Coastal Erosion: Shaping Our Shorelines

Understanding how erosion creates coastal landforms Year 9 Geography UK National Curriculum

What is Coastal Erosion?

The wearing away of rock and soil by the sea Caused by wave action, weathering, and mass movement Creates distinctive coastal landforms over time A continuous process that reshapes our coastline

Types of Coastal Erosion

Hydraulic Action - wave pressure forces air into cracks Abrasion - waves throw rocks and sand against cliffs Attrition - rocks in the sea knock against each other Solution - seawater dissolves certain rock types

Formation of Coastal Landforms Timeline

Headlands and Bays Formation

{"left":"Alternating bands of hard and soft rock\nSoft rock erodes faster than hard rock","right":"Hard rock remains as headlands jutting into the sea\nSoft rock forms sheltered bays with beaches"}

Caves, Arches, and Stacks

Sequence of erosional landforms on headlands Cave forms when waves attack weakness in cliff Continued erosion creates an arch Arch roof collapses leaving isolated stack

Identify the Landform

Look at the coastal photographs provided Work in pairs to identify each landform type Explain how each feature was formed Suggest what might happen to each landform in the future

Reading OS Maps: Coastal Features

Contour lines show cliff height and steepness Blue symbols indicate water depth Beaches shown as yellow/white areas Rock symbols show different geological features

Quick Check: Can You Explain?

How would you explain to a Year 7 student why some parts of the coast stick out (headlands) while others curve inward (bays)? Think about: rock types, erosion rates, and time

Coastal Erosion and Change Over Time

Erosion rates vary around the UK coastline Some areas lose several metres per year Climate change may increase erosion rates Human activities can affect coastal erosion