Photo 21 (Return)

View southeast towards across Chale Bay from Atherfield Point, 2001. Cliffs 30m high formed of sandy Lower Greensand Atherfield Clay fail by rockfall, and small translational slides. Erosion yields fine sediments that are lost offshore in suspension and sands that contribute to the sandy lower foreshore. Small quantities of gravel are supplied from superficial deposits at the cliff top, but incoming drift from the north west probably makes a more important contribution to the gravel upper beach. Submerged offshore ledges dissipate wave action immediately off the headland (extreme right of photo).