origin and development of landforms of coastal erosion

Question 1

how are headlands and bays formed

Answer 1

formed in areas with a diconcordant coastline. erosional proccesses (hydraulic action and abraision) perdominate in areas of less resistant rock forming bays and leaving the more resistant rock protruding out to sea as headlands.

Question 2

why do bays experience low energy waves and what do the low energy wave create.

Answer 2

wave refracion concentrates the highest wave energy at the headland meaning that the bay recieves low energy wavws which allow sediment to accumulate and create beaches.

Question 3

how are wave cut platforms formed

Answer 3

high, steep waves break at the foot of the cliff with erosive action concentrated at the foot of the cliff it begins to undercut (wave cut notch) further erosin increases the stress on the cliff above and eventuallt it will collapse and the cliff line will start to reatreat after successive collapses leaving a genly sloping wave cut platform

Question 4

how are geos formed

Answer 4

along a joint the sea will cut inland, wideing the crack to form a narrow steep sided inlet.

Question 5

describe the formation of a cave

Answer 5

caves start out as small cracks in the cliff face an through erosing the cracks are widened and a cave if formed

Question 6

how are blowholes formed

Answer 6

if erosion continues vertically upwards from a cave a blowhole can form

Question 7

decribe how an arch is formed from a cave

Answer 7

if a cave is on the side of a headland the because of wave refraction concentrating energy at the top of the headland on either side eventually conjoining and making a hole (arch) e.g. Durdledoor, dorset

Question 8

how are stacks and stumps formed

Answer 8

the arch, due to processes like sub-arial weathering and gravity, will collapse this will leave an isolated portion of rock. over time due to continuous erosion of the stack it will eventually topple over and leave a stump. e.g. old Harry and old Harrys wife