Holderness

• Holderness - sediment cell reigons

  • Flamborough head chalk cliffs - source reigon
  • Holderness Bay Clay cliffs - source reigon
  • Spurn head (Spit) - Sink reigon
  • -Longshore drift occurs in a North East direction
• What type of environment becomes a sink reigon?

  • Sink reigons –> where sediment collects
  • Tides and low energy environments facilitate sink reigons as they allow for sediment to collect and form
  • This forms spits, mudflats and sand dunes (At Spurn head in the case of Holderness a spit is formed)
• What type of Geology exists at holderness?

  • Resistant chalk and boulder clay —> Which leads to differential rates of erosion
• What are the physical factors that can speed up rates of erosion at a Coastline?

  • Winter storms - produce stronger waves and storm surges which temporarily raises sea levels
  • Winter storms also mean more rainfall which heightens sub aerial
  • PARTICULARLY AT HOLDERNESS - Dominant waves are from North East which is also the direction of Longshore drift —> In a stormy year, waves from the North Sea can remove between 7 and 10m of coastline
• Economic impacts of the rapidly receding Holderness coast

  • The Gas Terminal in Easington (Along Holderness Coast) supplies 25% of Britains gas and is at risk
  • In 1993 140mm of rain in 2 months led to the collapse of the £2 million Holbeck Hotel
  • Inability to insure —> Puts locals and council at economic loss
  • Loss of amenity value = economic losses to bussinesses as area becomes unnatractive and depopulated - abandoned buildings, damaged roads etc
• Social impacts of rapidly receding Holderness coast

  • 30 villages lost since Roman times - possibly with Historical value - Homes & Businesses
  • Reliance on tourism combined with beach becoming inaccesible = lack of employment opportunities
  • Properties under threat of erosion lose all their value —> Homeowners not compensated
• Environmental impacts of rapidly receding Holderness coast

  • Wildlife behind Spurn point (A spit and sink reigon on Holderness coast) is losing diversity - environment cannot support many species as it is sediment starved
  • Some SSIs (Sites of special interest) are threatend by erosion
  • Unnattractive environment - cliff collapse, failing sea defences and blocked roads/paths