1. Coasts
Agents Coastal
shaping Coastal protection
Coasts processes measures
1. Waves
2. Tides Erosion Transportation Deposition
Forms
Forms
Forms
3. Currents
Spits Beaches
Spits
Tombolos
1. Cliffs & Wave cut platforms
2. Headlands & Bays
1

2. Definitions
• Cliffs
• A steep rock face
along a coast. Can
tilt forwards or
backwards.
• Wave cut platform/
shore platform
• A gentle sloping
platform found at
the base of the cliff
2

3. Formation of Cliffs and Wave cut platforms
• Waves erodes a coast by hydraulic action and
abrasion
• Erosion process attacks lines of weaknesses (A)
• Notch ( narrow pass/cut) will be deepened to
produce a cave
• Undercutting of the cave results in an overhanging
cliff (B)
• Overhanging cliff may collapse (C)
• Cliff retreats further inland with more erosion
• The base of the cliff forms a gentle platform known
as the wave cut platform (D) 3

4. Definitions
Headlands
Extensions of bedrock jutting out into the sea
usually with a cliff. Resistant towards erosion.
Bays
Body of water connected to the seas due to
surrounding land blocking off some waves
4

5. Formation of Headlands and Bays
• Waves approach the coasts comprising of
alternate strips of resistant hard rocks and
less resistant soft rocks.
• The less resistant rocks will be eroded faster
than the more resistant hard rocks. (A)
• When the softer rocks are eroded away, bays
are formed.
• The remaining hard rocks extending into the
sea are known as headlands. (B)
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6. Overview
6

7. Using a labelled diagram, describe the process
of longshore drift [4]
• Waves reach the coast at an oblique angle creates a longshore
current
• The materials move in a zigzag pattern in a down drift direction
( beach drift)
• The swash carries materials up the beach at the same angle as when
the wave approaches the shore
• As the swash dies away, the backwash and any materials carries by
it return straight down the beach at right angles to the water line due
to gravity.
• Longshore drift = beach drift + longshore current
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8. The process by which waves are been
or turned from its origin
Wave refraction
• Waves us ually approac h
c oas t at an angle
3
• But when it hits the
headlands , the energy is
c onc entrated and erodes
the headlands
• The energy is s pread out as
it moves towards the bay.
Res ults in depos ition of
2
s entiments at the bay-
1
forms beac hes .
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