Coastal erosional processes and landforms Flashcards
Corrasion
Broken rock fragments batter the land, cliffs , etc and break of other pieces of rock
Attrition
Rock fragments collide with each other, causing them to grind and bash each other down into smaller , smoother pebbles, shingle and finally sand
Solution
The seawater dissolves rocks in the cliff, such as limestone
Hydraulic action
Wave crash into cliffs, causing air and water to be compressed in cracks. When the sea moves away again, the air expands explosively, enlarging cracks and breaking pieces of rock off
Where do headlands and bays form?
Along coastlines where there are alternating outcrops of harder and softer rock
How do bays form?
Destructive waves erode areas of softer rock more rapidly to form curved inlets known as bays
How do headlands form?
Harder rock cannot be eroded as quickly, so it is left protruding out into the sea
How does a wave cut notch form?
Waves undercut the foot of the cliff to form a wave cut notch
How does the cliff retreat?
The notch enlarges until the cliff above it is unsupported, causing it to collapse. This process repeats
What is a wave cut platform?
The gently sloping expanse of rock marking the foot of the retreating cliff
How is a cave formed?
Corrasion, corrosion and hydraulic action by waves widen a weakness in the cliff to form a cave
How is an arch formed?
When a cave forms at a headland, it is widened and deepened until the the waves cut through the headland to form an arch
How is a stack formed?
The foot of the arch is eroded until the roof is too heavy to be supported. The roof collapses to leave a stack
How is a stump formed?
The stack is undercut and collapses to form a stump
