Holderness Flashcards
What are two key features of the Holderness coast?
Spurn Head in the South and Flamborough Head in the North
3 reasons for erosion here
Geology, fetch and LSD/Beach material
What is the geology like and what is the positive and negative impacts of it?
Chalk & Boulder clay
Good fertile soils for farming
BUT little resistance so rapid erosion when wet producing shallow sloping cliffs
Why is the fetch expected the be quite small?
Winds comes from NE
Why is the fetch actually quite big?
Swell circulates from Atlantic - powerful desctructive
Low pressure weather systems
Small enclosed seas - energy can’t be dissipated
Deep sea floor - doesn’t help weaken waves through friction
How are Holderness cliffs so unprotected?
Boulder clay eroding to form unconsolidated clay particles , easily transported southwards by LSD form Spurn Head spit and cliffs left with nothing.
2 types of cliff erosion occurring?
Cliff foot erosion and sub aerial processes
What processes are involved in cliff foot erosion?
Abrasion, corrosion, hydraulic action and corrosion
What processes are involved in sub aerial processes?
Freeze thaw, biological weathering, chemical weathering - dissolves chalk at Flamborough Head
What is the process of mass movement of the Holderness cliffs?
Slumping: alternate wetting and drying, expanding and shrinking, cracks, percolation, lubrication, gravity, sliding
What could increase the level of risk in Holderness?
Eustatic sea level rise and Isostatic change meaning towns further inland could be at risk - Mappleton.
