SCAPE1 2D (Walkden and Hall, 2005) is a reduced complexitymodel
designed to simulate the emergence and retreat of soft rock shore profiles
in the mesoscale (10 to 100 years). The components of the coastal
cliff system described by the model are outlined in Fig. 1.Within SCAPE
these are represented by both process-based and behavioural modules
representing hydrodynamic loads, shore platform, cliff and beach
morphodynamics. Such a holistic representation is necessary to capture
the interactions and feedback on the shore profile that regulates the behaviour
of soft cliff coasts. The process descriptions are relatively abstract
to allow simulation of long periods and exploration of model
sensitivities (Walkden and Dickson, 2008). On this basis only the processes
considered dominant in the mesoscale are represented and the
long termrecession rate of the cliff top is assumed to be primarily determined
by that of the cliff toe and interactions with the shore platform.
Erosion of the upper cliff is assumed only to be relevant for the talusmaterial
it deposits at the cliff toe.