Landforms & Landscapes of Coastal Erosion

Question 1

What are landscapes?

Answer 1

The bigger - the entirety of the sea, coast and the rolling countryside.

Question 2

What are landforms?

Answer 2

Individual components of the landscape - cliffs, beach and the emerging wave cut platform.

Question 3

What is a concordant coastline?

Answer 3

Has the same type of geology (rock) along its length.

Question 4

What is a discordant coastline?

Answer 4

Has different types of geology (more resistant and less resistant rock)

Question 5

How are wave cut platforms formed?

Answer 5

Base of the cliff = lots of hydraulic action that weakens the rock combined with solution
This creates a small wave cut notch - the top marker of the high tide.
As it get bigger the rock above it becomes unstable and eventually it will collapse.
The eroded material can aid the process of erosion through corrasion and abrasion and the process begins again.

Question 6

Formation of caves, arches, stacks and stumps?

Answer 6

1. Cracks are formed in the headland through the erosional processes of hydraulic action and abrasion.
2. As the waves continue to grind away at the crack, it begins to open up to form a cave.
3. The cave becomes larger and eventually breaks through the headland to form an arch.
4. 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.
5. The stack is undercut at the base until it collapses to form a stump.