Coastal Landscapes

Question 1

How are bays formed?

Answer 1

Bands of soft rock such as clay and sand are weaker, therefore can be eroded quickly.

Question 2

What is a bay?

Answer 2

A bay is an inlet of the sea where the land curves inwards, usually with a beach.

Question 3

How are headlands formed?

Answer 3

Hard rock such as chalk is more resistant to the processes of erosion. When the softer rock is eroded inwards, the hard rock sticks out into the sea.

Question 4

How are cliffs formed?

Answer 4

Cliffs are shaped through erosion and weathering. Soft rock erodes quickly and forms gentle sloping cliffs, whereas hard rock is more resistant and forms steep cliffs.

Question 5

What is a wave cut-platform?

Answer 5

A wave-cut platform is a wide gently-sloping rocky surface found at the foot of a cliff.

Question 6

How is a wave cut-platform formed?

Answer 6

• The sea attacks the base of the cliff between the high and low water mark.
• A wave-cut notch is formed by erosional processes such as abrasion and hydraulic action, this is a dent in the cliff usually at the level of high tide.
• As the notch increases in size, the cliff becomes unstable and collapses, leading to the retreat of the cliff face.
• The backwash carries away the eroded material, leaving a wave-cut platform.
• The process repeats. The cliff continues to retreat.
  Rock pools are left which often home a wide range of marine life as well as attracting many tourists.

Question 7

What are caves, arches, stacks and stumps?

Answer 7

Caves, arches, stacks and stumps are erosional features that are commonly found on a headland.

Question 8

How are caves, arches, stacks and stumps formed?

Answer 8

• Cracks are formed in the headland through the erosional processes of hydraulic action and abrasion.
• As the waves continue to grind away at the crack, it begins to open up to form a cave.
• The cave becomes larger and eventually breaks through the headland to form an arch.
• The base of the arch continually becomes wider through further erosion, until its roof becomes too heavy and collapses into the sea. This leaves a stack (an isolated column of rock). An example of a Welsh stack can be found at Stack Rocks, Pembrokeshire.
• The stack is undercut at the base until it collapses to form a stump.