Subjects

Geography

Physical geography

Coastal systems and landscapes

Holderness Coast Erosion: Case Study A Level AQA - Why It's the Fastest Eroding Coastline

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Holderness Coast Erosion: Case Study A Level AQA - Why It's the Fastest Eroding Coastline

Maisie Wood

@alevel.revisionnotes

160 Followers

The Holderness Coast is one of Europe's fastest eroding coastlines, located on the East Coast of England. This case study explores the geological, physical, and human factors contributing to its rapid erosion rate of 2 meters per year.

Key points:

Extends from Flamborough Head to Spurn Point
Composed of chalk and boulder clay, with the latter being highly susceptible to erosion
Affected by strong prevailing winds, longshore drift, and high-energy waves
Human interventions and climate change exacerbate erosion rates
Various management strategies are employed, but long-term sustainability is a concern

08/06/2023

750

Where?
→ East Coast of England
HOLDERNESS COAST
CASE STUDY
Extends from Flamborough Head to Spurn Point
What?
→ One of Europe's fastest erod

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Holderness Coast: Management Challenges and Strategies

The Holderness Coast requires careful management due to its rapid erosion rates and the complex interplay of natural and human factors affecting the coastline.

Reasons for Management

Sub-aerial erosion: Rainwater infiltration causes mass movement and cliff collapse.
Cliff development: Human activities on cliffs accelerate mass movement.
Boulder clay vulnerability: Cliffs formed by glacial deposits are retreating at an average rate of 1.8 meters per year.
Sediment budget imbalance: Longshore drift and erosion at cliff bases reduce beach formation, leaving cliffs exposed to further erosion.

Definition: Sediment budget - The balance between sediment inputs and outputs within a coastal system.

Management Strategies

Various approaches have been implemented to manage erosion along the Holderness Coast:

Hard Engineering:
- Sea walls (e.g., at Hornsea) to reduce erosion and protect cliffs
- Groynes to alter longshore drift and trap sediment
Managed Retreat:
- No active intervention at Skipsea, allowing natural processes to continue

Highlight: The effectiveness of management strategies varies along the coast, with some areas benefiting while others experience increased erosion rates.

Impacts of Management

The implementation of coastal defenses has led to several consequences:

Beach morphology changes:
- South of Hornsea, beaches have gentler gradients and store less material, allowing waves to reach cliffs more easily.
- Groynes at Hornsea trap sediment, creating steeper and wider beaches.
Sediment size distribution:
- Beaches protected by groynes tend to have smaller sediment sizes, as larger particles are trapped upstream.
- Smaller sediment is more easily transported by storm waves, potentially exacerbating erosion.

Example: The groynes at Hornsea have successfully created wider and steeper beaches, providing better protection for the local area. However, this has come at the cost of increased erosion rates in down-drift locations.

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Holderness Coast: Location and Characteristics

The Holderness Coast is situated on the East Coast of England, stretching from Flamborough Head to Spurn Point. It is renowned as one of the fastest eroding coastlines in Europe, with an average erosion rate of 2 meters per year.

Geological Composition

The coast consists of two main rock types:

Chalk: This resistant rock forms features like Flamborough Head.
Boulder clay: Found in the southern cliffs, this soft material is highly susceptible to erosion, leading to the formation of Holderness Bay.

Vocabulary: Boulder clay - A type of sediment deposited by glaciers, consisting of a mixture of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders.

Physical Factors Affecting Erosion

Several natural processes contribute to the rapid erosion of the Holderness Coast:

Weather: Winter storms generate stronger waves and storm surges, while heavy rain intensifies sub-aerial weathering.
Waves: Destructive waves from the North East, with a large fetch, erode beaches and cliffs.
Longshore drift: This process carries eroded material southward along the coast.
Tides and low energy: These factors contribute to the formation of spits, mudflats, and sand dunes, particularly at Spurn Head.

Highlight: The Humber Estuary plays a crucial role in creating low-energy conditions and promoting deposition in certain areas.

Human Factors Affecting Erosion

Human activities also impact the erosion rates along the Holderness Coast:

Population increase: Growing numbers of residents and tourists put pressure on coastal areas.
Coastal defenses: Unsuitable strategies, such as groynes at Hornsea and Mappleton, can lead to sediment starvation in other areas.
Climate change: Rising sea levels and increased storminess exacerbate erosion and flood risks, particularly at Spurn Head.

