Four prominent features shaped by the relentless power of wave erosion are sea cliffs, wave-cut platforms, sea arches, and sea stacks.
Here's a more detailed look at each:
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Sea Cliffs: These are steep, often vertical, slopes that form where waves erode the base of coastal land. The undercutting action weakens the overlying rock, eventually causing it to collapse. This process continues, causing the cliff to retreat inland over time.
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Wave-Cut Platforms (also called Shore Platforms): As sea cliffs are eroded, a flat or gently sloping platform is left behind at the base of the cliff. This platform is created by the abrasive action of waves and sediment grinding against the bedrock. It's exposed during low tide and submerged during high tide.
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Sea Arches: These form when waves erode a headland, attacking weaknesses in the rock, such as joints or faults. If erosion occurs on both sides of the headland, it can eventually carve a tunnel right through it, creating a sea arch.
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Sea Stacks: These are isolated pillars of rock that stand apart from the mainland. They are formed when sea arches collapse. The arch's roof becomes too thin and unstable due to continued erosion, eventually leading to its collapse, leaving behind the more resistant pillars as sea stacks.
