Coasts And Waves

Arches, Caves, Stacks, and Stumps.

 

•Caves occur when waves force their way into cracks in the cliff face. The water contains sand and other materials that grind away at the rock until the cracks become a cave.

•If the cave is formed in a headland, it may eventually break through to the other side forming an arch.

•The arch will gradually become bigger until it can no longer support the top of the arch. When the arch collapses, it leaves the headland on one side and a stack (a tall column of rock) on the other.

•The stack will be attacked at the base in the same way that a wave cut notch is formed. This weakens the structure and it will eventually collapse to form a stump.

•All of the rock types are linked together.