Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Wave-Cut Platforms

Over time, cliffs are eroded by destructive waves, resulting in the formation of wave-cut platforms. This process is described below:

Stage 1

Stage 1

  • Destructive waves are responsible for most of the erosion at the base of cliffs.
  • Hydraulic action and abrasion wear away the base of the cliff around the high tide mark.
  • Eventually, this erosion causes a wave-cut notch to form.
Stage 2

Stage 2

  • Continued erosion of the wave-cut notch causes the rock above it to become less and less stable until it collapses.
Stage 3

Stage 3

  • Waves wash away the debris from the cliff collapse.
  • The destructive waves begin to erode the cliff, causing a new wave-cut notch to form.
Stage 4

Stage 4

  • As stages 1-3 happen again and again, more debris falls into the ocean and the cliff retreats.
  • What is left behind is called a wave-cut platform.
    • A wave-cut platform is a flat, gently sloping ledge of rock that extends out into the sea from the base of the cliff.
Jump to other topics
1

The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1

Natural Hazards

1.2

Tectonic Hazards

1.3

Weather Hazards

1.4

Climate Change

2

The Living World

2.1

Ecosystems

2.2

Tropical Rainforests

2.3

Hot Deserts

2.4

Tundra & Polar Environments

3

Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1

The UK Physical Landscape

3.2

Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3

River Landscapes in the UK

3.4

Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4

Urban Issues & Challenges

5

The Changing Economic World

5.1

The Changing Economic World

5.2

Economic Development in the UK

6

The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1

Resource Management

6.2

Food

6.3

Water

6.4

Energy

Practice questions on Wave-Cut Platforms

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
Answer all questions on Wave-Cut Platforms

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium