Examine the Factors That Affect the Formation of Erosional and Depositional Landforms

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forced into the cracks in the rock and increases the compression of the air inside, exerting pressure inside the crack, when the wave recedes the pressure is released and the air is forced out quickly – as this happens repeatedly, the rock is weakened by fatigue and eventually more rock will be broken away. The chemical components inside the water can also affect the formation of erosional features – if the water is very acidic then it is more likely to dissolve rocks, such as limestone, that are more susceptible and vulnerable to corrosion.

Wave Cut platforms such as the one on the eastern side of the Seacliff beach are formed by erosional processes too. Wave action continues to break down the rock below the high tide line on areas of cliff. Processes such as abrasion where material is picked up by the backwash of destructive waves, then the waves hurl pebbles and sand grains at a cliff face and they are able to scrape and grind the cliff face. The intensity of abrasion can be affected by the angle at which the wave breaks, the volume and also the angularity of the rocks. Once enough material has been eroded to establish a wave cut notch, the weight of the cliff above the notch becomes too much, and the rock collapses into the sea. This is the beginnings of a wave-cut platform. The process of creating a wave-cut notch continues again on the fresh rock face, and again the cliff will collapse. The cliff slowly retreats backwards, and the platform grows.

Mass movement also contributes to the formation of eroded cliff faces and retreats. Land and mudslides mean huge volumes of material are forced down the cliffs and into the sea, meaning cliffs can retreat back several metres in a stormy year. Mudslides in the UK generally occur during periods of heavy rain and storms, when the ground becomes totally saturated with water. When the water has nowhere else to go and can no longer drain through, the soil slides down the cliff, eroding great amounts of coastline.

So as we can see, there are a number of factors and processes that contribute to the formation of different costal landforms. Some of these occur over greater lengths of time, and some – such as mass movement, can occur in an instant; all contributing to the features and landforms we see on our coasts today.