Origin and development of coastal erosion landforms: cliffs and wave cut platforms, caves, arches and stacks
Waves attack rock at the coast and slowly carve out distinctive landforms. Cliffs, wave-cut platforms, caves, arches, and stacks all form through this process of coastal erosion.
Real World
Old Harry Rocks on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset show the complete erosional sequence: a headland of resistant chalk has been progressively cut into caves, then a natural arch, and finally isolated stacks, with 'Old Harry's Wife' — a former stack — having collapsed into a stump by the early twentieth century.
Exam Focus
Structure erosional landform answers in sequence: describe the landform, name the processes, then explain the stages of development in chronological order.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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