Erosional landforms

• Explain the formation of wave-cut notches

  destructive waves cause erosion at the base of a cliff. The most important type of erosion is abrasion, which undercuts the cliff face forming a curved indent - a wave cut notch
• Wave cut platform is formed when destructive waves undercut the foot of the cliff, causing it to collapse into the sea
• Explain the formation of wave-cut platforms

  Occurs overtime as abrasion and subariel processes cause the structure to lack stability and the cliff collapses forming a wave cut platform
• Explain the formation of new wave cut notches...

  After the original wave cut notch collapses the sediment is washed away to sea, exposing the cliff again, the sea then begins to erode the cliff again
• What happens after multiple collapses?

  Cliff retreat
• What does erosion do to headlands overtime

  form erosional landforms such as old harry , Swanage.
• How does caves and arches form

  Headlands have weakness called joints, these become eroded by corrasion and hydraulic action (mainly) forming a crack which leads to a hollow cave. When the sea fully erodes through it forms arches
• How does an arch form a stack

  Due to erosion the heavy roof of the arch becomes unstable due to alck of support and collapses under gravity.
• What are headlands made out of.

  Resistant rocks with weakness of joints and cracks
• What is a concordant coastline

  Where bands of rock alter parallel to the coast
• What is a discordant coast?

  Where bands of rock alter at a right angle to the coast
• Explain the formation of bays and headlands

  Occur on a discordant coastline rocks alter at a right angle causing different rates of erosion, the less resistant rock is eroded quicker to form a bay, while headlands are of resitant rock, such as Swanage bay or Flamborough head
• What happens after the formation of headlands

  Wave refraction, waves aim to break parallel but due to differences converge at headlands so there is increased erosion due to increased wave energy - which leads to the formation of erosional landforms
• What are the factors the impact erosion rate

  • Coastal configuration
  • Rock bedding - towards the sea erodes faster
  • Human intervention
  • Storm and storm surges
  • Tides
  • Geology
  • Fetch
• At what rate does the Holderness coast erode

  On average 1.8, but due to human intervention in some areas erosion has been exacerbated
• What is the geology of the Holderness coast?


  During after the last glacier era, the ice melted leaving behind periglacial deposits of boulder clay, this formed unconsolidated weak cliffs
• What are future issues on the Holderness coast?

  Increased erosion due to sea level increase and more intense storm surges due to climate change
• What is the issue with the Holderness coastline/ social impact?

  With The fastest eroding coastline in Europe, and mass movement rotational slumping, preventative methods don't protect everywhere and have caused negative feedback in other areas, such as Gryones, which has caused an economic loss of farmland, and business. People have had to move due to rapid erosion
• What are preventative measures?

  Shoreline management plans - take a holistic overview approach to preserve dynamic equilibrium