Local Case Study Climate Change Essay Flashcards
Introduction (climate change impact on coasts
Climate change causes eustatic sea level change, which occurs when water that was previously locked up as ice stored on land melts and finds its way into ocean basin. Along the rapidly eroding Holderness coastline this will lead to even higher coastal erosion rates, putting at risk local settlements. Sea level rise will as well likely lead to higher chances of flooding.
Paragraph 1 point - rapid rates of erosion impact of climate change
Due to the Holderness coastline being made of Boulder clay it is claimed to be Europe’s fastest eroding coastline. Sea level rise associated with climate change an the prevailing north-easterly wind conspire to make this coast susceptible to rapid rates of coastal erosion. Currently the soft boulder clay cliffs had been eroded at a rate of between 7 an 10 mm average. For example the 1 km stretch of eroding coastline fronting the Easington and Dimlington Gas terminals, that account for 25% of North Sea production.
AO1 -1 - Sea level rise along the Holderness coast,cost of the scheme in Easington and Dimlington
The medium prediction for sea level rise along the Holderness coast is about 30 cm in the nest 5 years, this rate is significantly higher than 1-2 mm/year that have occurred in the previous 100 years.
Around 30 villages have been lost since Roman times, meaning homes and businesses have been lost.
A revetment of rock armour has been placed at the foot of the cliffs. This recent £4.5 million scheme remains untested.
Evaluation paragraph 1 - effectiveness of scheme in Easington
Though the site qualified for protection as ‘being in the national interest’, the scheme fails to protect the actual village despite a public enquiry. There are important SSSI sites to the south and there is considerable conflict with environmental groups. Thus the hard engineering strategies that are implemented only to an extent can address the negative impacts of sea level change due to climate change.
Paragraph 2 - point - negative impact - higher chances of flooding
Another negative impact caused by rising sea levels is higher risks of flooding of coastal area. Due to low elevation of some areas of Holderness coast, the drainage of water is slow, leading to higher risk of flooding. Wetter winters that are forecasted to become more regular as a result of climate change also pose a risk to the settlements. Thus the coastal communities will be negatively affected by higher risk of flooding due to climate change.
AO1 - flooding in Hull and cost of scheme along the coast - Paragraph 2
Large areas of Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire were badly flooded in July 2007 following heavy rainfall, with thousands of homes and businesses inundated.
The Holderness Drain Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) is a £28 million project to reduce flood risk for homes and businesses from the Holderness Drain.
Evaluation for paragraph 2 - how to reverse or limit the risk
More investment can be spent on flood defences along the coast. The issue again being the financial cost of their implementation.
Paragraph 3 - reverse and limit the risks posed by climate change - example of Mappleton
Impact can be reversed through the coastal management
The issues such as higher risks of flooding and coastal erosion of the Holderness coastline can be effectively addressed through coastal management. Hard engineering strategies it can be seen on the example of Mappleton, where groynes successfully protect Mappleton, the B1242 road and the cliffs at Mappleton.
AO1 - paragraph 3 - Mappleton (1990) - cost of the scheme
In 1990, Mappleton was under threat from loosing 30 houses and its main road.
The £2 million project created two large rock groynes to trap materials that are carried in the waves during longshore drift. In addition to this, a revetment consisting of large granite boulders has been constructed.
At Great Cobden 3 km to the south of Mappleton there are worrying signs of rapid erosion of beaches, cliffs and farm buildings, which may be linked to Mappleton’s growing beach.
Paragraph 3 - Evaluation - Mappleton scheme effect along the coast
To the South of Mappleton (Great Cobden) there are signs of higher erosion rates. This undermines to which the negative impacts caused by higher coastal erosion rates due to sea level change can be minimised.
Conclusion
The climate change is predicted to have negative impacts along the Holderness coastline due to higher coastal erosion and higher risks of flooding which consequently put at risk local settlements. Higher rates of coastal erosion is likely to occur due to eustatic sea level rise as a consequence of climate change, what will increase the rate of coast line retreat, putting houses and local businesses at risk. Another negative impact of climate change is higher risk of flooding due to longer and more severe winter wetter seasons and again rising sea levels. Due to the physical geography of the Holderness coast, and in some location extremely low elevation of the land, many areas along the coast will be negatively impacted. It is argued that such negative impacts can be addresses through coastal management strategies. Such as at Mappleton where hard-engineering strategies which were out in place successfully protect the coast or the alleviation scheme which is being implemented in Hull and East reading in order to prevent future flooding or revetments in East Reading preventing the erosion of coast. Nevertheless, this strategies have a number of limitations to them, which include high cost of implementation, affects down along the coast, long-term sustainability and effectiveness. This undermines the extent to which coastal management strategies can be used to address negative impacts of climate change along the Holderness coastline. Therefore currently climate change is predicted to have negative impacts along the Holderness coastline, which to an extent can be addressed by hard engineering strategies.
