High-energy Coastline - East Yorkshire

• What type of landforms are created in the East Yorkshire Coast and why?

  • Erosional landforms
  • Because erosion exceeds deposition
• What are 5 physical factors that influence the formation of landforms?

  • Geology
  • Energy input by wind and waves
  • Tides
  • Ocean Currents
  • Sediment sources
• What landforms are formed in East Yorkshire?

  • Beaches
  • Cliffs
  • Shore Platforms
  • Headlands and bays
• Why is geology a key factor in the development of landforms in EY?

  • Differences in rock resistance led to a discordant coastline e.g., chalk and less resistant rock i.e., clay
  • Headlands and bays form e.g., Filey Bay and Flamborough Head
• Why is energy input by wind and waves a key physical factor in the formation of landforms?

  • Dominant waves from the North and NW
  • Fetch 1500km
  • Produces tall and high energy waves - high erosion
  • High rates of erosion based on geology
  • Geos form on exposed headlands
• Why is tides a key physical factor in the formation of landforms?

  • Large tidal range - causing sea to rise and fall by 4m
  • High tidal range exposes large areas to weathering with low tide e.g., chemical weathering + abrasion
• Why is ocean currents a key factor in the formation of landforms?

  • A strong southerly LSD current due to high energy waves from N + NW
  • results in less beaches
• Why is sediment sources a key factor in the formation of landforms?

  • Sediment is deposited via cliff erosion - resulting in increase of beach sediment
• How are cliffs formed in the East Yorkshire coast?

  • Most cliffs have weak glacial till deposited on it i.e., Flamborough cliffs
  • Mass movement has lowered till to an angle of 40 degrees
  • Cliffs further north i.e., Robin Hood's Bay have a steep profile due to geology
  • Steeper slopes form in more resistant rock such as limestone
  • Gentler slopes form in less resistant rocks such as clay
• How are beaches formed in the East Yorkshire coast?

  • Few well-developed beaches due to high energy waves apart from in sheltered areas e.g., Scarborough and Filey Bay
  • High energy waves remove sediment before it can accumulate
  • Considerable LSD but a lack of spits due to high tidal range
• How do shore-platforms form in East Yorkshire?

  • High energy waves and erosion causes the cliffs to retreat, leaving shore platforms e.g., Robin Hood's Bay platform
• How do Headlands and bays form in East Yorkshire?

  • Discordant coastline led to the formation of headlands and bays
  • e.g., Flamborough Head formed of chalk with bays either side formed of clay
• How do landforms form on headlands in East Yorkshire?

  • Result of wave refraction
  • Weakness in the headlands lead to caves, arches, and stacks
  • Also due to wave refraction as wave energy is focused of the resistant headlands
• How has the East Yorkshire coast changed over time?


  Over time, tectonic processes has caused folding and faulting which has affected rock resistance to geomorphic processes

  • Net increase of beach sediment of 9245 m3 at Saltburn between 2008-2011
  • Geos and blowholes have developed in chalk which have collapsed into underlying caves, leaving funnel shaped depressions on cliff tops.