Erosional landforms

Question 1

Cliffs

Answer 1

Destructive waves break on cliff, undercutting by wave action forms wave-cut notch. Rock strata above weakened, it collapses producing a steep profile. Debris from foot of cliff removed by wave action, cliff retreats inland parallel to coast.

Question 2

Horizontally bedded strata

Answer 2

Undercutting of lower rock layers causes rockfall, parallel retreat inland due to undercutting then collapse of rock layers above. Has steep/near vertical profile.

Question 3

Landward-dipping strata

Answer 3

Difficult to dislodge as rock layers angled away from weathering/wave action, rocks only loosened. Profile lowered by weathering/mm. Steep profile.

Question 4

Seaward-dipping strata

Answer 4

Undercutting removes basal support and the layers are loosened by weathering so slide along the bedding planes into the sea. Profile matches angle of strata.

Question 5

Shore platforms

Answer 5

Undercutting, collapse, at base a gently sloping platform is cut, dissected by abrasion. Friction slows waves, so they break on platform not cliff base, undercutting stops.

Question 6

Discordant coastline

Answer 6

Rock outcrops lie perpendicular to coastline. Weaker erode rapidly (bays), resistant rocks remain (headlands).

Question 7

Bay depth & width

Answer 7

Width- band of weaker rock, depth-differential rates of erosion between the two rock types.

Question 8

Concordant coastline

Answer 8

Lie parallel to coastline, resistant rock seaward so protects weaker rock inland, Bays/coves eroded at fault lines.

Question 9

Isle of Purbeck, Dorset

Answer 9

Discordant east-facing and concordant south-facing. Irregular shaped coasts refract waves as their increasingly parallel configuration becomes disturbed.

Question 10

Wave refraction (headlands)

Answer 10

Waves are slowed by friction in shallower headland water, the part of the crest in deeper water moves faster, so the wave refracts around headland and orthogonals converge focusing energy/erosion.

Question 11

Wave refraction (bays)

Answer 11

Orthogonals diverge, energy is dissipated so waves deposit their load. Waves breaking on headland approach at angle so LSD movement of sed into bays.

Question 12

Geos

Answer 12

Narrow/steep sided inlets, form from faults eroded rapidly by wave action. Huntsman’s Leap, Pembrokeshire is 35m deep.

Question 13

Blowholes

Answer 13

Caves/mining shafts enlarged by erosion may suffer roof collapse, forming a vertical shaft to the cliff top. Storm waves force plumes of aerated water out. Trevone, Cornwall, 25m deep blowhole.

Question 14

Caves, arches, stacks, stumps

Answer 14

Weak points in headland exploited by erosion, cave develops, enlarges until it reaches other side, arch widened by erosion/weathering, arch collapses leaving isolated stack, eroded at base to leave flat portion (stump). Old Harry Rocks, Isle of Purbeck.