Reactivation of the coastal landslide system at Cayton Bay, North Yorkshire, UK

Johnson, R.M and Fish, P (2012) 'Reactivation of the coastal landslide system at Cayton Bay, North Yorkshire, UK.' Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 59 (1). pp. 77-89. ISSN 2041-4811

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/pygs.59.1.292

Abstract

On 1 April 2008, a deep-seated reactivation of the Cayton Cliff coastal landslide complex near Scarborough occurred. This followed localized headscarp failures adjacent to properties at Knipe Point Drive, beginning in late autumn 2007. The paper details the field evidence for these events, which included headscarp recession, shallow mudslides and debris flows, and deeper-seated ground displacement leading to tension cracking and toe uplift. In response to these changes, a ground inspection and monitoring programme was implemented to assess ongoing headscarp recession and possible extension of the landslide, thereby informing management responses and levels of risk. The data, which cover the post-failure period between late April 2008 and mid December 2009, indicate headscarp recession up to 3.61 m ± 0.04 m, localized displacement of the landslide body of up to 2.72 m ± 0.74 m and sea cliff recession of 0.31 m ± 0.01 m a−1. A preliminary investigation of the potential causes of the 2008 landslide reactivation suggest it was a natural event, most probably reflecting high antecedent effective rainfall conditions that raised the groundwater table to a critical threshold for slope failure. Reactivation was possibly aided by ongoing marine erosion of the landslide toe. Long-term management of the site is more complex and the potential option of a landslide stabilization scheme is likely to meet significant challenge, especially given the SSSI designation at Cayton Cliff.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
Divisions: School of Sciences
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1144/pygs.59.1.292
Date Deposited: 02 Sep 2014 16:30
Last Modified: 15 Aug 2021 09:37
URI / Page ID: https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/4052
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