high energy coastline saltburn-flamborough head

• north york moors comprise of sandstones, shales, and limestones formed during Jurassic period, flamborough head mainly chalk. early tectonic processes caused uplift of sedimentary rock leading to folding and faulting of rock and exposing rocks to geomorphic processes
• waves from N and NE mainly affect coast with fetch over 1500km. north facing parts are the most exposed. areas of weak shale experience erosion rates of 0.8m a year, resistance sandstones rates less then 0.1m/year.
• high energy inputs are responsible for high amounts of LSD
• located in sub-cell 1d of sediment cell 1, most sediment is from sea level rise at end of last glacial period. lots of sediment from chalk cliff erosion. The river Esk doesn't provide a lot of sediment due to management
• management of river esk is an example of human activity along the coast
• sedimentary rocks are horizontally embedded so cliffs are vertical. cliffs at flamborough are made of chalk and are about a 40 degree angle, further north the cliffs are slopped due to varied geology
• high energy waves and active erosion means cliffs are retreating leaving shore platforms (robin hood bay) possible this platform has formed over last 6000 years. some experts say they are relicts formed during inter-glacier periods when sea levels were similar to todays
• robin hoods bay was eroded into weak shales with resistant sandstone either side, Filey bay eroded into clay with sandstone and limestone either side, flamborough head is chalk with deep clay bays either side.
• green stacks pinnacle has a stack isolated from headland. over 50 geos have formed mainly alligned with NE. blowholes developed where vertical master joints in chalk have enlarged.
• North side of selwicks bay has several blowholes that have merged and the intervening chalk has collapsed to produce a complex inlet
• very few well developed beaches, scarborugh and filey bay are low energy environments with them. although lots of LSD not many spits due to high tidal range of 4m