Sea arches and sea stacks provide evidence of weathering and erosion. In three to five sentences, explain the roles weathering and erosion play in creating these landforms and how deposition is involved in shaping the shorelines.(4 points)
Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks into smaller fragments through physical, chemical, and biological processes. This weakens the rocks and makes them more susceptible to erosion. Erosion is the transportation of those weathered rock fragments by natural agents such as wind, water, and ice. As these agents erode the coastline, they carve out sea arches and sea stacks by wearing away softer rock layers and leaving behind more resistant rock layers. Deposition occurs when eroded materials are dropped or deposited in a new location. It plays a role in shaping shorelines by forming beaches, dunes, and barrier islands, which contribute to the overall coastal landscape.
Weathering and erosion are both essential processes in the formation of sea arches and sea stacks. Weathering breaks down the rock along a coastline, making it weaker and more prone to erosion. Erosion then removes the weathered material, gradually carving out cracks and cavities in the coastline. Over time, this can lead to the formation of sea arches, which are natural bridges carved through headlands by the continuous action of waves. As erosion progresses, the sea arches may collapse, leaving behind sea stacks - isolated towers of rock that stand in the sea. Deposition also plays a role in shaping shorelines, as eroded materials are transported by currents and waves and deposited elsewhere, forming beaches, sandbars, and other coastal features.
Weathering and erosion are responsible for the formation of sea arches and sea stacks. Weathering breaks down the rock along the coastline, weakening it over time. Erosion then occurs as the sea water wears away the weakened rock, shaping it into distinctive landforms. In the case of sea arches, erosion removes rock from both sides of a headland, creating a hole or arch through the land mass. Sea stacks, on the other hand, are formed when erosion continues to wear away a sea arch until only a pillar of rock remains. Deposition also plays a role in shaping shorelines by depositing sediment carried by water, which can fill in gaps and create new landforms over time.
