Facts for year 13 geography mock

What are the key features of the Holderness coastline?

Holderness is a 61km coastline in NE England, with headlands like Flamborough Head, bays like Bridlington, and spits like Spurn Point.

Why is Holderness significant in terms of erosion?

It is the fastest-eroding coastline in Europe.

How is climate change affecting Holderness?

Rising sea levels and more frequent/intense storms are changing its landforms, though human intervention is mitigating some impacts.

What is causing sea level rise, and how is it impacting Holderness?

Ice melt from global warming causes eustatic sea level rise, currently at 3mm/year but predicted to rise to 8mm/year and 0.4m in 50 years. This exposes more coastline to erosion.

Where is erosion most extreme along Holderness?

South of Mappleton, where erosion rates reach 10m/year.

How does wave refraction impact Flamborough Head?

Rising sea levels alter wave angles, concentrating energy on Flamborough Head, accelerating erosion, and threatening the 20,000 seabirds nesting there, the UK's largest seabird site.

How is climate change increasing storm frequency and intensity?

Changes in wind patterns, ocean circulation, and winter rainfall increase wave energy, resulting in more frequent and intense storms (e.g., 5 storms in 3 weeks in 2022).

How have storms affected Spurn Point?

A winter storm in 2013 breached Spurn Point, damaging dunes and defenses. It may be entirely cut off from the coastline by 2050, and high tide already makes it inaccessible by vehicle.

What measures were taken to protect Mappleton from erosion?

In 1991, £2m was spent on two rock groynes, a rock revetment, and Norwegian granite to protect Mappleton and its essential road.

What unintended effects have these defences caused?

Beaches beyond Mappleton are starved of sediment, increasing erosion at Cowden to 3m/year, leading to the loss of Grange Farm. Defenses benefit some areas at the expense of others.

How is climate change impacting Holderness' landforms overall?

Rising sea levels, storm intensity, and wave refraction are reshaping landforms like Flamborough Head, Spurn Point, and Mappleton. Human intervention offers limited mitigation but often shifts the problem elsewhere.

How does the carbon cycle influence tropical storms?

Increased CO₂ levels drive global warming, raising sea surface temperatures, which intensifies tropical storms and challenges hazard management.

How does CO₂ increase tropical storm frequency?

Warmer sea surface temperatures (26.5°C+) fuel storm formation. The IPCC predicts a 9% global frequency increase by the end of the 21st century and more storms reaching categories 4-5.

How does CO₂ make storms more intense?

Warmer seas provide latent heat energy, leading to stronger winds, heavier rainfall, and larger storm surges.

What evidence links storm intensity to CO₂?

Rising sea levels from ice melt worsen storm surges, e.g., Typhoon Haiyan (2013) caused 9m surges. Since 2019, warmer seas have increased hurricane wind speeds by 18mph, with 3 Category 5 hurricanes recorded.

How does the carbon cycle affect hazard management?

Response: Frequent/intense storms overwhelm relief efforts.

Recovery: Recovery is stretched as communities are hit before rebuilding is complete.

Mitigation: Global efforts like the Paris Agreement aim to reduce carbon emissions.

Preparedness: More severe storms increase reliance on early warning systems and evacuation plans.

What is the Hazard Management Cycle (HMC)?

A model showing how one hazard informs planning for the next, with stages of response, recovery, mitigation, and preparedness.

What made the Alberta wildfire significant?

The May 2016 wildfire burned 600,000 hectares (size of Norfolk), making it one of Canada's most destructive wildfires.

How was the Alberta wildfire response managed?

Evacuation: 90,000 residents evacuated, oil sands workers airlifted.

Emergency efforts: 2,000 firefighters deployed; Canadian Armed Forces assisted.

Support: Alberta declared a state of emergency; CAN$50m donated to the Red Cross.

Financial aid: Evacuees received $1,250/adult and $500/dependent.

How did recovery efforts address the Alberta wildfire?

Residents returned by June to clear and rebuild.

80% of houses were rebuilt, aided by insurance claims exceeding CAD$3.7bn.

Community support included a benefit concert and long-term aid promises from PM Justin Trudeau.

What mitigation strategies were introduced after the wildfire?

New evacuation routes were built.

Dry vegetation was cleared to reduce fire fuel.

Homes used fire-resistant materials, and wood stores were moved away from houses.

How were residents prepared for wildfires?

Satellite imagery and weather predictions monitored fire risks.

Alberta's Emergency Public Warning System issued rapid evacuation alerts via mobile, TV, and radio.

Fort McMurray residents had prior exposure to emergency protocols.

Was the Hazard Management Cycle effective for the Alberta wildfire?

Yes, as there were no fatalities, and 85% of Fort McMurray was saved. However, climate change may increase the frequency and unpredictability of wildfires, making management more challenging.