Formation Of Bays & Headlands, Stacks & Stumps And Cliffs & Wave Cut Platforms

Question 1

Where are stacks and stumps formed?

Answer 1

Cliffs and headlands

Question 2

Give a brief description of the formation of stacks and stumps

Answer 2

1. Waves attack fault in rock
2. Hydraulic action and abrasion widen faults into cracks, eventually creating caves
3. Cave eroded into arch
4. Weathering e.g. salt crystallisation and chemical processes e.g. carbonation, weaken rock making more susceptible to collapse
5. Erosion and weathering continues and arch collapses leaving stack
6. Stack further eroded until collapses leaving stump

Question 3

Where are bays and headlands formed?

Answer 3

Areas where geology or rock type runs perpendicular to coastline (discordant coastline)

Question 4

Give a brief description of the formation of bays and headlands

Answer 4

1. Coastline faces wave attack with discordant beds of sediment
2. Wave attack causes hydraulic action and attrition, causing cliff to retreat
3. Less resistant rock eroded faster, creating bays. More resistant rock stick out to sea as headland
4. During calm period sheltered bays allow deposition of beaches

Question 5

When do wave cut platforms form?

Answer 5

When destructive waves hit against the cliff face, causing undercutting between high and low water marks. Creating wave cut notch which enlarges into a cave

Question 6

Give a brief description of the formation of wave cut platforms

Answer 6

1. Weather weakens the top of cliff
2. Sea attacks the base of cliff forming a wave-cut notch
3. Notch increases in size causing cliff to collapse
4. Backwash carries rubble towards the sea forming a wave-cut platform
5. The process repeats and the cliff continues to retreat