How does the holderness coast erode

It produces sloping cliffs between 5 and 20metre high. Chalk surrounds the boulder clay. This is a much stronger rock but has eroded along fault lines and bedding planes forming structures like cliffs, caves, arches and stacks. This is how far the waves have travelled. Holderness is exposed to wind and waves from the north-east, with a fetch of to km across the North Sea.

This is not that far and would normally cause large waves but other factors increase their size:. This causes powerful destructive waves. The low pressure raises the sea level, producing higher tides than normal and the storms add energy to the waves, especially in storms.

Boulder clay erodes very easily and produces very small, fine clay particles, these are easily transported by longshore drift out to sea and along the coast, rather than accumulating in front of the cliffs, forming a layer of protection from the waves. Powerful waves - waves at Holderness travel long distances over the North Sea so have a long fetch which means they will increase in energy.

Management strategies Bridlington is protected by a 4. Hornsea is protected by a sea wall, groynes and rock armour. Coastal management at Withersea has tried to make the beach wider by using groynes, and also a seawall to protect the coast. Mappleton is protected by rock groynes. Spurn Head is protected with groynes and rock armour. It is an excellent example of a spit. If you've found the resources on this page useful please consider making a secure donation via PayPal to support the development of the site.

The site is self-funded and your support is really appreciated. If you've found the resources on this site useful please consider making a secure donation via PayPal to support the development of the site. The Holderness Coast. Lost settlements on the Holderness Coast. Related Topics Use the images below to explore locations along the Holderness Coast. Spurn Point. Please Support Internet Geography If you've found the resources on this site useful please consider making a secure donation via PayPal to support the development of the site.

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