Sub-aerial weathering, mass movement and runoff at coasts
Coasts are shaped by more than just waves. Weathering breaks down cliff rock from above, mass movement carries that broken material downslope, and runoff washes loose debris into the sea.
Real World
The 2012 failure of the A3 road at Hindhead, Surrey, and more dramatically the ongoing cliff failures at Barton-on-Sea in Hampshire, are driven by rainwater saturation increasing pore-water pressure in clay-rich rock, triggering rotational slumps that undercut the cliff base and accelerate marine erosion.
Exam Focus
Link sub-aerial processes to marine erosion in your answer — examiners reward students who explain how weathered material reaches the wave zone.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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