Cliff and Shore Platform Formation

Cliff Formation

• Marine erosion
• Weathering
• Mass movement

• Waves undercut coastal slopes by hydraulic action and abrasion. This creates a basal notch.
• Basal notches are 1-2m in height and can be up to 3m deep.
• Rocks overhanging notch collapse, aided by gravity
• Steeper, new cliff face created.
• Rock fall is a common mass movement process where small pieces of rock become detached and fall from the cliff face
• Pieces of rock loosened by weathering e.g. freeze-thaw which attacks joints
  
• Wave energy and…