OR/14/063 Site assessment - ELC 28: Tyne Estuary & Belhaven Bay: Difference between revisions
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However, some of the exposures have been covered by coastal defence works (concrete blocks and gabion baskets that are partly collapsing). Hall (2012)<ref name="Hall 2012">HALL, A. 2012. East Lothian Landscapes [online: https://www.landforms.eu/Lothian/]</ref> notes that the coastal edge has retreated by some 45 m in this area since AD 1854, indicating significant coastal erosion of the soft bedrock cliff. On the Tyninghame shore, an extensive intertidal shore platform also fringes the bay north-east of Sandy Hirst towards St Baldred's Cradle. The platform here is extensively littered with glacial erratics (ELC_28 P4). | However, some of the exposures have been covered by coastal defence works (concrete blocks and gabion baskets that are partly collapsing). Hall (2012)<ref name="Hall 2012">HALL, A. 2012. East Lothian Landscapes [online: https://www.landforms.eu/Lothian/]</ref> notes that the coastal edge has retreated by some 45 m in this area since AD 1854, indicating significant coastal erosion of the soft bedrock cliff. On the Tyninghame shore, an extensive intertidal shore platform also fringes the bay north-east of Sandy Hirst towards St Baldred's Cradle. The platform here is extensively littered with glacial erratics (ELC_28 P4). | ||
Sections in raised beach deposits and blown sand exposed by recent coastal erosion also occur along the south side of the Tyne Estuary near Hedderwick and along the lower part of the incised Hedderwick Burn (Davies et al., 1986<ref name="Davies 1986"> | Sections in raised beach deposits and blown sand exposed by recent coastal erosion also occur along the south side of the Tyne Estuary near Hedderwick and along the lower part of the incised Hedderwick Burn (Davies et al., 1986<ref name="Davies 1986"></ref>). The presence here of gravel layers with rip-up clasts of mud and broken shells may also represent deposits of the tsunami associated with the Holocene Storegga Slide (Hall, 2012<ref name="Hall 2012"></ref>; Smith et al., 2012<ref name="Smith 2012">SMITH, D E, HUNT, N, FIRTH, C R, JORDAN, J T, FRETWELL, P T, HARMAN, M, MURDY, J, ORFORD, J D, and BURNSIDE, N G. 2012. Patterns of Holocene relative sea level change in the North of Britain and Ireland. ''Quaternary Science Reviews'', 52, 58–76.</ref>); see also ELC_23 (Lochhouses). | ||
''Beach-dune-saltmarsh complexes''<br> | ''Beach-dune-saltmarsh complexes''<br> |
Latest revision as of 13:36, 29 November 2019
Whitbread, K, Ellen, R, Callaghan, E, Gordon, J E, and Arkley, S. 2014. East Lothian geodiversity audit. British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/14/063. |
ELC_28: Tyne Estuary & Belhaven Bay | |
Site Information | |
Location and Summary Description: The Tyne Estuary & Belhaven Bay site is notable for a varied assemblage of dynamic coastal landforms located west of Dunbar. The main features are sand spits, intertidal sand flats, sand dunes, salt marshes, shore platforms, raised shorelines and a tsunami deposit. | |
National Grid Reference: Mid-point: 364408, 679790 |
Site type:
|
Site ownership: Not known | Current use: Open country |
Field surveyors: John Gordon | Current geological designations: Part of the site lies in the Dunbar GCR site |
Date visited: 2 December 2014 | Other designations: Firth of Forth SSSI, SPA and Ramsar site; John Muir Country Park |
Site Map |
Site Description |
Background The site comprises a varied assemblage of coastal landforms, including sand spits, sand dunes, salt marshes, intertidal sand flats, raised shorelines and a tsunami deposit all developed in a highly dynamic environment (ELC_28 P1). Aspects of the coastal evolution, including its wider setting in the context of the deglaciation of the area, are described by Jackes (1973[1]), Rose (1980)[2], Davies et al. (1986)[3], Firth et al. (1997)[4] and Babtie Group ABP Research & Consultancy Ltd (2002). Jackes (1973)[1], Davies et al. (1986)[3] and Firth et al. (1997)[4] provide geomorphological maps of varying detail. Quaternary Deposits and Landforms However, some of the exposures have been covered by coastal defence works (concrete blocks and gabion baskets that are partly collapsing). Hall (2012)[5] notes that the coastal edge has retreated by some 45 m in this area since AD 1854, indicating significant coastal erosion of the soft bedrock cliff. On the Tyninghame shore, an extensive intertidal shore platform also fringes the bay north-east of Sandy Hirst towards St Baldred's Cradle. The platform here is extensively littered with glacial erratics (ELC_28 P4). Sections in raised beach deposits and blown sand exposed by recent coastal erosion also occur along the south side of the Tyne Estuary near Hedderwick and along the lower part of the incised Hedderwick Burn (Davies et al., 1986[3]). The presence here of gravel layers with rip-up clasts of mud and broken shells may also represent deposits of the tsunami associated with the Holocene Storegga Slide (Hall, 2012[5]; Smith et al., 2012[6]); see also ELC_23 (Lochhouses). Beach-dune-saltmarsh complexes Spike Island is a relatively recent recurved spit formed by coastal progradation through the growth and attachment of an offshore sandbank sometime after the 1940s (Jackes, 1973)[1]. A line of sand dunes has built up along the spit and an area of saltmarsh is developing on the former sandflats on its landward side (ELC_28 P1, P6). Inland of these saltings, a line of older dunes marks the former coastal edge. The southern part of the present coastal edge of Spike island is relatively low and appears relatively stable, whereas the seaward edge of the higher dunes towards the north end is cliffed and eroding (ELC_29 P7). Additional Information |
