EQ 2: high energy coastline, flamborough head, yorkshire

where is this high energy coastline located?

60km long stretch between Saltburn and Flamborough Head, with many erosional landforms

what are three physical factors that affect the formation of landforms?

geology, wave energy, sediment movement

how does geology influence the formation of landforms?

coastline mainly made up of soft, sedimentary rock (shale, limestone, chalk) → susceptible to erosion
Robin Hood’s Bay - cliffs show Lower Lias sequence, weak shale
Filey Brigg - peninsula that juts out into North Sea (limestone + chalk)
Flamborough Head - chalk cliffs lying in horizontal layers that are harder than surrounding rock types (e.g. boulder clay, eroding at rates >2m per year) → Flamborough Head protrude 6km into North Sea

how does wave energy influence the formation of landforms?

dominant waves have fetch of 1500km+ from north → north facing parts of coast receive highest inputs of wave energy
contributes to differing rates of erosion e,g, weak shale + clay = 0.8m per year resistant sandstones + limestones = <0.1m per year, more erosion in north compared to more deposition in south

how does sediment movement influence the formation of landforms?

coastline is sub cell 1d of sediment cell 1
sediment supplied by nearshore area + cliff erosion

what are other examples of landforms?

cliffs and shore platforms, caves, arches, stacks, and stumps (and blowholes)

what are features of the cliffs?

vertical face due to horizontally bedded sedimentary rock
cliff at flamborough made of chalk with gentler slopes, cliffs at robin hood’s bay and saltburn made of more resistant sandstones and limestones, with steeper slopes

how are the cliffs and shore platforms interrelated?

cliff retreat due to high energy waves creates shore platforms
at low tide, platforms absorb wave energy which can slightly reduce further cliff erosion

how are the headlands and caves and arches interrelated?

headlands cause wave refraction, which concentrates wave energy on headlands, exploiting weaknesses → enlarge to form caves → arches

what are features of caves, arches, stacks and stumps (and blowholes)?

a joint in chalk of selwick’s bay at flamborough head has been enlarged
green stacks pinnacle is isolated at end of headland following arch roof collapse
blowholes developed into vertical joints leading to collapse of chalk and boulder clay → geos