A Sea Cliff is best described as:

• A. A flat sandy platform.
• B. A raised rocky island.
• C. A tunnelled undersea feature.
• D. A high, steep face of rock formed by coastal erosion.

Answer: (D)

Coastal erosion and weathering create a tall, steep rock face at the edge of the land—a sea cliff. Waves beat against the base, causing hydraulic action and abrasion that erode rock at the bottom. As the base is undercut, the overlying rock becomes unstable and collapses, so the cliff face retreats landward. The result is a vertical or near-vertical face formed by the ongoing clash between wave energy and rock strength. The height and steepness depend on the rock type and wave energy: resistant rocks yield taller, steeper cliffs, while softer rocks erode more quickly. This is different from a flat sandy platform or beach at the base, or from a raised rocky island, or from an underwater tunnel feature, none of which describe the exposed cliff along the shore.