1. EQ1: To What Extent do Rates of Coastal Recession Depend on
Lithology and Geology?
Lesson Objectives
Evaluate the importance of differential erosion in determining
the shape and formation of our coasts.
Research and share a variety of case study coastlines. Examine how geology
can affect the rates of coastal erosion (recession)
Skills
Reading and summarising Geofile article on the Holderness Coast
Use of Environment Agency Coastal erosion SMP Mapping and erosion rates
Use of OS maps and satellite images to identify coastal morphology
Use of sketches from photos and maps of coastal landscapes
Key Words:
Glacial till
Unconsolidated material
Cliff profiles
Recession rates
SMP –Shoreline Management Plan

2. next to clay, but soft next to granite!
EQ1: To What Extent do Rates of Coastal Recession Depend on
Lithology and Geology?
Starter Activity
What makes some coasts more prone to erosion that others?
What factors dictate the shape or morphology of the coast?
Concordant/
Discordant
coastline
Geology (I, S, M)
Mass movement
Geology (I, S, M)
Fetch
Human activity
Folds
Faults
jointing
Climate
Erosion rates
Coastal
Features
(E, T, D)
Morphology
weathering
Bedding
Planes/joints
Permeability
Hard or soft
Wave
refraction
Concordant/
Discordant
coastline
Erosion
rates
Cliff profiles
Haff/Dalmatian
Sub-aerial
(marine
processes)
Remember geology is relative: limestone is hard
next to clay, but soft next to granite!

3. Case Study 1: The Holderness Coast
Geofile You have 30minutes to complete the task below:
Task 1: Read this article, focus on the geology, coastal morphology, and factors
that affect the rates of erosion along this stretch of coastline.
Task 2: Produce an annotated sketch map on one side of A4 to summarise the
key points you have read/highlighted in the geofile article.
Case Study 2: Your choice of coastline
Task 3: Once you have chosen your coastal area/town (there are some ideas on
the next slide) use the internet to research the geology of the area, the
coastal morphology and named coastal features.
Task 4: Add detailed annotation to explain the morphology and landscape using
key words from your previous notes.

4. Examples of coastal areas to choose from
St Bees, Cumbria
(Sandstone and Glacial till)
Robin Hoods Bay, N Yorkshire
(Sedimentary mudstones)
St Ives, Cornwall
(Basalt)
Holderness
Coast
(Glacial till
and Chalk)
Examples of coastal areas to choose from

5. Skill: Drawing Sketch Maps
Rules
In pencil draw a frame (use map grid
lines/references to guide you to
the approximate size of the frame).
2. Draw in the main coastline, trying to
locate and form the lines as accurately
as you can.
3. Add the features (human/physical)
that you have been asked to include
(not anything else!) e.g geology
4. Annotate with Photo sketches to
highlight coastal features
5. Add clear labels/annotated explanations
scale, key, place names, title.

6. Erosion rates along the UK coast
SMP Shoreline Management Plan
For your chosen coastline area /town, type into Google Environment Agency Coastal Erosion.
Click on this option/web link:
Type in the location of the coastal area/town
Make sure the map scale is increased to a scale of 1:20,00 so the key can easily be seen.
Click on the coloured
lines near the coast to
take you to details about
erosion rates predicted
over 20, 50 & 100 yrs.
6. Complete the same for Mappleton (Holderness Coast)
How doe the erosion rates compare between the two locations?

7. Progress Check
To What Extent do Rates of Coastal Recession Depend on Lithology and Geology?
Task: In pairs – discuss the answer to this question, referring to your case
studies of Holderness and your chosen area of coast. Write a summary
conclusion or construct a mind map of your understanding.
Have the Lesson Objectives been met?
Evaluate the importance of differential erosion in determining
the shape and formation of our coasts.
Research and share a variety of case study coastlines. Examine how geology can affect the rates of coastal erosion (recession)