Case Studies
Holderness Coastline
Location:
o The Holderness Coastline runs between the Humber Estuary in the south and
a headland at Flamborough head.
o It is in North-East England in Yorkshire
Winds:
o The prevailing wind is coming from the North East and it is a long fetch
(1500km). This can drive very powerful waves towards to coast.
Geology:
o Flamborough head is made from chalk and the bay is made from boulder clay
Waves:
o When waves approach the coastline they are bent or refracted by the shape
of the coast. The waves are therefore curved and have low energy in the bay,
resulting in a deposited beach.
Sediment Cell:
o High – energy input are responsible for significant longshore drift from north
to south along the coastline
o Some sediment has come from nearshore area, driven onshore and sea level
rose at the end of the last glacial period. Other sources include cliff erosion
Landforms:
o The variation in rock type along the coastline has led to the formation of a
series of bays and headlands as part of a discordant coastline.
o As a result of wave refraction, wave energy is concentrated on resistant
headlands that project into the North Sea.
o Headland called Flamborough Head, which is north of the Holderness
Coastline. This is made of chalk and has two bays either side made from clay.
o The bay is called Bridlington Bay and is made from boulder clay and includes
towns such as Mappleton and Withernsea.
o There is a spit south of the coastline called Spurn head, which has extended
across the River Humber.
, Changes overtime, past, current, future:
o Some sediment has come from the nearshore, driven onshore as sea levels
rose at the end of the last glacial period.
o In response to the rapid rate of erosion and the threat to settlement and
infrastructure, parts of the coastline have been protected by sea walls and
rock armor.
Holderness Coastline
Location:
o The Holderness Coastline runs between the Humber Estuary in the south and
a headland at Flamborough head.
o It is in North-East England in Yorkshire
Winds:
o The prevailing wind is coming from the North East and it is a long fetch
(1500km). This can drive very powerful waves towards to coast.
Geology:
o Flamborough head is made from chalk and the bay is made from boulder clay
Waves:
o When waves approach the coastline they are bent or refracted by the shape
of the coast. The waves are therefore curved and have low energy in the bay,
resulting in a deposited beach.
Sediment Cell:
o High – energy input are responsible for significant longshore drift from north
to south along the coastline
o Some sediment has come from nearshore area, driven onshore and sea level
rose at the end of the last glacial period. Other sources include cliff erosion
Landforms:
o The variation in rock type along the coastline has led to the formation of a
series of bays and headlands as part of a discordant coastline.
o As a result of wave refraction, wave energy is concentrated on resistant
headlands that project into the North Sea.
o Headland called Flamborough Head, which is north of the Holderness
Coastline. This is made of chalk and has two bays either side made from clay.
o The bay is called Bridlington Bay and is made from boulder clay and includes
towns such as Mappleton and Withernsea.
o There is a spit south of the coastline called Spurn head, which has extended
across the River Humber.
, Changes overtime, past, current, future:
o Some sediment has come from the nearshore, driven onshore as sea levels
rose at the end of the last glacial period.
o In response to the rapid rate of erosion and the threat to settlement and
infrastructure, parts of the coastline have been protected by sea walls and
rock armor.
