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Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications
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Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications; 2004; v. 20; p. 89-97;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.ENG.2004.020.01.06
© 2004 Geological Society of London

A Sturzstrom-like cliff fall on the Chalk coast of Sussex, UK

R. B. G. Williams, D. A. Robinson, U. Dornbusch, Y. L. M. Foote, C. A. Moses & P. R. Saddleton

Department of Geography, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QN, UK

In 1914 a notable cliff fall occurred on the chalk coast of the Seven Sisters in Sussex. Debris from the fall travelled outwards across the shore platform in front of the cliff for a distance of about 75 m, forming a narrow tongue-like projection. The reason why the debris exhibited such mobility is uncertain, but it may have flowed in a similar fashion to a sturzstrom, despite its modest volume (c. 12500m3) and the equally modest height of the cliff (44–45 m). If this suggestion is correct, the minimum volume of detached rock required to trigger sturzstrom-type flow is 1–2 orders of magnitude less than is commonly claimed.