Discordant coastline example: Flamborough Head, Holderness- CASE STUDY

Question 1

How does the geology (geological structure) affect the rate of erosion here?

Answer 1

1. Faulting and dipping bedding planes which are well jointed
2. Line of disturbance in Selwicks Bay
3. Lots of faulting at North Landing
   All these erosional features combine to increase erosional and sub-aerial processes.

Question 2

What are the erosional features at Selwicks bay?

Answer 2

• faults (which are easily eroded into caves)
• line of disturbance from earth movements, creating a small headland.

Question 3

What are the erosional landforms at Selwicks bay?

Answer 3

• large wave cut platform which occupies the majority of the bay
• Arches/CASS
• Blowhole (previously filled in with boulder clay) - ampitheatre effect occuring as it slumps inwards.

Question 4

What is the lithology like in Selwicks Bay?

Answer 4

The rock is more resistant than in North Landing as the chalk has a high calcite content.

Question 5

What processes take place at Selwicks Bay?

Answer 5

Wave refraction - destructive waves are concentrated at the headland.

Question 6

How does the geology of North Landing differ to Selwicks Bay?

Answer 6

• The layers of chalk are thinner
• the rock is less resistant and more fragmented as it contains flint
• lots of faulting
• landward dipping planes at North Landing (more stable and steeper cliffs as it is more difficult to undercut the rock)

Question 7

How do the dominant processes at North Landing compare to the dominant processes at Selwicks Bay?

Answer 7

• Greater marine erosion since the strength of the waves is greater (larger fetch) as North Landing is open to the North Atlantic.