Spurn Head - Unstable Spit Flashcards
Why does the longshore drift from north to south carry a heavy load?
Because of the rapid rates of erosion along the 60km length of boulder clay cliffs in Holderness to the north.
How long is spur head?
8km.
What does the dominant wind direction from the north east mean?
It keeps the alignment parallel to the coast but also curves the distal end of the spit back into Humber Estuary.
What has been created behind the spit?
Still water behind it, in which finer sediments have been deposited.
What is happening to the deep water channel?
Its being pushed southwards.
When is a spit depicted as being unstable?
When it reaches over 5km.
Where is spurn spit vulnerable?
At the narrow points in the central section of the spit to storm waves.
When was there recorded breaches of the spit?
14th, 17th and 19th century.
What happens after every breach of the spit?
It reforms because all of the favourable conditions for the formation of a spit exist.
What was the policy?
To protect the spit.
Building a concrete wall by the army during the Ministry of Defence - meant to stop erosion.
Groynes meant to trap and hold sand in place.
When was the policy introduced?
1850s-1950s.
What has happened because of the policy?
Parts of the wall have collapsed.
Groyes in state of repair.
Narrow sections of spit are exposed and vulnerable to erosion from northerly gales.
What is the overall problem at spurn head?
Its position has remained stationary while the rest of the Holderness coastline has retreated.
