Find out more about the erosion of a headland.

A discordant coastline is where the geology alternates between strata (bands) of soft and hard rock.

Find out more about discordant coastlines.

A wave-cut platform is a wide, gently sloping surface found at the base of the cliff and extends into the sea.

Find out more about wave-cut platforms.

Headlands form along discordant coastlines.

Find out more about discordant coastlines.

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.