Erosional landforms
The process of The wearing away of pieces of rock, soil or other solid materials. can create different landforms along the coastline.
Headlands and bays
Cliffs along the coastline do not erode at the same pace. When a stretch of coastline is formed from different types of rock, A high area of land that extends out into the sea. and A low-lying inlet of land on the coast. can form.
Bands of soft rock such as clay and sand are weaker so therefore they can be eroded quickly. This process forms bays. A bay is an inlet of the sea where the land curves inwards, usually with a beach. Hard rock such as chalk is more resistant to the processes of erosion. When the softer rock is eroded inwards, the hard rock sticks out into the sea, forming a headland.
Caves, arches, stacks and stumps
Recess in a cliff where waves have enlarged a crack in the rock face., A natural rock formation often created by two sea caves eroding backwards towards each other until the back walls disappear., A pillar of rock left standing in the sea when the top of an arch has collapsed. and The remains of a stack which the sea has eroded away. are erosional features that are commonly found on a headland.
- Cracks are formed in the headland through the erosional processes of hydraulic action and abrasion.
- As the waves continue to grind away at the crack, it begins to open up to form a cave.
- The cave becomes larger and eventually breaks through the headland to form an arch.
- 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 (an isolated column of rock).
- The stack is undercut at the base until it collapses to form a stump.