While the results presented in this study relate to the evolution of
idealised profiles comprising variable layers of soft cliff lithology, confidence
in the key geomorphic findings can be gained by comparing and
contrasting results to real-world examples. The south west coast of the
Isle of Wight, just off the south coast of the UK, provides an ideal case study
frontage. The 15 km extent between Compton Chine to the
north east and Whale Chine to the south west comprises a variable lithology
both longshore and vertically, including a range of shales,
marls, clays and sandstones. The lithologies yield a low percentage of
beach grade material (Stuiver et al., 2013) and the behaviour of the
frontage can be characterised as Mode A behaviour, driven by changes
in material strength (Walkden and Hall, 2011).