasting warnings and conducting evactuations
What does the ICZM project for Odisha aim to do?
- Establish sustainable levels of economic and social activity
- Resolve environmental, economic and social challenges
- Protect the costal environment
Give some projects which have been put in place to manage the Odisha coastline:
- Greenpeace India involved in meetings about management of marine resources
- Public consultations held
- ICZM project including various stakeholders
How is the Mahanadi Delta being managed?
- ICZM is helping villagers to cultivate and plant mangroves along the coastline
Example of eustatic change
Precipitation falls as snow, forming ice sheets which store water hence sea levels fall.
