East Yorkshire coastal erosion

aerial (satellite) imagery





This page briefly describes the main sources of aerial, specifically satellite, imagery used in the preparation of East Yorkshire coastal erosion pages, and for ongoing studies.

Images captured by satellite and made available online inevitably show the coastline as it was at some earlier moment in time. In images of relatively recent date, there may be no or very little difference from the present situation at a number of locations. Older images provide an idea of how much cliff can be lost over a period.

Pr = monitoring profile (see data summary)



 
UK Grid Reference Finder

direct link

UKGRF is an ideal tool for quick access to a particular point on the coastal map when a coordinate is known.

Three types of coordinates are recognised. Grid Reference, the National Grid system employed in all Ordnance Survey maps, is preferred because only one element is needed in place of an easting then a northing, or latitude and longitude.

A copy/paste from the coordinates full spreadsheet or fieldwork spreadsheet into the Grid Reference search box at the left of the UKGRF map will zoom in to a required monitoring location. For example, the entry TA 25574 39697 directs the view to the cliff intersect for Profile 62 at Aldbrough.

Where a coordinate is not known then manual zoom can be applied. There are icons for the usual mapping tools.

Apple Maps provides the imagery. Dates are not given, though known changes to certain features suggest 2020-2021. Joins in the imagery are apparent at TA 18043 55489, TA 25374 40000, and TA 30454 32882.


Batch Convert Tool

direct link

As the name implies, the UKGRF Batch Tool facilitates multiple coordinates to be inserted in a single process.

Echoing the earlier example, a block of coordinates will copy/paste from the coordinates full spreadsheet or fieldwork spreadsheet into the Batch Tool search box (Step One).

Assuming that the selected coordinates are in National Grid format, check the Grid Reference button in Step Two. Then press Convert (Step Five) and Show Points on a Main Map (Step Seven).



 
Google Earth

  • open Google Earth
  • right click Temporary Places > Add > Network Link
  • at Link, insert
    https://urbanrim.org.uk/GE-monitoring-locations.kml
  • OK
  • click on Untitled Network Link
     

Pins Pr1 to Pr123 mark cliff top positions of monitoring profiles, the current system of measuring cliff loss.

Profiles notionally extend from a point inland to one at sea. Length is about 1.3 kilometres. On the GE image, length is reduced to 50 metres, this being landward and seaward extentions of 25 metres from cliff top intersects as they were in 2014-2015.

Pins EP1 to EP120 mark locations of erosion posts, the previous system of measuring cliff loss.

See data-in-detail for background.


data check

Also appearing with profile markings on the GE map are dots in circles. These indicate cliff top intersects in 2003, the year when systematic regular monitoring of cliff loss for the entire coast was introduced.

Positions for the dots are calculated from data. Losses are added together and the distance extended seaward along the profile from a later intersect.

The Google Earth Pro Show historical imagery feature (icon in the top toolbar and time slider) includes a map of the coastline for 2003.

In general there is good agreement between imagery and calculation, with examples of precise alignment. Of the exceptions, alignment might be seen at a later acquisition date, e.g. 2005 or 2007.


most recent dates

Google Earth satellite imagery receives regular updates. In terms of resolution and quality, some are better than others. Positions are approximate.

from Pr1 to Pr23
15 May 2023

from Pr23 to Pr55
23 June 2022

from Pr55 to Pr85
11 March 2022

from Pr85 to Pr104/Pr105 (halfway)
16 June 2021

from Pr104/Pr105 (halfway) to tip of Spurn
21 September 2023



 
Channel Coastal Observatory

direct link

Aerial maps are accessed by View Layers (sandwich icon) then Ortho-rectified photography. Frames in the CCO application can be slow to resolve but images are of good quality and purposely depict the beach at low tide, useful for observing sediment configurations. Long/Lat coordinates are provided in the top right corner. Dates available are 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

Also on the layers menu are annual continuous cliff lines from 2018 back to 2003, possibly the only such set available online, as well as some (not particularly useful) Lidar elevations.




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aerial archive

more on East Yorkshire coastal erosion

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Prepared by Brian Williams in April 2019. Last update 12 December 2023.