Six changing coastlines and how climate change could affect them

In our last post, we looked at the coastline of Great Britain, how it is changing and what important factors we should consider in terms of natural hazards, adaptation and resilience. In this article, we visit six key examples of natural environmental importance and explore their potential vulnerability to climate change.

The coastline of Great Britain, including its islands, is 31 368 km long, according to the Ordnance Survey (OS), with the mainland making up 17 819 km. Cornwall is the county with the longest coastline (1086 km) followed by Essex (905 km) and Devon (819 km). Our island nation experiences some of the largest tides in the world, with a range of up to 15 m, and a variety of geohazards and processes regularly have an impact on the changing coastline.

BGS has mapped the whole of the British coastline and now a new data product, GeoCoast, brings a whole range of data together into one package to help inform and interpret our coastal environment.

Spurn Point, East Yorkshire

Overview

Spurn Point is three miles long, forming a natural protection for the Humber estuary and the port of Hull, as well as being an important site for migratory birds and other wildlife. It is an ever-changing environment composed of shingle beach and tidal flat deposits that is highly susceptible to coastal retreat. Formed as a long, narrow spit from deposits moving along the coast carried by currents, it has been breached by storms multiple times, notably in December 2013 by a huge tidal surge, bursting through the narrowest part of the spit and destroying the road.

A changing climate

Sea-level rise is predicted to completely cut off Spurn Head by 2050, according to modelled UKCP18 climate change scenarios.

More information

• Spurn National Nature Reserve
• Spurn Discovery Centre, Spurn Road, Kilnsea, Hull HU12 0UH
• Get there: take the A1033 from Hull

Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire

Overview

Further north from Spurn Point, the geology at Flamborough Head comprises chalk cliffs capped by deposits of glacial till. Here, the chalk is more resistant to erosion than the overlying till, which is often unstable and can be susceptible to landslides.

A changing climate

Increased rainfall could increase the sensitivity of the till deposits to destabilisation. In addition, increased wave activity and storminess could impact the chalk at wave level, creating undercutting and cavities, which will eventually destabilise parts of the cliff.

More information

• Visit Danes Dyke nature reserve just a few miles from Flamborough Head. The nature reserve is characterised by its stunning array of wildlife, a flint boulder beach and chalk cliffs with fossils
• Flamborough Head car park, Flamborough, Bridlington YO15 1AR
• Get there: the nearest train station is Flamborough, or take the B1259

Holkham, Norfolk

Overview

Miles of empty dunes and sandy beaches at low tide, alongside estuaries, tidal creeks and salt marshes, Holkham is one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in England. This unique stretch of coastline attracts numerous nature lovers, walkers, horse riders and film makers. Some four miles long, the white sandy beach is backed by high dunes and pine woods, creating an important habitat, and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The geology consists of tidal deposits, tidal flat and sand dunes, all with high susceptibility to coastal erosion and inundation.

The Holkham area suffered devastating consequences from floods in 1953 and 1978, then again on 5 December 2013 when a tidal surge flooded shops and homes in neighbouring Wells-next-the-Sea.

A changing climate

Continued effects of climate change are projected to see increased sea-level rises, resulting in a higher tidal reach into the tidal marshes and even higher storm surges, which could flood sensitive habitats, campsites and properties more frequently.

More information

• Holkham Nature Reserve
• Holkham beach
• Get there: the nearest train stations are Cromer (25 miles) and Sheringham (19 miles). Take thh B1105 from the south or the A149 from the east/west. Use NR23 1RH in your satnav for parking

Tillingham marshes, Essex

Overview

The Dengie peninsular in Essex is a national nature reserve situated on low-lying land adjacent to the North Sea. There is evidence that the coastline was previously much further inland, as far as Tillingham village (which is 2-3km from the coast). Earthen sea-wall embankments dating back to the Middle Ages have enabled the land to be reclaimed on the seaward side, forming an expansive area of saltmarsh, creeks and intertidal mudflats. This area is exposed to the waves and the saltmarsh landscape helps to attenuate the wave action, forming a natural defence against the sea.

The geology around this part of the coast is predominantly flat alluvial land, more gently undulating further inland with some steep slopes in the estuaries. The main superficial deposits are intertidal flats at the coast, fringed with saltmarsh with river terrace deposits and head landward, all underlain by the London Clay Formation.

A changing climate

Sea-level rises are accelerating erosion of the saltmarsh landward due to ‘coastal squeeze’ where the saltmarsh is eroded up against the seawall. The eroded sediment is then deposited on top of the existing saltmarsh and mudflats, building the height up on the seaward side so the marsh is higher than the land behind the seawall.

More information

• Dengie National Nature Reserve
• Get there: the nearest train station is Southminster, or take the B1021

Studland Bay, Dorset

Overview

Frequent winter storms have meant loss of sand from Studland Bay over many years and, in 2014, one of the worst winter storm surges in 35 years resulted in a loss of up to 10 m of dunes in just one storm. The coastline is composed of sand dunes and beach deposits, underlain by the Broadstone Clay Member. 

A changing climate

Projected increased sea-level rise and increased storminess will see the loss of these sand-rich deposits continue. The National Trust manages the coastline here and their focus is now on adaptation and the use of softer defences rather than the hard sea defences traditionally used.

More information

• Studland Bay National Trust
• Get there: you can reach Studland Bay on the B3351. Use BH19 3AH in your satnav for parking

Dungeness, Kent

Overview

Dungeness is situated at the southernmost point of Kent and is one of the most extensive examples of stable, vegetated shingle (gravel) in Europe, sheltering a large area of low-lying land.

Dungeness is almost entirely made up from flint shingle that has built up over the past six thousand years. The shingle has been redistributed over time forming a cuspate barrier, or ness, between its two shorelines. In addition to exposed shingle there are also buried shingle banks present. This barren landscape, with its landmark lighthouse, and also the site of a major nuclear power station, attracts around one million visitors annually.

The geology comprises predominantly storm beach and tidal flat deposits, alongside small amounts of blown sand and alluvium. These superficial deposits are underlain at depth by the Hasting Beds (sandstone, siltstone and mudstone).

A changing climate

Although some 30 per cent of the coastline is susceptible to erosion and 44 per cent (68km) could potentially be at risk of inundation by 2050, increasing slightly to 45 per cent (69km) by 2100, there is the requirement for continued sediment management to ensure the frontage at Dungeness nuclear power station is protected for the next 100 years..

More information

• RSPB Dungeness
• Get there: the nearest train station is Rye, one mile from Lydd on the Dungeness road. Use TN29 9PN in your satnav for parking

Further information

In our next post, we will discuss how our new GeoCoast data product can be used to inform and assist users when responding to coastal adaptation and resilience.

GeoCoast is an integrated GIS package of datasets designed to inform and support coastal management and adaptation. It includes information about coastal erosion, sea level rise and inundation, coastal subsidence and the properties of the geological deposits.

Join us for our GeoCoast launch event

Join our data products team for a live webinar on the 28 April 2022, and discover more about our new data product to underpin coastal decision making, resilience and adaptation. > Register online

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