Holderness Coastline Flashcards
Where is the Holderness Coast located?
On the east coast of England
How long does the Holderness Coast extend?
61km from Flamborough in the north to Spurn Point in the south
What is the average annual erosion rate of the Holderness Coast?
Around 2 metres
How much material is eroded from the Holderness Coast each year?
Around 2 million tonnes
How much land has been lost from the Holderness Coast since Roman times?
Approximately 3 miles (5kms)
How many towns/villages have been lost due to erosion on the Holderness Coast?
23 towns/villages
What type of bedrock underlies the Holderness Coast?
Cretaceous Chalk
What covers the bedrock of the Holderness Coast in most places?
Glacial till deposited over 18,000 years ago
What type of material is primarily being eroded on the Holderness Coast?
Soft boulder clay
What are the two main reasons for the rapid erosion of the Holderness Coast?
- Strong prevailing winds creating destructive waves
- Cliffs made of soft boulder clay that erodes rapidly when saturated
True or False: The Holderness Coast is one of Europe’s fastest eroding coastlines.
True
Fill in the blank: The Holderness Coast has lost approximately _______ miles of land since Roman times.
3
What is Flamborough Head?
A headland that juts out into the North Sea formed from chalk.
What type of rock primarily composes Flamborough Head?
Chalk.
What are some coastal landforms formed in Selwicks Bay?
- Steep cliffs
- Wave-cut notches
- Wave-cut platform
- Stack known as Stack Adam
- Coastal arches
What is the rate of erosion at Hornsea?
Up to 3m of erosion per year
The cliffs are formed from weak boulder clay
What does the management at Hornsea protect?
Tourist features such as arcades and hotels, and creates a sandy beach
What is one of the strategies used for coastal management at Hornsea?
Sea Wall
What is the cost of the wooden groynes at Hornsea?
£5.2 million
What is a downside of the groynes at Hornsea?
They prevent material reaching popular seaside towns to the South
How does tourism in Hornsea negatively impact locals?
It leads to congestion in the summer
What is a criticism of the sea wall at Hornsea?
It is an unattractive feature
What was the annual damage amount before management was implemented at Mappleton?
£2.9 million
What benefits did the management at Mappleton produce?
A sandy beach, protection for the town
What strategy was employed at Mappleton?
A rock groin and rock Armour
What was the cost of the rock armour at Mappleton?
£2 million
What is a negative effect of the management at Mappleton on the surrounding area?
The rate of erosion has increased significantly south of Mappleton
What is significant about Easington in terms of gas supply?
2.25% of all UK gas comes through the gas terminal at Easington
What management strategy was used at Easington?
Rock Armour
What is the cost of the rock armour at Easington?
£4.5 million
What does the management scheme at Easington protect?
The gas terminal
What is a downside of the protection scheme at Easington?
It does not protect the village
What environmental impact does the management at Easington have?
It prevents material reaching Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) further South such as sand dunes
What can defending the coast make worse?
Issues further down the coast e.g. speed up erosion
Some say it may harm the SSSI Spurn Point.
What is a major concern regarding the cost of coastal defences?
Building and maintaining the defences is expensive and not feasible for some places along the coast.
What does Spurn Point provide evidence of?
Longshore drift on the Holderness Coast
What type of landform is Spurn Point an example of?
A spit, a depositional landform
What percentage of the material eroded from the Holderness Coast is deposited at Spurn Point annually?
Around 3%
What event in December 2013 affected Spurn Point?
It was breached by a storm surge
What was destroyed during the December 2013 storm surge at Spurn Point?
A significant area of sand dune and the road linking Spurn Point to the mainland
What type of ecosystem has formed on the inside of Spurn Point?
A salt marsh
Why has a salt marsh formed on the inside of Spurn Point?
The area is sheltered and has a low energy environment
What contributes to sediment deposition in the salt marsh at Spurn Point?
The Humber Estuary
