CHAPTER 2
The North East Coastline of Scotland
J.S. Smith
ABSTRACT: The coastline of Northeast Scotland in plan is determined by faults
running close inshore to both North Sea and Moray Firth coasts. Three broad subdivisions can be identified where differences of lithology and orientation have created
distinctive coastal scenery. The events of recurrent glaciation during the Pleistocene
are much more pertinent to the soft coast geomorphology of Northeast Scotland. In
terms of their current coastal dynamics, the beaches of Northeast Scotland can be
subdivided into three groups. Within this developed region, the coastline has for the
most part, remained relatively unaffected by intensive use. Shallow offshore gradients,
potentially mobile surfaces, low quality soils and a tendency to poor drainage have
preserved the dune and links areas from urban and industrial use. The broad planning
strategy for future management might, therefore, appear to be that of preserving or
maintaining the status quo whilst allowing local, well-managed developments to
proceed, as long as they conform to a general regional plan for balanced coastal zone
development.
The Geological Skeleton
The coastline of Northeast Scotland in plan is determined by faults running close
inshore to both North Sea and Moray Firth coasts. Along the northern margin, an eastwest trending system of faults can be identified by steep gravity gradients north of
Fraserburgh. This line also coincides with the orientation of a prominent bathymetric
deep. Off the east coast, recent geological work by the Institute of Geological Science
has confirmed the pioneer Quaternary work of Jamieson which indicated that relatively
recent geological strata of Permo-Triassic age lie close inshore. For both north and east
coasts, the detail of the coastal plain, within which the soft coastal elements have
21
D.R. Green and S.D. King (eds.), Coastal and Marine Geo-Information Systems, 21–33.
© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
The North East Coastline of Scotland
J.S. Smith
ABSTRACT: The coastline of Northeast Scotland in plan is determined by faults
running close inshore to both North Sea and Moray Firth coasts. Three broad subdivisions can be identified where differences of lithology and orientation have created
distinctive coastal scenery. The events of recurrent glaciation during the Pleistocene
are much more pertinent to the soft coast geomorphology of Northeast Scotland. In
terms of their current coastal dynamics, the beaches of Northeast Scotland can be
subdivided into three groups. Within this developed region, the coastline has for the
most part, remained relatively unaffected by intensive use. Shallow offshore gradients,
potentially mobile surfaces, low quality soils and a tendency to poor drainage have
preserved the dune and links areas from urban and industrial use. The broad planning
strategy for future management might, therefore, appear to be that of preserving or
maintaining the status quo whilst allowing local, well-managed developments to
proceed, as long as they conform to a general regional plan for balanced coastal zone
development.
The Geological Skeleton
The coastline of Northeast Scotland in plan is determined by faults running close
inshore to both North Sea and Moray Firth coasts. Along the northern margin, an eastwest trending system of faults can be identified by steep gravity gradients north of
Fraserburgh. This line also coincides with the orientation of a prominent bathymetric
deep. Off the east coast, recent geological work by the Institute of Geological Science
has confirmed the pioneer Quaternary work of Jamieson which indicated that relatively
recent geological strata of Permo-Triassic age lie close inshore. For both north and east
coasts, the detail of the coastal plain, within which the soft coastal elements have
21
D.R. Green and S.D. King (eds.), Coastal and Marine Geo-Information Systems, 21–33.
© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.