Holderness Flashcards
Where is Holderness?
in Yorkshire between the North sea and the Chalk Hills of the Wolds
and between lake district and the Pennines
what is the erosion rate of Holderness like?
annual average rate is 2m per year which is one of Europe’s fastest eroding coastlines
what two types of rock are found along the coastline?
boulder clay and chalk
what is Flamborough Head?
chalk cliffs and a headland which is resistant so has created caves, arches and stacks
what happened at Mappleton?
by 1988 the sea was close due to erosion and beach access was impossible and houses were falling into the sea
what scheme helped Mappleton?
in 1991 an EU funded scheme included two rock groynes, a rock revetment to prevent erosion, cliffs regraded to prevent slumping and beach nourishment costing £2.1 million
new access road built and toilets and car park too
what’s happening at Mappleton now?
houses and beach looks secure but the cliffs are showing signs of slumping. beyond the second groyne large rocks are being undermined and cliff face bellow the carpark has began to erode.
what is occurring down the coast due to Mappleton’s sea defences?
at Great Cowden 3km to the south rapid erosion of beaches, cliffs and farm buildings are occurring
what’s happening at Aldbrough and why?
it is a small settlement to the south of Mappleton but has no sea defences so cliffs are rapidly eroding
sea defences at Mappleton may have worsened it as there is no sediment to absorb energy as it’s been trapped by groynes
what was built at Withernsea?
a wave return wall protected by rip-rap or rock armour and nourishment costing £6.3 million
what had happened to the natural beach at Withernsea?
had mostly all disappeared leaving a wave cut platform in the clay beneath
what are advantages of the strategies at Withernsea?
it will hold the line, calm concerns of local residents, save seasonal jobs and halt fall of property prices
what are the disadvantages of the strategies at Withernsea?
costs limited the sea wall length, the rocks have reduced access to the beach and views restricted and wave noise problem
what happened to Killnsea?
the settlement was completely lost sea defences built to protect the Godwin Battery and a light railway are now crumbling
what is spurn head?
a sand and shingle spit reaching across the Humber estuary formed by longshore drift
