How Is The Coast Eroded By Wave Action
All rocks have lines of weakness All rocks have lines of weakness. The sea and its waves use hydraulic action,abrasion, attrition and solution to erode along any lines of weakness. Undercutting takes place all around the headland.
Lines of weakness
These lines of weakness get enlarged and develop into small sea caves.
A little sea cave
The caves are deepened and widened on both sides of the headland until eventually the sea cuts through the headland, forming an arch.
An arch
The rock at the top of the arch becomes unsupported as the arch is enlarged, eventually collapsing to form a stack.
A Stack
The stack gets eroded until only a stump remains.
Couple of stumps
Over time the stump will disappear. As the headland retreats under this erosion, the gently sloping land at the foot of the retreating cliff is called a wave-cut platform
A wave-cut platform
geography/physical/coastal_landscapes1_rev.shtml The End Thank YOU for watching Informaton from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/bitesize/higher/ geography/physical/coastal_landscapes1_rev.shtml Pictures from: Google Images