Study reveals huge acceleration in erosion of England's white cliffs

Iconic southern coastline is eroding 10 times faster than the past few thousand years due to human management and changes in storm intensity

The iconic white cliffs of southern England are eroding 10 times faster than they have over the past few thousand years, a new study has revealed.

The cause of the huge acceleration is likely to be human management of the coastline, which has stripped some cliffs of their protective beaches, as well as changes in storm intensity. Climate change, which is bringing higher sea levels and fiercer waves, will make the erosion even worse, say scientists.