Coastal Landforms Flashcards
How do caves, arches, stacks, and stumps form?
Erosion enlarges cracks into caves, which become arches. When arches collapse, stacks form, eventually eroding into stumps.
What is differential erosion, and how does it form headlands and bays?
Softer rock erodes faster, creating bays, while harder rock resists erosion, forming headlands.
Why do cliffs form along some coastlines and not others?
Cliffs form where strong wave action and resistant rock are present; low-energy coasts or soft rock lead to beaches.
What are the characteristics of a wave-cut notch?
A hollow at a cliff base formed by erosion, which deepens until the overhanging rock collapses.
How does longshore drift influence the shape of coastal landforms?
It transports sediment along the coast, leading to the formation of spits, tombolos, and bars.
