Sample 6 mark answers          Back to coastal erosion features

Look at the sample 6 mark answers below - note that all these answers include the key ingredients for achieving a level 3 mark. 

(1) Named examples / specific location detail;

(2) Description of the landforms

(3) Explanation of how the landforms are produced  and

(4) clearly linking processes to the creation of the landforms

Headlands and Bays Sample Answer        Cliff Erosion Sample Answer         Erosion of a Headland Sample Answer

Describe and explain the formation of Headlands and Bays         

The Foreland or Peveril Point in Dorset are good examples of headlands with Swanage Bay between them. Headlands are hard rock outcrops, sticking out into the sea and bays are indents in the coastline. These features are formed when there are alternate bands of hard (e.g. chalk) and soft rock (e.g. clay) exposed to wave attach. The rocks are attacked by the waves which are armed with pebbles (abrasion) and is gradually undercut. It may also be eroded by solution (dissolved) or by hydraulic action (when waves compress air in small cracks in the rock). Wave pounding (the sheer force of waves hitting against the cliffs) can also exert huge forces against the hard rock, particularly in storms. The hard chalk however is not eroded as easily as the clay which is less resistant and erodes quickly forming a bay with a sandy beach. The more resistant hard chalk is left sticking out as a headland which now becomes vulnerable to the full force of the waves. 

Named Examples           Processes              Description              Explanation

Back to Headlands and Bays

Describe and explain the formation of Wave Cut Platforms

The Foreland (Dorset Coast) and Flamborough Head (Yorkshire Coast) are good examples of where there is extensive cliff erosion with wave-cut platforms present. These were formed when waves attacked the base of the cliff forming a wave-cut notch (an indent in the base of the cliff). This undercutting is the result of erosion by waves e.g. abrasion (where rocks are hurled against the cliffs by waves) and wave pounding (the sheer force of water hitting against the cliff face - which can be up to 30 tonnes / m²). As the cliff is undercut, the rock above collapses and so the cliff gradually retreats. A sloping rocky platform known as a wave-cut platform is left behind where the cliff used to be. This is covered at high tide.

Named Examples           Processes              Description              Explanation

Back to Cliff Erosion and Wave-cut Platforms

Describe and explain the erosion of a headland

The Foreland, a chalk headland on the Dorset Coast has all of the features of an eroded headland (caves, arches, stacks and stumps). Old Harry, is a particularly famous example of a stack and Old Harry's Wife is an example of a stump. These features are formed when a headland is attacked by the waves - by wave pounding, hydraulic action and solution, particularly along lines of weakness in the rock. The erosion of a headland begins as erosion exploits a weakness in a rock forming a cave. If the weakness runs through the headland, two caves may form back to back, eventually forming an arch, an opening which passes right through the headland. Wave attack continues at the base of the arch, whilst sub-aerial weathering processes such as freeze-thaw attack the roof of the arch until it eventually collapses leaving a stack (an isolated column of rock). Again this is attacked by weathering and erosion processes until it collapses leaving  the base, which forms a stump which is covered at high tide.

Named Examples           Processes              Description              Explanation

Back to the Erosion of a Headland

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