Holderness Flashcards
Where is the Holderness Coast and why is it significant?
Located on the east coast of England (Yorkshire), it is one of Europe’s fastest eroding coastlines—eroding at to 1.2m per year.
What is the geology of the Holderness Coast?
It consists of soft boulder clay (glacial till), which is easily eroded by marine and sub-aerial processes. Chalk is found further north at Flamborough Head.
What are the main coastal processes affecting the Holderness Coast?
Hydraulic action, abrasion, and corrosion (marine processes); Weathering and mass movement (slumping common due to saturated clay); Longshore drift moves material southward, leaving some areas starved of sediment.
What erosional landforms are found at the Holderness Coast?
Headlands and bays at Flamborough Head; Caves, arches, stacks, and stumps (e.g., Selwicks Bay); Wave-cut platforms.
What depositional landforms are found along the Holderness Coast?
Spurn Point: a recurved spit formed by longshore drift; Sandy beaches in low-energy environments (e.g., around Withernsea).
How has human management attempted to protect the Holderness Coast?
Hard engineering at Hornsea, Mappleton, and Withernsea (e.g., groynes, sea walls, rock armour); Two rock groynes and revetments installed at Mappleton in 1991; Soft engineering at Spurn Head (previously managed retreat).
Seas walls at Withernsea, Hornsea, and Bridlington
What are the impacts of coastal management at Holderness?
Groynes prevent longshore drift, starving areas further south (e.g., increased erosion at Cowden); Spurn Point is at risk of being breached without sediment supply; Conflicts between protecting property and natural processes.
What role does climate change play in the erosion of the Holderness Coast?
Rising sea levels increase wave energy and erosion; More frequent storms add to cliff retreat and damage to defences.
What are the main stakeholder conflicts along the Holderness Coast?
Local residents want protection for homes; Farmers want land preserved but often can’t afford private defences; Environmentalists support natural processes (e.g., managed retreat); East Riding of Yorkshire Council balances cost, protection, and sustainability; Businesses & tourism want protection for economic stability; Conflicts arise when defences in one area increase erosion elsewhere.
What is sustainable coastal management and how is it applied at Holderness?
Focuses on long-term, low-impact strategies that work with natural processes; Example: Managed retreat at Spurn Head—no longer defending spit from erosion; East Riding Coastal Change Fund helps relocate and compensate at-risk residents; Coastal monitoring & adapting strategies over time = adaptive management.
What are the hard engineering strategies used at Holderness?
Sea walls (e.g., Hornsea): reflect wave energy but expensive and need maintenance; Groynes (e.g., Hornsea & Mappleton): trap sediment to build up beaches but starve southern areas; Rock armour (riprap): large boulders absorb wave energy (e.g., Withernsea, Mappleton); Revetments: sloping structures that absorb wave energy (used at Mappleton in 1991).
What is Spurn Head and why is it significant?
A recurved spit formed by longshore drift transporting sediment south; Protects the Humber Estuary; Home to unique ecosystems and bird habitats; Was defended in the past but now is under managed retreat; It is one of the longest spits in Europe.
What is Flamborough Head and why is it resistant to erosion?
Flamborough Head is a headland made of chalk, which is a harder, more resistant rock than glacial till, so it erodes more slowly.
What is the geological structure of the Holderness coastline?
The Holderness coast is a discordant coastline, where alternating bands of chalk and glacial till create headlands and bays.
Why are chalk joints and faults significant for erosion?
Vertical cracks (joints) and faults in chalk are weak points, making them more susceptible to erosion and weathering.
What makes Bridlington Bay vulnerable to erosion?
Bridlington Bay has a narrow beach, offering little protection to the soft cliffs, making them highly vulnerable to erosion.
How does erosion at Holderness contribute to the sediment cell?
High erosion rates generate large amounts of sediment, which are transported by longshore drift to feed the sediment cell.
How much has the Holderness coastline retreated since Roman times?
The coastline has retreated up to 5km since Roman times, leading to the loss of settlements.
What are the two main rock types along the Holderness coast and how do they differ?
Chalk is resistant, forming headlands (e.g., Flamborough Head), while glacial till is easily eroded, forming bays like Holderness Bay.
How do sea and weather conditions increase erosion at Holderness?
Northeast winds create a powerful fetch, and low-pressure systems funnel water in the North Sea, causing storm surges.
What is the direction and impact of longshore drift at Holderness?
Longshore drift moves north to south along the Holderness coast. It transports sediment, but groynes can cause sediment starvation downstream.
What is significant about the erosion rate and location of the Holderness Coast?
Holderness is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe at 1.2 metres per year. It is located on the North Sea coast.
What is the geology of the Holderness Coast and how does it affect erosion?
The coastline is made of glacial till (boulders, sand, clay), which is easily eroded due to its softness.
How do wind and wave energy affect the Holderness Coast?
The UK’s main wind comes from the Caribbean, but Holderness is on the leeward (sheltered) side. It has a short fetch and is part of a sediment cell.
What is the origin of the sediment at the Holderness Coast?
A thousand years ago, an ice sheet in the North Sea deposited boulders, sand, stone, and clay on the coast. As it melted, it left a blanket of glacial till.
What is the impact of historical sea level changes on the Holderness Coast?
The melting ice sheet led to a static sea level rise. The last ice age ended around 10,000 years ago.
What is the historical significance of the Holderness Coast?
The Romans built settlements on the coastline 2,000–3,000 years ago. The cliffs are soft, so erosion is fast.
What kind of coastline is Holderness and how does sediment move?
It is a discordant coastline. The sea appears brown due to suspended sediment. Longshore drift moves sediment south.
What hard engineering strategies are used at Mappleton and Withernsea?
Groynes are used at Mappleton. South of Mappleton, there is sediment starvation. Sea walls (including recurved walls) are found at Withernsea.
What is the environmental cost of sea defences like concrete sea walls?
Concrete sea walls were replaced due to sea level rise. Concrete is responsible for 1% of global CO2 emissions. Sea defences stretch over 1 km at Willemstee beach.
Where in holderness has groynes?
Mappleton and witherensea
