Waves transport the material
which hits the cliff wearing it away
Hydraulic Action
Waves trap air and force it into
cracks in the cliffs making it weaker
Attrition
Waves throw rocks around causing them to crash and
wear each other down into smaller rounder pieces
Corrosion
Chemicals in the sea dissolve the cliffs
gradually over thousands of years
changes in landforms can also be a result of wind erosion,
weathering and sub-aerial processes such as mass movement.
Headlands and Bays
Headlands are usually made of more
resistant rock types than bays
If there are different bands of rock along a coastline, the weaker
or softer rock, such as clay, is eroded fastest. This leaves more
resistant rock types, such as granite, sticking out.
Caves, Arches, Stacks and Stumps
The formation.....
1. Waves cause weaknesses to form
cracks at the base of the headland
2. Over time the cracks become
larger to form a cave
3. The cave gets bigger and cracks appear
above the cave to the top of the headland
4. The arch grows larger and eventually collapses
leaving a stack separated from the mainland
5. The stack erodes and becomes a stump
Cliff erosion and wave-cut platforms
Stages in cliff retreat....
2. After some time a wave-cut notch is formed
3. At the same time the wind attacks the
top of the cliffs and weakens them
4. The now weakened cliff is left unsupported
due to undercutting and collapses
5. When the sea removes the fallen rocks it
can restart the process again
6. The cliff starts to retreat backwards
and forms a wave-cut platform
1. Strong waves hit the bottom of the
cliffs during storms and high tide