Holderness

Question 1

How long is the coastline?

Answer 1

61km

Question 2

How far does the coastline stretch (to and from where)?

Answer 2

From Flamborough Head (headland) to Spurn Head (Spit)

Question 3

How much land is lost to the sea per year?

Answer 3

1.8 average

Question 4

What has the rate of erosion at Great Cowden been in recent years?

Answer 4

10m per year

Question 5

What are the 4 main reasons for rapid erosion?

Answer 5

Easily eroded rock type.
Naturally narrow beaches.
People worsening situation.
Powerful waves.

Question 6

How has an easily eroding rock type led to rapid erosion?

Answer 6

Cliff made up of soft Boulder clay which easily erodes and likely to slump when wet - cliff collapse.

Question 7

How have narrow beaches led to rapid erosion?

Answer 7

Beaches slow waves reducing erosive power. Narrow beaches give less protection to coast.

Question 8

How has people worsening the situation led to rapid erosion?

Answer 8

Groynes built at Mappleton stopped material being transported further down coast which makes beaches narrower and more easily eroded in other areas.

Question 9

How have powerful waves led to rapid erosion?

Answer 9

Holderness faces prevailing wind bringing waves from north east, from Antarctica. Waves increase in power over long fetch and coast battered by highly erosive waves.

Question 10

What could be the impact on homes near the cliff?

Answer 10

E.g. Skipsea at risk of collapsing into sea.

Property prices fallen sharply.

Question 11

How has accessibility to some settlements been affected?

Answer 11

Due to roads near cliff top as risk of collapsing into sea - e.g. Southfield Lane running between Skipsea and Ulrome closed.

Question 12

What impact has it had on businesses?

Answer 12

At risk from erosion so people lose jobs

Question 13

What happened to a caravan park (business)?

Answer 13

Seaside caravan at Ulrome losing an average of 10 pitches a year.

Question 14

What happened to a gas terminal and why is it significant?

Answer 14

Terminal at Easington only 25m from cliff edge. Terminal accounts for 25% of UK gas supply.

Question 15

How much farmland is lost and what effect has this had?

Answer 15

80,000m squared of farmland lost per year with huge effects on farmers livelihoods

Question 16

What is the environmental impact of coastal erosion?

Answer 16

SSSIs threatened. E.g. Lagoon at Easington separated from sea by sand and shingle. If narrow bar eroded, lagoon connects to sea and is destroyed.

Question 17

How much of the coast has been protected by hard engineering?

Answer 17

11.4km

Question 18

What techniques have been used at Bridlington?

Answer 18

4.7km sea wall and wooden groynes protect coast from erosion and flooding.

Question 19

What techniques have been used at Hornsea?

Answer 19

Sea wall, wooden groynes and rock armour protect village from erosion and flooding.

Question 20

What techniques have been used at withernsea?

Answer 20

Groynes create wider beach.

Sea wall and some rock armour in front of wall.

Question 21

What techniques have been used at Mappleton?

Answer 21

2 Rock groynes built 1991 and cost £2 million.

Built to protect village and coastal road from erosion and flooding.

Question 22

What techniques have been used at Spurn Head?

Answer 22

Eastern side protected by groynes and rock armour. This also protects Humber Estuary behind Spurn Head.

Question 23

What is the issue with groynes?

Answer 23

They protect local area but cause narrow beaches down coast which increases erosion there.

E.g. Cowden farm, south of Mappleton, is at risk of falling into sea.

Question 24

What are forming between protected areas?

Answer 24

Bays. Protected areas becoming headlands which are eroded more heavily. Means maintaining defences in protected areas becoming more expensive.