A sea stump is what remains after a sea stack collapses due to erosion.
Sea stumps represent the final stage in a coastal erosion sequence that begins with cliffs. This process involves several stages:
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Cliff Formation: The process starts with coastal cliffs facing the sea.
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Formation of Caves: Wave action erodes the base of the cliff, forming caves.
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Arch Formation: If two caves erode towards each other from opposite sides of a headland, they can meet to form an arch.
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Sea Stack Formation: Over time, the arch collapses, separating a pillar of rock from the mainland. This isolated pillar is known as a sea stack.
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Sea Stump Formation: The sea stack continues to be eroded by wave action and weathering. Eventually, the top part of the stack collapses, leaving only a small, low-lying remnant. This remnant, often only visible at low tide, is called a sea stump.
In essence, a sea stump is the eroded base of what was once a sea stack, representing the ultimate stage in the disintegration of coastal rock formations due to natural erosive forces.
