What coastal processes are affecting the Holderness coast?
There are two main reasons why this area of coast is eroding so rapidly. The first is the result of the strong prevailing winds creating longshore drift that moves material south along the coastline. The second is that the cliffs are made of soft boulder clay which erodes rapidly when saturated.
What type of coastline is Holderness?
As we can see in figures 2 and 3, the Holderness Coast is a lowland coastal plain deposited by glaciers. The boulder clay is experiencing more rapid rates of erosion compared to the chalk. An outcrop of chalk can be seen to the north and forms the headland, Flamborough Head.
What problems is the Holderness coastline facing?
On average, the coastline of Holderness erodes at about 2m per year, mainly during storms and tidal surges. The impacts of coastal erosion on socio-economic aspects are: damage and loss of infrastructures, loss of property, loss of farmland, danger for tourism, damage to coastal protection.
How does the physical geography of Holderness influence the erosion of the coastline?
In the case of the Holderness coastline, its geology (weak clays) waves (destructive during North Sea storms) and Geomorphology (the shape of the coastline allows the waves to break at the base of the cliffs) make erosion almost inevitable. However some defences have been attempted.
Why is Holderness coast eroding so quickly?
The Holderness Coastline is made up of soft boulder clays (less resistant rock) to the south and chalk (more resistant than clay) to the north (see diagram on the left). Because the clay is weak and less resistant rock, it erodes rapidly. In fact, the Holderness Coast is one of Europe’s fastest eroding coastlines.
How is Holderness coast protected?
Coastal management at Withersea has tried to make the beach wider by using groynes, and also uses a seawall to protect the coast. Mappleton is protected by rock groynes. Spurn Head is protected with groynes and rock armour.
Why is Holderness coast eroding so fast?
Why is Holderness a high energy coastline?
The main reason for this is because the bedrock is made up of till (soft clay). This material was deposited by glaciers around 12,000 years ago. The coastline stretches along the coast of the East Riding of Yorkshire, known as Holderness, from Flamborough Head in the North, to Spurn Head in the south.
How is the Holderness coastline protected?
Management strategies
Hornsea is protected by a sea wall, groynes and rock armour. Coastal management at Withersea has tried to make the beach wider by using groynes, and also uses a seawall to protect the coast. Mappleton is protected by rock groynes. Spurn Head is protected with groynes and rock armour.
Why is the Holderness coastline eroding so quickly?
What sea defenses can be found along the Holderness coastline?
Hornsea is protected by a sea wall, groynes and rock armour. Coastal management at Withersea has tried to make the beach wider by using groynes, and also uses a seawall to protect the coast. Mappleton is protected by rock groynes.
How will climate change affect Holderness coast?
Sea level rise associated with climate change and the prevailing north-easterly wind conspire to make this coast susceptible to rapid rates of coastal erosion. The Holderness Coast has been long recognised as Europe’s fastest eroding.
How is climate change affecting the Holderness coast?
Why does Holderness coast need protecting?
It supplies a large amount of North Sea oil. Farms alongside the sea are devaluing and losing profits year on year as land falls into the sea. Withernsea has to spend millions of pounds each year to protect its population. Properties along the coast lose their value, leaving owners in negative equity.
What has been done to protect the Holderness coast?
Bridlington is protected by a 4.7 km long sea wall. Hornsea is protected by a sea wall, groynes and rock armour. Coastal management at Withersea has tried to make the beach wider by using groynes, and also a seawall to protect the coast. Mappleton is protected by rock groynes.