Question

list the sequence of features that could form along a rocky, emergent coastline and describe how each feature is formed

Answer 1

The features associated with emergent coastlines are sea cliffs, wave cut terraces, sea stacks, sea caves, sea arches, capes and bays, sea beaches, and spits and tombolo. The sequence of features that could form along a rocky, emergent coastline are as follows:

Capes and Bays: A cape is a raised piece of land that extends deep into the sea. Generally, It is a coastal feature. On exposed rocky coastsline which is emerging, the continuous action of waves on rocks of varying resistance causes the coastline to be eroded irregularly. For example, granites and limestones, occur in alternate bands with softer rocks, this shows that the rock erroded irregularly. The softer rocks are worn back into bays or inlets and the harder ones persist as capes.

Cliff: Cliff is a vertical, or nearly vertical exposed rock feature formed by the processes of weathering and erosion. Generally any very steep rock face adjoining the coast forms a cliff. It's geological structure, their resistance to wave attack will decide the rate of recession.

Cave, arch, and stack: Strong continuous and prolonged wave attack on the base of cliff will form holes in region of local weakness called caves. Sea caves occur quite often on every cliffed headland or coastline where the waves break directly on a rock cliff. They are formed by mechanical erosion. After two caves approaching one another from either side of a headland and it will be united. Then total collapse of the arch will take place by further erosion by water. Then the seaward portion of the headland will remain as a pillar of rock called as a stack.

Beaches: Beaches are a common feature of a emerging coastline, it is generally found at a short distance from rocky coastline. Beaches are made up of eroded material that has been transported from elsewhere and deposited by the sea waves. It generally consists of loose particles.

Spits: A sand spit is a very important feature which is an extended stretch of beach material that projects out to sea and is joined to the mainland at one end. As the time passes, if wind direction changes further out, the spit grows and may extend across a bay and develops into a curved hook.