Holderness Coast Flashcards
What is the distance from Flamborough Head to Spurn Point?
61km
What is the coastline mostly made up of?
Glacial till, deposited 18000 years ago in the last ice age
How many villages have been lost since roman times?
14 villages
How many metres per year is it eroding?
1-2 metres per year, fastest eroding coastline in europe
How many tonnes of material is lost per year?
2 million tonnes
What erosion processes take place naturally?
Abraison
Corrasion
hydraulic action
solution
What transportational processes take place?
longshore drift via: solution saltation traction suspension
Where is the majority of the material deposited?
Spurn head
What are the natural beaches almost always like?
Narrow and unable to stop erosion
What did Mappleton have installed in 1991?
Two rock groynes and a rock revetment
What happened to the north and south beaches of Mappleton?
The north beaches were full and wide, whereas the south beaches are sparce and deprived of sediment
What effect did the sparce south beaches have on the coastline?
caused more erosion, even on a neap tide where it is 30% less than a normal tidal range, as the water still reaches the cliffs
Are there any sea defences at Aldbrough?
No
Why is Withernsea getting protected?
Because its a tourist attraction so it means the cost is worth it
Which sea defences are at Withernsea?
Concrete sea wall, rock revetments and a groyne
What is happening at Kilnsea?
The old settlement has been completely lost
The sea defences are now old and crumbling and erosion is taken place very fast
How long is Spurn Head?
5.5km
Is Spurn head fully protected?
The spit used to be fully defended but theyre starting to fail
The end is fairly stable, with strong plant roots
There are also groynes, but theyre old
What will eventually happen to spurn head?
It could eventually die out, if sea defences further north keep depriving south beaches of sediment
