Friday 15 March 2019

Withernsea (offshore wind power, coastal erosion)

Withernsea (East Riding of Yorkshire)  1 Sep., 2018

Keywords: Offshore wind power, Coastal erosion

I visited Withernsea to see offshore wind turbines and to observed coastal erosion (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. Locality of Withernsea.

Many wind turbines were lined up off the coast of Withernsea (Fig. 2). I could see at least hundred turbines with sevral hundred of meters interval.
Fig. 2. Many wind turbines off Withernsea.



It seems to be difficult to fishing in the area. In Japan, inshore fishery is active in many coastal areas so coexistence with fishery will be one of the subjects for Japanese offshore wind industry, I think.

The coast of Withernsea is protected from coastal erosion by levee and large stones (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3. Northern coast of Withernsea.

On the other hand in coast around the town, there are no levee and severe coastal erosion is in progress (Fig. 4). Some houses and roads were lost due to the erosion (Fig. 5).
Fig. 4. Southern coast of Withernsea.

Fig. 5. Satellite image of the southern coast of Withernsea.

The coastal cliff is consisted of till and we can find many landslide surfaces (Fig. 6). But there are no landslide deposits or talus in the bottom of the cliff. They will probably be eroded easily by wave during high tide when the beach in front of the cliff is submerged. In Japan with micro-tide, most of beach is not submerged entirely even during high tide. I think I need to pay more attention to tidal range when I discuss about coastal erosion.
Fig. 6. Till outcrops the coastal cliff.