Increasing Risks Flashcards
Why are coastal environments at risk?
They are at risk to rapid coastal erosion
Rising sea levels
What risk does the Holderness coast face
Coastal erosion as its the fastest eroding coastline in Europe.Its average annual rate is 2m, however this occasionaly rises to 10m
Why does the Holderness coast erode so quickly?
Its cliffs are made from chalk which is soft
A large amount of the waves that hit it are from the north east, this is the direction of the longest fetch- so the waves are very destructive
Rising sea levels means theres more force when the sea hits the cliff.
Longshore drift
When the waves hit the beach at an angle, particles in the waves also hit the beach at an angle, as the water runs back the sediment is pulled back also, this process repeats.
Storm surges
An abnormal rise in sea levels caused by a storm. The low air pressure from the storm pulls the water up.
Why has the flood risk at the Thames estuary increased?
Higher mean sea levels - partially due to global warming as this has caused melting of ice sheets.
More storms- creating storm surges.
How has the flood risk at the Thames Estuary been reduced?
The Thames barrier was built in 1983
