The sea attacks a weakness in the base of the cliff. For example, this could be a joint in chalk. A wave-cut notch is created by erosional processes such as hydraulic action and abrasion. As the notch becomes larger the cliff becomes unstable and collapses as the result of gravity. The cliff retreats inland. The material from the collapsed cliff face is eroded and transported away. This leaves a wave-cut platform. The process repeats over time.

Find out more about the formation of a wave-cut platform.

Offshore bars form when sediment is transported on and off a beach. Destructive waves remove sediment from the beach and form the offshore bar.

Find out more about landforms of coastal deposition.

Destructive waves

Find out more about destructive waves.

A wave is a disturbance on the surface of the sea or ocean, in the form of a moving ridge or swell.

Find out more about waves.

Beach nourishment

Find out more about soft engineering techniques.