Coastal Landforms Flashcards
How do caves occur?
When waves force their way into cracks in the cliff face
- Sand and other material are in the water that grind away at the Rock until the cracks become a cave
- hydraulic action is the predominant process
What may happen if a cave is formed in a headland?
It may eventually break through to the other side forming an ARCH
What happens when the arch gets bigger?
The arch will get bigger until it can no longer support the top of the arch. When the arch collapses it leaves the headland on one side and forms a STACK on the other
How is a stump formed?
The stack will be attacked at the base in the same way a wave cut notch is formed. This weakens the structure and and will eventually collapse into a stump
How are headlands formed?
When the sea attacks a section of coast with alternating bands of hard and soft rock
Does soft rock or hard rock erode quicker?
Soft rock (made of sand of clay) It erodes quicker than those of more resistant rock, such as chalk
What is it called when the soft rock erodes away leaving the hard rock?
Bays
What is a beach?
- common feature of a coastline
- made up of eroded material that has been transported from elsewhere and deposited by the sea
What is a spit caused by?
Deposition
What is a spit?
Extended stretch of beach material that projects out to sea and is joined to the mainland at one end
How is a spit formed?
Formed when the prevailing wind blows at an angle to the coastline, resulting in longshore drift
What is a tombolo?
A spit connecting an island to the mainland
