Holderness - UK coast CS Flashcards
How long is the coast?
50 km
(Document with in depth detail in folder)
(2/4/25)
Flamborough Head
A resistant chalk HEADLAND which illustrates how wave erosion can product arch, stack and wave-cut platform features.
Located at the northern most point of Holderness coast.
Leads to sheltered wide beach at bridlington.
Holderness cliffs example
At MAPPLETON.
More easier eroded boulder clay cliffs facing out to sea face erosional processes.
Waves and longshore drift is also moving material southwards.
Humber Estuary
Enclosed behind SPURN HEAD.
Helped wind, tides and river processes develop the ecosystems of dunes, mudflats and a salt-marsh environment.
Spurn head
Southern end of Holderness coastline
Sediments transported here through LSD are deposited where the winds, waves and the humber estuary have created a large, but fragile recurved split.
Why is it one of the most rapidly eroding coastlines in Europe
Due to Clay geology (easily eroded not resistant) and a high-energy coastline (waves coming from North Sea)
Evidence of Holderness’ problems with coastal erosion
Since Roman times, 29 villages have fallen into the sea along the Holderness coast.
Challenges with coastal engineering.
Growing population and desire for economic development.
3 Physical factors at work along this coastline
Weather
Waves
Geology
Weather influence on coastline
Winter storms produce stronger waves and higher sea levels.
Rain intensifies sub-aerial processes - saturated cliffs suffer increased run-off leading to slumping and other mass movement.
Waves influence on coastline
Destructive waves from North East - also direction of longest fetch over North Sea.
Destructive waves erode beaches and attack the foot of the cliffs, removing clay in suspension.
LSD then carries this material southwards.
Tides and Low energy environment of the Humber estuary allowing sediment to form in a spit, mudflats and sand dunes by SPURN HEAD.
Geology influence on coastline
DISCORDANT coastline, mix of chalk and boulder clay.
Resistant Chalk survived large-scale erosion creating Flaborough head.
Less resistant boulder clay cliffs more easily eroded causing the SWEEPING BAY (LSD) of Holderness.
How far are the holderness cliffs retreating
1.8 meters per year.
What management takes place at Hornsea
Groynes
What management takes place at Spurn head
managed retreat
What management takes place at Withernsea
Sea walls.
