Cliff caution
Dear HIW, After studying the geography of coastal erosion, it has made me take closer notice of the cliffs and their structures. Erosion at the cliff base in this picture I have taken has caused precarious overhanging rock at the top, and the debris at the bottom could then be used as ammunition to erode the cliff further. I wondered how likely it is to be caught by these falling rocks. Do they fall regularly and is there any way of knowing when the area is dangerous? Simon Hartley
Thank you for sending us your picture of this dramatic cliff face. In the UK it’s common for cliffs to erode between one and two metres each year. As erosion at the bottom makes the top unstable, it is next to impossible to know when the rock is going to give way. It is best to steer clear of the bottom of these cliffs. Different rock types can erode quicker than others, while stormier regions can batter the land much more violently than in other areas. It is fascinating to watch the result of the wind and sea’s force, but it is best not to spend a long time near this rocky debris.