Example: The installation of groynes at Hornsea and Mappleton has prevented sediment from depositing on beaches further along the coastline, causing rapid erosion at sites like Great Cowden.

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Subjects

Geography

Physical geography

Coastal systems and landscapes

Holderness Coast Erosion: Case Study A Level AQA - Why It's the Fastest Eroding Coastline

Maisie Wood

@alevel.revisionnotes

160 Followers

Key points:

Extends from Flamborough Head to Spurn Point
Composed of chalk and boulder clay, with the latter being highly susceptible to erosion
Affected by strong prevailing winds, longshore drift, and high-energy waves
Human interventions and climate change exacerbate erosion rates
Various management strategies are employed, but long-term sustainability is a concern

08/06/2023

750

12/13

Geography

Holderness Coast: Management Challenges and Strategies

The Holderness Coast requires careful management due to its rapid erosion rates and the complex interplay of natural and human factors affecting the coastline.

Reasons for Management

Sub-aerial erosion: Rainwater infiltration causes mass movement and cliff collapse.
Cliff development: Human activities on cliffs accelerate mass movement.
Boulder clay vulnerability: Cliffs formed by glacial deposits are retreating at an average rate of 1.8 meters per year.
Sediment budget imbalance: Longshore drift and erosion at cliff bases reduce beach formation, leaving cliffs exposed to further erosion.

Definition: Sediment budget - The balance between sediment inputs and outputs within a coastal system.

Management Strategies

Various approaches have been implemented to manage erosion along the Holderness Coast:

Hard Engineering:
- Sea walls (e.g., at Hornsea) to reduce erosion and protect cliffs
- Groynes to alter longshore drift and trap sediment
Managed Retreat:
- No active intervention at Skipsea, allowing natural processes to continue

Highlight: The effectiveness of management strategies varies along the coast, with some areas benefiting while others experience increased erosion rates.

Impacts of Management

The implementation of coastal defenses has led to several consequences:

Beach morphology changes:
- South of Hornsea, beaches have gentler gradients and store less material, allowing waves to reach cliffs more easily.
- Groynes at Hornsea trap sediment, creating steeper and wider beaches.
Sediment size distribution:
- Beaches protected by groynes tend to have smaller sediment sizes, as larger particles are trapped upstream.
- Smaller sediment is more easily transported by storm waves, potentially exacerbating erosion.

Example: The groynes at Hornsea have successfully created wider and steeper beaches, providing better protection for the local area. However, this has come at the cost of increased erosion rates in down-drift locations.

Holderness Coast: Location and Characteristics

Geological Composition

The coast consists of two main rock types:

Chalk: This resistant rock forms features like Flamborough Head.
Boulder clay: Found in the southern cliffs, this soft material is highly susceptible to erosion, leading to the formation of Holderness Bay.

Vocabulary: Boulder clay - A type of sediment deposited by glaciers, consisting of a mixture of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders.

Physical Factors Affecting Erosion

Several natural processes contribute to the rapid erosion of the Holderness Coast:

Weather: Winter storms generate stronger waves and storm surges, while heavy rain intensifies sub-aerial weathering.
Waves: Destructive waves from the North East, with a large fetch, erode beaches and cliffs.
Longshore drift: This process carries eroded material southward along the coast.
Tides and low energy: These factors contribute to the formation of spits, mudflats, and sand dunes, particularly at Spurn Head.

Highlight: The Humber Estuary plays a crucial role in creating low-energy conditions and promoting deposition in certain areas.

Human Factors Affecting Erosion

Human activities also impact the erosion rates along the Holderness Coast:

Population increase: Growing numbers of residents and tourists put pressure on coastal areas.
Coastal defenses: Unsuitable strategies, such as groynes at Hornsea and Mappleton, can lead to sediment starvation in other areas.
Climate change: Rising sea levels and increased storminess exacerbate erosion and flood risks, particularly at Spurn Head.

Example: The installation of groynes at Hornsea and Mappleton has prevented sediment from depositing on beaches further along the coastline, causing rapid erosion at sites like Great Cowden.