Coastal Management Case Study - Holderness
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 3.2.16
Coastal Erosion in Holderness
The Holderness coast is located next to the city of Hull in the north-east of England. Each year, the Holderness Coast retreats 1-2 metres. The area is particularly vulnerable to erosion because of:
Strong prevailing winds
- Strong prevailing winds create destructive waves that can do more damage to the coast.
- The prevailing winds also mean that any eroded material moves away from the place that was eroded (leaving the soft rock exposed).
Clay cliffs
- The Holderness Coast is made of boulder clay.
- This is very soft and easy to erode.
- Heavy rainfall can cause mass movements in the boulder clay cliffs.
Coastal Management in Holderness
In 1991, a £2 million project built rock groynes and rock revetments at Mappleton in the Holderness coast. These are examples of hard engineering.
Rock groynes
- The rock groynes tried to stop sediment being carried away from the Holderness Coast and tried to create a larger beach to protect the land behind.
Rock armour
- Rock armour was placed at the foot of the cliffs.
- The rock armour is meant to absorb some of the waves' energy, instead of the coast or cliffs.
What are the Results & Effects of Coastal Management at Mappleton?
The cliffs at Mappleton now erode at 1-2 metres per year, instead of the 7-10 metres before 1991. Mappleton now has a larger beach, however, there have been some negative effects:
Area south of Mappleton
- The area south of Mappleton is experiencing faster coastal erosion as a byproduct.
Spurn Point
- The Spurn Point area south, has become less secure.
- Less material is washed down the Holderness Coast.
- Some Hebridean Sheep were washed away and killed. People are now warned not to visit the Point at some times of year, or they too could be washed away.
Spurn Point lifeboat & visitor's centre
- £471,000 was spent on a visitor's centre which could become less accessible over time.
- Lifeboat services also operate from Spurn Point.
Test yourself on Coastal Management Case Study - Holderness
How far does the Holderness coast retreat every year?
What are the cliffs of the Holderness coast made up of?
Which of the following is true of the Holderness coast?
Why is the Holderness coast so vulnerable to erosion?
Which of the following was not involved in the 1991 Holderness coast management scheme?