Stratigraphy and Rock Types | |
Age: Carboniferous | Formation: Ballagan Formation |
Rock type: Sandstone, siltstone and dolomitic limestone |
Assessment of Site: Access and Safety | |
Aspect | Description |
Road access and parking | Access to the southern part of the site is from the A1 via the A1087 to Dunbar. There are public car parks and toilets at the John Muir Country Park access points at Belhaven and Linkfield. Access to the northern part of the site is from the A1 via the A199, A198 and the unclassified road (Limetree Walk) to the Tyninghame Links car park. |
Safety of access | No additional precautions beyond those normally associated with visiting a beach and dunes. Visitors should be aware of incoming tides if accessing the beach and intertidal flats and should note that the Belhaven bridge is not accessible at high tide. |
Safety of exposure | No special precautions are required. |
Access | There is good access on footpaths. |
Current condition | The condition is good. |
Current conflicting activities | None known. |
Restricting conditions | The active sand spit and intertidal areas are covered at high tide. Seasonal access restrictions may apply over parts of the site during the bird breeding season. |
Nature of exposure | Coastal. |
Assessment of Site: Culture, Heritage & Economic Value | |
Aspect | Description |
Historic, archaeological & literary associations | No known association. |
Aesthetic landscape | Coastal landscape. |
History of Earth Sciences | The John Muir Way passes the site. |
Economic geology | No known associations. |
Assessment of Site: GeoScientific Merit | ||||
Rarity | Quality | Literature/Collections | Primary Interest | |
Lithostratigraphy | ||||
Sedimentology | ||||
Igneous/Mineral/Metamorphic Geology | ||||
Structural Geology | ||||
Palaeontology | ||||
Geomorphology | Regional | Excellent | X |
Site Geoscientific Value | ||||
The Tyne Estuary & Belhaven Bay site displays an excellent suite of coastal landforms and sedimentary environments that demonstrate coastal evolution during the Quaternary, particularly during the latter part of the Holocene, and support a diversity of coastal habitats. There is significant potential for research on past and present processes of coastal evolution, as well as for education and public interpretation on coastal evolution and the links between geodiversity and biodiversity. |
Assessment of Site: Current site usage | |
Community | The area is heavily used for recreation, including walking and birdwatching. |
Education | There is significant potential for education and public interpretation on coastal dynamics and evolution. |
Assessment of Site: Fragility and potential use of the site | |
Fragility | The site would be vulnerable to heavy trampling, off-road vehicle use, tree planting, tipping and coastal protection works. |
Potential use | School education and public interpretation addressing coastal dynamics and living with a dynamic landscape in the context of climate change and sea-level rise; research on modern coastal dynamics and sedimentary processes; monitoring coastal changes. |
Geodiversity Summary | |
The site is an excellent example of a range of active coastal landforms and there is significant potential for research on coastal dynamics and developing its educational value and public interpretation through greater promotion of existing information. |
Site Photos | |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 JACKES, M. 1973. Sites of geomorphological interest in East Lothian. Unpublished report to the Nature Conservancy Council, Edinburgh.
- ↑ ROSE, N. 1980. Beaches of Southeast Scotland. Department of Geography, University of Aberdeen, for the Countryside Commission for Scotland. Reprinted 2001 by Scottish National Heritage as a Commissioned Report. [Available online]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 DAVIES, A, MCADAM, A D, and CAMERON, I B. 1986. Geology of the Dunbar district. Memoir of the Geological Survey, 1:50 000 Sheet 33E and part of Sheet 41 (Scotland).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 FIRTH, C R, COLLINS, P E F, and SMITH, D E. 1997. Coastal processes and management of Scottish estuaries. IV — the Firth of Forth. Scottish Natural Heritage Review, No.87.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 HALL, A. 2012. East Lothian Landscapes [online: https://www.landforms.eu/Lothian/]
- ↑ SMITH, D E, HUNT, N, FIRTH, C R, JORDAN, J T, FRETWELL, P T, HARMAN, M, MURDY, J, ORFORD, J D, and BURNSIDE, N G. 2012. Patterns of Holocene relative sea level change in the North of Britain and Ireland. Quaternary Science Reviews, 52, 58–76.