Costal Erosion – Case study Holderness coast example answer

The Holderness coast is a 61 km stretch form Flamborough head (a headland) to Spurn head (a spit). Erosion is causing the cliffs to collapse, mainly in a slump. Material is being washed away leaving the material behind exposed which causes the coast line to retreat. Currently 1.8 metres of and is lost every year and recently in great Cowden the erosion is up to 10 metres a year.

The main reasons for this rapid erosion are as follows. The rock type of this coastal area is boulder clay which is not compressed so can crumble away like soil. It is therefore not very resistant. When this material is wet it is even more susceptible to the cliffs collapsing. The beaches are naturally narrow and therefore are unable to absorb the impact of the waves. Since the Holderness is facing the north east side of England t is more exposed to the strong destructive waves from the Arctic Ocean which have travelled over a long fetch. This makes them more powerful.

This whole situation is not made better my people who infect make it worse. In order to protect the main road b1242 which runs close to the village of Mapleton two groynes have been built to help…