Coastal - Formations Flashcards
Formation of headlands and bays
A headland is an area of land that juts out to sea and is surrounded by sea on 3 sides. Headlands form in coastlines where there are hard rocks and soft rocks. Hard resistant rocks are more difficult to erode than soft rocks. Hard rocks like limestone form headlands and soft rocks like clay form bays. Soft rock is eroded faster by hydraulic action and abrasion.
Formation of a cliff and wave cut platform
Waves attack the foot of the cliff through hydraulic action and abrasion. Over time this creates a wave cut notch. As it gets bigger the cliff becomes unsupported and collapses due to gravity. This continue and the cliff retreats and increases in height. The gentle sloping expanse of retreating cliff is called a wave cut platform.
