The Holderness coast

Question 1

what is the holderness coast?

Answer 1

one of the fastest eroding areas in Britain

Question 2

what is the spectacular evidence of erosion along the holderness coast?

Answer 2

sea cliffs and wave cut platforms

stacks,caves,arches

Question 3

what is the majority of the coast made up of?

Answer 3

glacial till

Question 4

on average the cliffs are eroding at a rate of?

Answer 4

1.5 - 2m per year

Question 5

natural cliff erosion happens on the holderness coast via the following cycle…

Answer 5

• soft boulder clay cliffs become saturated with rainwater
• steep cliff face fails and a landslide or slump takes place
• the cliff and debris create a steep angle
• storm waves remove debris in LSD, the cliff steepens and the cycle begins again

Question 6

what are the socio-econmic impacts of coastal erosion?

Answer 6

• properties threatened by erosion lose value
• trade with diminish as facilities close
• the loss of jobs means the young leave
• shops and schools will close as populations fall

Question 7

what are the main problems at mappleton?

Answer 7

boulder clay cliffs
strong waves
narrow beach

Question 8

what was the management decision employed at mappleton?

Answer 8

‘hold the line’ and try and tackle the process at the face and foot of the cliffs

Question 9

what was mappleton funded with?

Answer 9

a 2.1 million pounds EU grant

Question 10

The scheme adopted had 3 components these were:

Answer 10

1. two rock groynes
2. a rock revetment (rip rap)
3. re-grading of the boulder clay cliffs

Question 11

what is happening at barmston?

Answer 11

at barmston the coastline is retreating
tipping of rocks to protect the cliffs -temporary defences
but the ‘do nothing’ approach means this will soon end

Question 12

what is the magagement policy at hornsea?

Answer 12

‘hold the line’

Question 13

what has happened at hornsea (management)?

Answer 13

replacement or repair of 19 groynes
underpinning sea walls
building a flood wall
placing rip-rap

Question 14

is management along the holderness coast sustainable?

Answer 14

• not sustainable
• fast erosion rates-cost too much to damage
• managed some parts but not others, should focus on the coastline as a whole
• places e.g mappleton will stick out as headlands and be more susceptible to erosion

Question 15

what are the arguments for protecting the holderness coast?

Answer 15

tourist industry - gas terminal
infrastructure
homes
loss of farming and industry
spit acts as a natural barrier and protects humber from flooding
coastline needs protecting due to rock structure which means erosion will continue without management

Question 16

what are the arguments against protecting the holderness coastline?

Answer 16

• accelerated erosion results in coastal system needing to be managed however GW causes greater erosion and the management isn’t working
• management strategies sometimes can’t cope with severe storm surge
• the towns that are currently being protected could end up as isolated headlands as areas around them retreat backwards

Question 17

what are the factors which account for the rapid rate of erosion along the holderness coast?

Answer 17

• long fetch and powerful waves from the north-east
• weak and unconsolidated till cliffs
• extensive mass movement
• narrow beach making the cliffs vulnerable to wave attack
• lack of coastal defences

Question 18

what are the factors which affect cliff profiles and rates?

Answer 18

geology
fetch
management

Question 19

what are the possible impacts of sea level rise on coastal processes and landforms along the holderness coast?

Answer 19

• eustatic sea level = more common occurrence
• rise in sea level leads to more storm surges
• increased storm surge frequency leads to increased erosion
• due to nature of boulder clay cliffs result is going to be more rapid
• more powerful destructive waves will attack the holderness coastline leading to accelerated eorison

Question 20

what is resilience?

Answer 20

the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties

Question 21

what is mitigation?

Answer 21

the action of reducing the severity of something

Question 22

what is adaptation?

Answer 22

the processes of change by which something becomes better suited to it’s environment

Question 23

MAPPLETON

Answer 23

In 1991, the decision was taken to protect Mappleton. A coastal management scheme costing £2 million was introduced = placing rock armour along the base of the cliff and building two rock groynes.
Mappleton and the cliffs are no longer at great risk from erosion.
The rock groynes have stopped beach material being moved south from Mappleton along the coast. However, this has increased erosion south of Mappleton.

Question 24

What has the management been at spurn head?

Answer 24

Combination of hard strategies
Timber groynes
Sea wall

Question 25

At spurn head what are the consequences of the groynes and sea wall?

Answer 25

The central part of spit has been frozen whilst the landward end moves westward matching erosion of holderness Coast

Question 26

What have they decided to do on the beach of Easington?

Answer 26

They have decided to build groynes to protect the gas terminal

Question 27

Would protecting Easington be worthwhile?

Answer 27

Economically yes but realistically the North Sea gas has only 30 year life span so groynes being removed and the reform of the spit may be more sustainable

Question 28

What are the physical features of flambourgh head?

Answer 28

Headland consisting of hard Rock white chalk cliffs

Question 29

What is present at flambourgh head?

Answer 29

Caves 
Arches 
Stacks 
Stumps 
Wave cut platforms