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high energy coastline case study (Energy (Longshore drift (LSD) (in place,…
high energy coastline case study
Geology
environment strongly influenced by geology
Adjacent North York Moors rise up to 400m above sea level and comprise of mainly of sandstone, shales and limestone (soft rock- more eroded)
Flamborough Head, at the southern end of this stretch of this coastline, is a large chalk (hard rock- resistant) headline
Difference in rock resistance are responsible for the varied coastal scenery
Areas of relatively weak shale and clay experience erosion rates of 0.8 m per yr. on average
locations with more resistant sandstones and limestones only erode at rates of less than 0.1 m per yr.
Energy
Whether the land is exposed
north-facing receive highest inputs of wave energy
e.g. the area nearest to Saltburn
Fetch
over 1500 km
means that large wave are created and therefore lots of energy
wave height
often exceeds 4 m
means higher wave energy
Longshore drift (LSD)
significant LSD from north to south
in place, this sediment movement is interrupted by headlands and
Sand and shingle then accumulate to form beach in the bays
Erosional landforms
cliffs
Sed rocks of this coastline are horizontally bedded
as a result the cliff profiles tend to have a vertical face
Most cliffs overlain by a layer of weak till- have a much lower angle
Cliffs at Flamborough Head made of chalk
vertical cliffs 20-30 m high with the overlaying till lowered by mass movement processes to an angle of about 40 degrees
Further north, between Robin Hood Bay and Saltburn
cliffs are much higher
Often stepped profile
reflecting on the varied geology
formed in the more resistant sandstones and limestones
gentler slopes correspond with the weaker clay and shales