Surface Processes Select any one of the following surface processes: - Sea/marine action - River action - Glacial action - Mass movement - Leaving Cert Geography - Question B - 2009

The selected landform resulting from sea/marine action is the Sea Cliffs, prominently found on the Irish coast. Sea cliffs are formed through the processes of erosion and weathering by the action of waves. Over time, relentless wave action erodes the base of the cliffs, leading to undercutting. This process can create structures such as caves and blowholes.

Formation Steps

1. Wave Action: Waves crash against the cliff face, exerting pressure and causing erosion.
2. Undercutting: As the waves erode the base, the stability of the upper part is compromised, leading to collapses.
3. Retreating Cliffs: The cliff faces retreat inland as erosion continues, shaping the landscape.

Diagrams**

(Here, include labeled diagrams illustrating how wave action leads to the formation of sea cliffs.)

The sea/marine action involves several key aspects:

1. Erosion: The continual removal of material from the coastline due to wave action.
2. Sedimentation: The deposition of the eroded materials along the shore, which can form beaches or coastal landforms. These two aspects play a crucial role in shaping coastal landscapes.

1. Hydraulic Action: This is the process where waves force water into cracks, leading to erosion.
2. Abrasion: Sand and pebbles carried by waves impact the cliff face, further contributing to erosion.
3. Attrition: The grinding down of rocks and pebbles against each other as they are moved by water, which leads to smaller, rounded pieces and contributes to sediment deposition.
4. Solution: Sea water can dissolve certain types of rocks, especially limestone, leading to further erosion.