Increased risk to the public from rockfalls as a result of the forecasted heatwave
Take notice of warning signs and avoid going directly under or on top of cliffs, no matter how tempting it might be.
15/07/2022 By BGS Press
BGS is warning of the increased potential for rockfalls during the weekend’s forecasted heatwave.
Temperatures are expected to reach in excess of 35°C in some areas, particularly from Sunday 17 to Tuesday 19 July 2022.
The warm weather has the potential to attract large numbers of people to coastal areas.
Geologists are sending an important message to take particular care and stay away from cliff edges when visiting coastlines across the weekend and into next week.
People are advised not to ignore any warning signs around cliffs or at the coast, which are there to assist public safety.
There is a potential link between rockfalls and high temperatures.
Heat causes rocks to expand and, particularly as they cool, pre-existing cracks can widen and new cracks can form.
Fluctuations in temperature can increase the risk of rockfall.
We would like to reiterate the warnings that the RNLI and local councils share regularly about the dangers of being near cliffs.
Our coast is a dynamic environment that is changing all the time and the potential threat to human life is very real.
Our advice is: take notice of warning signs and avoid going directly under, or on top of cliffs, no matter how tempting it might be.
Catherine Pennington, BGS Landslide Specialist.
Landslides frequently occur along the coast of the UK. Although landslides are generally more associated with prolonged or heavy rainfall, rockfalls can also happen during and after heat extremes.
Scientists are still conducting research to fully understand this process. However, they warn that cracks related to instability can be difficult to see from the top of the cliff, as can unsupported overhanging rocks; reasons scientists say it is so important to stay well away from cliff edges and to avoid going under them.
The Met Office has issued its first-ever red extreme heat warning for south-east and central England, alongside an amber extreme heat warning for the rest of England, Wales and southern Scotland, with temperatures set to soar between 17 and 19 July 2022.

Cracks can be difficult to see from the cliff top. This example is from Dorset. © BGS
Relative topics
Related news

New report assesses deep geothermal energy in the UK
17/07/2023
A new BGS report assesses the current situation around and future potential of deep geothermal energy in the UK.

Scoping report on the material requirements for a UK hydrogen economy
21/06/2023
The UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre has produced a scoping report that examines the aims of the UK with regards to developing a hydrogen economy, the sustainability of these targets, given current metal loadings, and provides some suggestions for overcoming potential challenges that the UK may face in securing raw materials to support this ambition.

A new open dataset to benefit onshore geoscience research
15/06/2023
Data from deep onshore hydrocarbon wells is being released on an open access basis to help meet the UK’s net zero targets.

NERC recognised by the Carbon Trust for its step towards net zero
07/06/2023
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has achieved the ‘taking action’ tier of the Carbon Trust’s Route to Net Zero Standard.

Collaboration, progress and emerging themes in mine-water heating, cooling and storage
17/05/2023
BGS, the Coal Authority and IEA Geothermal held the third Mine Water Energy Symposium to enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange around the world.

BGS maps out priorities with five-year strategy
11/05/2023
BGS publishes its new strategy for 2023 to 2028, ‘Understanding our Earth’.

Scientists discover regions of the UK with greatest potential to use heat from deep thermal waters
30/03/2023
BGS geologists have mapped the UK’s potential to use heat from thermal groundwater deep beneath central and southern Britain.

UK Geoenergy Observatories — open events in Glasgow
Event from 26/04/2023 to 27/04/2023
You are invited to visit the UK Geoenergy Observatory in Glasgow, to find out more about what the facility can offer you as a potential user.

Work complete on 1000 solar panels at BGS
07/12/2022
More than 1000 energy-saving solar panels have been installed at BGS’s headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire.

UK Geoenergy Observatories: time zero for net zero
01/12/2022
The BGS-led UK Geoenergy Observatories project is shining a light on the subsurface’s potential to provide geothermal energy.

BGS supports development of a local land-use framework for Devon
10/11/2022
The framework will help to identify data improvements to support more joined-up decision making about land use in Devon.

Understanding long-term burial of organic carbon deposits
07/11/2022
Carbon sequestration is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, by capturing and storing it, contributing to climate change reduction.