Coastal landform processes
Published: April 12, 2010, 10:28 pm
Author: Michael Pidwirny
Topic Editor: Ernest Tollner
Topics: Geology
Water
Oceans and seasA number of mechanical and chemical effects produce erosion of rocky shorelines by waves. Depending on the geology of the coastline, nature of wave attack, and long-term changes in sea-level as well as tidal ranges, erosional landforms such as wave-cut notches, sea cliffs (Figure 1) and even unusual landforms such as caves, sea arches (Figure 2), and sea stacks can form.