Coast case studies

Page 1

Holderness case study

Basic info:

Holderness is a coast in Yorkshire, North-eastern part of England.

-> The coast is rapidly eroding, with boulder clay cliffs retreating at a rate of 1.8 m per year on average

-> Numerous coastal management techniques have been introduced to reduce the rapid erosion of the clay cliffs in the area

Features along the coast:

Flamborough Head - more resistant rock (chalk) wasn't as easily eroded, leaving arches, stacks, stumps and wave-cut platforms

Holderness cliffs - retreat at average rate of 1.8 m /year. in on land causing the cliff to slump onto the beach (removal of vegetation and increasing urbanisation accelerates that)

Spurn Head (spit) - sediment deposited here, winds waves, river estuary created a recurved spit. LSD takes the material from South of Bridlington and deposits here

Causes of the rapid erosion:

Weather —> winter storms (stronger waves eroding cliff, rain causing increased cliff runoff leading to slumping)

Waves —> dominant waves and largest fetch from NE, destructive waves attack cliff, carry away clay in solution and take it S, where it’s deposited in the Humbery estuary (Spurn Head)

Geology —> chalk and boulder clay. Clay is very soft (easily eroded) and formed bay of Holderness, chalk not that much and formed Flamborough Heads

Interfering with natural processes (e.g. groynes in a Mappleton prevent LSD, so less material S)

Global Warming + other short-term changes in climate (partly human) —> sea level rise, more erosion from abrasion, solution, hydraulic action and solution

Management techniques at use:

Groynes: Hornsea (BUT increased erosion in Mappleton), Mappleton.

Sea walls: Hornsea (BUT doesn't look nice), Withernsea

Rock armour (rip-rap): Withernsea, Easington

Beach Nourishment: Hornsea, Mappleton (so tourism can develop)

Was it successful?

In 1786, Mappleton was 3.5 km from coast, in 1988 sea was on its doorstep

Threat to coastline road, people living along the coast

2.1 million pounds supported by the EU in 1991, which lead to 2 rock groynes, rock reventment to prevent erosion, cliffs regraded (smoothened)

Hazards along the coastline:

Landslides, cliffs eroding -> buildings, businesses and houses destroyed, danger to life and livelihood -> people with no home have to be resettled

Loss of good farmland (about 80 000 m2 per year) -> compensate farmers

Loss of tourism (no beaches, no cliffs) -> loss of big part of income for people of Holderness, people jobless

Scientific area - Lagoons near Easington - Site of Special Scientific Interest Colony of over 1% of the British breeding population of little terns

Page 2

Mauritius case study

Basic info:

Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean famous for its beautiful beaches and lagoons. It has over 322 km of coastline.

-> The coast of Mauritius provides many opportunities

-> The coast of Mauritius presents many hazards

Opportunities:

Beaches - tourists (no. of tourists increased from 15 000 in 1968 to 950 000 in 2013)

Port - handles the imports and exports of Mauritius, gives employment, handles Mauritius' sugar cane growing export

Earning increased (tourism, sugar canes) - establishment of industries and financial services, urban growth

Hazards:

21 beaches experienced significant coastal erosion, 22 sites experienced flooding -> decrease in tourism (important industry) -> flooding sugar cane sites destroys important export

Storms - sea wall collapse, roads eroded -> money needed to repair, expensive

Storms, erosion and flooding -> risk to livelihoods for people living in coastal areas increases