Holderness coast Flashcards
What is the Geology of the Holderness coast
The coast consists of boulder clay which is structurally weak and has little resistance to erosion.
Chalk band that surrounds the boulder clay has created a headland at Flamborough head
What is the fetch like at the Holderness coast
- Small fetch of around 500-800 km
- however currents circulate around the UK from the Atlantic adding wave energy and increase the frequency and hight of destructive waves
- Low pressure systems and storms are often intense
- Sea floor is relatively deep so waves are not weakened by friction
What is longshore drift like on the Holderness coast
- Boulder clay erodes producing mainly clay particles which are easily transported out to sea in suspension rather than building up on the shore
- So there is not much sand to stop the waves reaching the cliff face
What subaerial processes have a big impact on costal erosion on the Holderness coast
Weathering - Chemical weathering is relatively ineffective except on the chalk at Flamborough head. Biological and mechanical weathering such as freeze thaw and plant roots makes the boulder clay crumbly
Slumping- Alternate wetting and drying causes expansion and shrinkage in the cliff then rain enters cracks making it much heavier. The clay then slides downslope and slumped material gathers at the base
Who are they Key Players in the Holderness coastal management?
- Central government agencies
- Local government
- Stakeholders in the local economy
- Environmental stakeholders
What are central government agencies and local government in coastal management?
what has happened to them?
Central government agencies - The environmental agency 1 responsible for costal management. Budget cut since 2010
Local government - Jointly responsible for costal management with the Environmental 1 agency. In 2010 Local government budget was cut by the central which restricted local councils to minimal increases in council tax
Who are Stake holders in the local economy on coastal management at the Holderness coast
what do they want
Stakeholders in the local economy =
- Tourist industry who want more spending on coastal protection
- Famers who want more money spent to protect their land which is lower value than urban areas
- residence who want their homes guaranteed to be safe from the coastal processes
- insurance company’s who are refusing to insure vulnerable properties
Who are environmental stakeholders on the coastal management of Holderness coast
what do they do
English Nature and RSBP (royal society for the protection of birds) want to protect Spurn Head so a continuing flow of sand southwards is essential. The spit gives protection to the Humber Estuary mudflats (one of the UKs most important bird reserves
What has the impact of costal management had on some places on the Holderness coast?
What is it called?
Higher rates of erosion on the south of the costal defences e.g. Hornsea has many coastal defences therefore Mapleton to the south is starved of material as longshore drift is interrupted
Called terminal groyne syndrome
