Coastal Erosion

Question 1

Describe the formation of a wave cut platform

Answer 1

The base of a cliff will be eroded by the three main erosional processes until it is unsupported, so the top of the cliff collapses. As it continues to retreat, a wave cut platform is left below the water surface.

Question 2

How are headlands and bays formed?

Answer 2

When a cliff is made of areas of hard rock and areas of soft rock, the soft rock will be eroded faster, leaving the hard rock sticking out as headlands

Question 3

Describe the formation of a stack

Answer 3

A line of weakness is eroded into a sea cave through abrasion, corrosion and hydraulic action, then the same processes erode it further, straight through the headland, into an arch. The rock above the arch becomes unsupported and collapses, leaving a stack.

Question 4

Describe the 4 erosional processes

Answer 4

Hydraulic Action- when the power of waves crashing into the cliff forces air into cracks and breaks rock off
Attrition-when rocks crash into each other in the water, wearing each other away, and becoming smaller and rounder
Abrasion/corrasion- when the sea throws rocks against the cliff face, wearing it away
Solution/corrosion- when chemicals in the seawater dissolve the rock