Chalk and Coombe Rock cliffs at Birling Gap, Sussex, were surveyed between 1950 and 1962. The size and frequency of cliff-top retreat shows great variations, but of 39,000 ft2 (3624 m2) lost, over 34,000 ft2 (3160 m2) were lost during winter. Further 42 per cent of cliff-top land was lost in just two winters. The reasons for this are not apparent, although the combined effects of marine action, frost and rain bring about most change.
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V. Jeff May (1971) studied this question.