7 upvotes, 1 direct replies (showing 1)
View submission: Ask Anything Wednesday - Physics, Astronomy, Earth and Planetary Science
How do high cliffs by the ocean form? Why don’t they become beaches?
Comment by CrustalTrudger at 20/07/2022 at 18:48 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Sea cliffs tend to form during periods of sea level rise where beaches are effectively drowned. Their formation is favored in areas with relatively rugged togography near the coast, because even with high rates of sea level rise, beaches can still be formed and maintained if the gradient is relatively low. This is why you often observe sea cliffs in areas with active tectonics near the coast as this tends to produce more rugged topography near the coastline and which favors the formation of sea cliffs during periods of rising sea levels.