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Wave Cut Platforms
Cliffs are steep rock faces along the coastline, they tend form along concordant coastlines with resistant rocks parallel to the coast. The erosion of a cliff is greatest at its base where large waves break - here hydraulic action, scouring and wave pounding actively undercut the foot of the cliff forming an indent called a wave-cut notch, whilst the cliff face is also affected by abrasion as rock fragments are hurled against the cliff by the breaking waves.
This undercutting continues and eventually the overhanging cliff collapses downwards - this process continues and the cliff gradually retreats and becomes steeper.
As the cliff retreats, a gently-sloping rocky platform is left at the base, this is known as a wave-cut platform which is exposed at low tide.
A Good examples of a wave-cut platforms can be found near Start Point in Devon. There is a present day wave-cut platform in the intertidal zone as well as an older beach platform just above the present beach, extending back to an old cliff line.
Deposited on this older platform are raised beach deposits which consist of beach sand and cobbles mixed with rock debris, known locally as ‘head’, deposited as a result of rock movement during the Ice Age.
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