KQ2 - High energy coastline- Saltburn to Flamborough head Flashcards
What is the distance between salt burn and Flamborough head?
240km
How high are the North York Moors and what is the lithology?
400m above sea level, mainly sandstone, shales and limestone formed during the jurassic period
What is the geology of Flamborough head?
- Chalk headland
- Cliffs topped with glacial till, a deposit left behind by glaciers during the devensian glacial period
What occurred during the cretaceous period and early tertiary period which has affected the resistance of rock to geomorphic processes?
Tectonic processes led to uplift of sedimentary rock leading to folding and faulting
where is the dominant wave affecting coastline from and which parts are most affected?
They are mainly from the north or northeast with a fetch of up to 1500km, the most exposed are North facing, such as areas near Saltburn
what is the variation in erosion caused by and how does it change?
Rates are affected by wave energy inputs as well as variations of different resistant geology. Areas of weak shale and clay can experience rates of erosion at up to 0.8m a year whilst resistant sandstones and limestone only at 0.1m a year
monitoring of wave height at Whitby Bay revealed how much the wave changes?
exceeding up to 4m even in summer
How do high energy waves impagt longshore drift?
Causes longshore drift from North to South, this sediment may be interested we interrupted by headlands and has led to formation of beaches including Filey bay
What part of the sediment cell is Saltburn to Flamborough?
cell is Saltburn to Flamborough?
Sub cell 1d of sediment cell 1
Where does the onshore sediment originate from?
sediment driven onshore by sea level rise at the end of the glacial period
How has erosion increased sediment supply?
cliff erosion such as the resistant sandstone as well as erosion from boulder clay deposits which produce significant amount of gravel
Impact of weirs and reinforced banks along whitby has…
has reduced supply of sediment to the coastline significantly
how much did sediment increase by at Saltburn from 2008 to 2011?
By up to 9245m³
what is the tilt of the Cliffs?
vertical face as the sedimentary rock are horizontally bedded
what type of rock are most Cliffs made up of?
chalk, physically strong
How high are the Cliffs and at what angle does the till lie? and at what height are the Cliffs up north?
20-30m high with the till lowered to 40°by mass movement . Up north they are much higher but with a more stepped profile.
How has Robin hoods bay formed? describe it’s profile and when they may have formed?
High energy waves and active erosion has led to coastal retreat, with shore platforms such as Robin Hoods bay, stretching about 500m at a typical angle of 1° although some of the ramped sections can reach up to 15°. considered to be relic features thought to have formed during inter-glacial periods
what is the distribution of bays and headlands along the coast?
Bays and headlands have formed across a discordant coastline, weak shales and resistant sandstone to the side e.g. the robin hood bay is an example with the Ravenscar to the south and Ness point to the north.
give example of how stacks have formed
wave refraction concentrated around the headland, has led to exploitation of weaknesses and their enlargement. These features are evident at selwicks bay at Flamborough head, such as stacks
How many geos are there?
Approximately 50 along the coastline, most aligned to the NE facing wind
What is the evidence of blowhole?
They have been enlarged along a master joint, this has meant that clay and boulder heads have collapsed on to sea caves, and several blowhole have appeared to have merged to form complex inlets at the north of selwicks bay
Are there any beaches?
There are a few along the coastline such as Filey bay and Scarborough head
Why are there limited sediment inputs?
Slow rates of erosion from more resistant rock as well as limited sediment inputs from the rivers. , high energy waves also usually remove sediment before it can accumulate
Why are there limited drift aligned features and spits?
There is a high tidal range of 4m and limited estuarine environments to provide sediment sink
