Coastal Landforms: Erosional Features

Wave Cut Platform:

A narrow flat area found at the base of a sea cliff or along the shoreline or a body of water. They are often only visible at low tide, appearing as large areas of flat rocks. They are created by waves

undercut

ting a cliff, eventually it cuts so deep that the cliff is not able to support itself and breaks away creating a flat area.

Sea Cliff:

A significant vertical, or close to vertical rock exposure. They are often found on the coasts and occur where the rock is not prone to, or is strong against erosion and weathering.

Sea Cave:

A cave formed by the wave action of the sea. In order to form the cave the rock must have a weak zone. Rock is then eroded at a faster rate, however because the rest of the rock cliff is strong it is able to support the weight. Because of the confined space that the waves are often eroding it becomes stronger and more powerful and is able to go deep and far into the rock.

Arch:

Erosion from the ocean finds weak parts in the rock and cuts away at it creating a natural arch way under the rock. The strength of the rock means that it is able to maintain its shape, however erosion and weathering also cuts at the side meaning the support can be quite thin.

Stack:

Rock formation that stands alone and is no longer attached to a cliff. Like sea caves and arches the ocean works away at the weak part of the rock slowly breaking it free from the cliff it was once a part of. It usually begins as a cave in the rock, which then becomes an arch due to more erosion, and when finally the rock can not hold and breaks away it becomes a stack.