Local Coastal System-Holderness Coast Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is flamborough head?
A chalk headland
What is Bridlington to spurn head?
A extensive zone of erosion characterised by rapid cliff retreat
What is spurn head?
A spit formed at the humber estuary
How does geology affect the area?
Chalk is a resistant hard rock which results in flamborough head
Boulder clay is much weaker and less erosion resistant
How does wind affect the area?
When wind is blowing from north east it can drive powerful waves.
Occasionally create storm surges metres high
What happened in the 1953 storm surges?
300 people died
What happens as a result of the powerful north east waves?
Longshore drift operates north to south
How have some parts of the coastline been protected?
Hard engineering- sea wall, grounds rock armour
What has the hard engineering caused elsewhere?
Exacerbated coastal erosion
Why has flamborough head formed?
Due to being made of chalk which is a resistant rock
What are joints?
Vertical cracks that run through the chalk
What are faults?
Where whole sections of chalk has been displaced
How have faults and joints been exploited?
Selwicks Bay where erosion forms narrow clefts
What is the sea actively doing at flamborough head?
Undercutting the cliffs which over time causes wave cut platforms and stacks
What happens when waves hit flamborough head?
Waves refract which dissipates energy and causes depositional beaches such as Bridlington
How much has the area between Bridlington and spurn head retreated since Roman times?
4km
What is the rate of erosion a year in holderness coast?
In excess of 1m a year
Where is a majority of the eroded sediment sent?
Offshore for longshore drift
What is nourished by the sediment transfer?
Spurn head
What does spurn head spit do?
Protects towns bordering the river Humber
What is spurn head?
A temporary sediment store and spit
When did spurn head form?
8000 years ago
What happened to spurn head in 1849?
A massive breach, resulted in groynes and revêtements
What happened in 2013 to spurn head?
Defences couldn’t cope, buildings and road destroyed
