Formation of headlands and bays

1. LANDFORMS PRODUCED BY WAVE
EROSION
Headland
• This is a part of
the coastline that
juts out into the
sea and usually
ends in a cliff.
Bay
• A wide curved inlet
of a sea.

2. LANDFORMS PRODUCED BY WAVE EROSION
Wave cut notch
• The foot of the
cliff which is
undercut.
Wave cut platform
• This is the gently
sloping land left on
the foot of a
retreating cliff.

3. Arch
• An opening through
a rock.
Cave
• A deep hollow
produced by the
action of the waves
usually at the foot
of a cliff.
LANDFORMS PRODUCED BY WAVE EROSION

4. Stack
• A pillar for rock
which has been
isolated from the
cliff due to the
erosive nature of
the waves.
LANDFORMS PRODUCED BY WAVE EROSION

5. Formation of headlands and bays
Sea attacking a coastline
of varying resistance will
erode the weaker rock
more quickly
The result is that a series
of headlands form on the
harder rocks………
…..and sheltered bays
form in the weaker rocks

6. HEADLANDS, BAYS AND BEACHES
1. a. Waves attack both sides of a
headland, producing caves;
2. b. Sometimes these are eroded right
through the headland to form arches.
3. c. When the roof of the arch collapses
it leaves a pillar or stack;
4. d. When the stack collapses it leaves a
stump.

7. WAVE CUT PLATFORM

8. 1
2 3 5
6
4

9. Development of Old Harry

10. BLOW HOLES
• Caves develop well in jointed rocks as
bedding planes are open by abrasion
and hydraulic action. If a joint runs
from the cave to the cliff top the
hydraulic action can eventually force
this joint open like a chimney inside
the cliff .

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