Question 1 Report
Table 1 shows annual measurements from a monitored stretch of cliff beside a hot desert coast. Although rainfall is low, rare intense storms send water over the cliff edge. Fig. 1 shows cracks, a dry gully and a pile of fallen debris at the cliff foot. The study team is assessing whether a footpath should be moved inland.
| Year | Cliff-edge retreat (m) | Number of recorded rockfalls | Rainfall on wettest day (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0.18 | 3 | 12 |
| 2023 | 0.46 | 9 | 41 |
| 2024 | 0.27 | 5 | 19 |
(a) Which year had the greatest cliff-edge retreat? [1]
(b) Draw arrows on a sketch to show how water entering cracks can trigger a rockfall. [2]
(c) Outline why moving the footpath inland may be safer than leaving it beside the cliff edge. [3]
(a) 2023 [1] (b) Award [1] for arrows showing water moving into cracks from surface; [1] for widened crack and detached block falling downslope (c) Retreat and rockfalls make the present route unstable [1]; moving it increases distance from the collapsing edge [1]; this reduces risk to walkers / need for emergency closure [1]
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