dorset coast geography case study

Case Study: Landforms on the Dorset Coast

Coastal landforms on the dorset coast.

The Dorset Coast is also known as the 'Jurassic Coast'. At Lyme Regis, there are lots of soft rock (like clay and shale). In other parts of the Dorset Coast, there is hard rock (like limestone and sandstone). Some major landmarks on the Dorset Coast are:

Durdle Door

• Durdle Door is a famous arch.
• Arches are created when caves in a headland are fully eroded.
• The headland in Dorset is usually made of limestone and sandstone.

Lulworth Cove

• Lulworth Cove is a bay or cove next to the town of West Lulworth.
• The sea had eroded the soft rock (clay) surrounded by the hard rock (limestone) that makes up the headland at Lulworth Cove.

Chesil Beach

• Chesil Beach is a bar that joins an island and the mainland.
• There is also a lagoon behind the bar at Chesil Beach.

Swanage Bay, the Foreland and Studland Bay

• Studland Bay and Swanage Bay are 2 areas of soft rock that have beaches very close to each other.
• Between Studland Bay and Swanage Bay is a headland (called the Foreland). The Foreland has a stack at the end of it called Old Harry.

1 The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1 Natural Hazards

1.1.1 Natural Hazards

1.1.2 Types of Natural Hazards

1.1.3 Factors Affecting Risk

1.1.4 People Affecting Risk

1.1.5 Ability to Cope With Natural Hazards

1.1.6 How Serious Are Natural Hazards?

1.1.7 End of Topic Test - Natural Hazards

1.1.8 Exam-Style Questions - Natural Hazards

1.2 Tectonic Hazards

1.2.1 The Earth's Layers

1.2.2 Tectonic Plates

1.2.3 The Earth's Tectonic Plates

1.2.4 Convection Currents

1.2.5 Plate Margins

1.2.6 Volcanoes

1.2.7 Volcano Eruptions

1.2.8 Effects of Volcanoes

1.2.9 Primary Effects of Volcanoes

1.2.10 Secondary Effects of Volcanoes

1.2.11 Responses to Volcanic Eruptions

1.2.12 Immediate Responses to Volcanoes

1.2.13 Long-Term Responses to Volcanoes

1.2.14 Earthquakes

1.2.15 Earthquakes at Different Plate Margins

1.2.16 What is an Earthquake?

1.2.17 Measuring Earthquakes

1.2.18 Immediate Responses to Earthquakes

1.2.19 Long-Term Responses to Earthquakes

1.2.20 Case Studies: The L'Aquila Earthquake

1.2.21 Case Studies: The Kashmir Earthquake

1.2.22 Earthquake Case Study: Chile 2010

1.2.23 Earthquake Case Study: Nepal 2015

1.2.24 Reducing the Impact of Tectonic Hazards

1.2.25 Protecting & Planning

1.2.26 Living with Tectonic Hazards 2

1.2.27 End of Topic Test - Tectonic Hazards

1.2.28 Exam-Style Questions - Tectonic Hazards

1.2.29 Tectonic Hazards - Statistical Skills

1.3 Weather Hazards

1.3.1 Winds & Pressure

1.3.2 The Global Atmospheric Circulation Model

1.3.3 Surface Winds

1.3.4 UK Weather Hazards

1.3.5 Changing Weather in the UK

1.3.6 Tropical Storms

1.3.7 Tropical Storm Causes

1.3.8 Features of Tropical Storms

1.3.9 The Structure of Tropical Storms

1.3.10 The Effect of Climate Change on Tropical Storms

1.3.11 The Effects of Tropical Storms

1.3.12 Responses to Tropical Storms

1.3.13 Reducing the Effects of Tropical Storms

1.3.14 Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina

1.3.15 Tropical Storms Case Study: Haiyan

1.3.16 UK Weather Hazards Case Study: Somerset 2014

1.3.17 End of Topic Test - Weather Hazards

1.3.18 Exam-Style Questions - Weather Hazards

1.3.19 Weather Hazards - Statistical Skills

1.4 Climate Change

1.4.1 Climate Change

1.4.2 Evidence for Climate Change

1.4.3 Natural Causes of Climate Change

1.4.4 Human Causes of Climate Change

1.4.5 Effects of Climate Change on the Environment

1.4.6 Effects of Climate Change on People

1.4.7 Climate Change Mitigation Strategies

1.4.8 Adaptation to Climate Change

1.4.9 End of Topic Test - Climate Change

1.4.10 Exam-Style Questions - Climate Change

1.4.11 Climate Change - Statistical Skills

2 The Living World

2.1 Ecosystems

2.1.1 Ecosystems

2.1.2 Food Chains & Webs

2.1.3 Ecosystem Cascades

2.1.4 Global Ecosystems

2.1.5 Ecosystem Case Study: Freshwater Ponds

2.2 Tropical Rainforests

2.2.1 Tropical Rainforests

2.2.2 Interdependence of Tropical Rainforests

2.2.3 Adaptations of Plants to Rainforests

2.2.4 Adaptations of Animals to Rainforests

2.2.5 Biodiversity of Tropical Rainforests

2.2.6 Deforestation

2.2.7 Impacts of Deforestation

2.2.8 Case Study: Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest

2.2.9 Why Protect Rainforests?

2.2.10 Sustainable Management of Rainforests

2.2.11 Case Study: Malaysian Rainforest

2.2.12 End of Topic Test - Tropical Rainforests

2.2.13 Exam-Style Questions - Tropical Rainforests

2.2.14 Deforestation - Statistical Skills

2.3 Hot Deserts

2.3.1 Hot Deserts

2.3.2 Interdependence in Hot Deserts

2.3.3 Adaptation of Plants to Hot Deserts

2.3.4 Adaptation of Animals to Hot Deserts

2.3.5 Biodiversity in Hot Deserts

2.3.6 Case Study: Sahara Desert

2.3.7 Desertification

2.3.8 Reducing the Risk of Desertification

2.3.9 Case Study: Thar Desert

2.3.10 End of Topic Test - Hot Deserts

2.3.11 Exam-Style Questions - Hot Deserts

2.4 Tundra & Polar Environments

2.4.1 Overview of Cold Environments

2.4.2 Interdependence of Cold Environments

2.4.3 Adaptations of Plants to Cold Environments

2.4.4 Adaptations of Animals to Cold Environments

2.4.5 Biodiversity in Cold Environments

2.4.6 Case Study: Alaska

2.4.7 Sustainable Management

2.4.8 Case Study: Svalbard

2.4.9 End of Topic Test - Tundra & Polar Environments

2.4.10 Exam-Style Questions - Cold Environments

3 Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1 The UK Physical Landscape

3.1.1 The UK Physical Landscape

3.1.2 Examples of the UK's Landscape

3.2 Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.2.1 Types of Wave

3.2.2 Weathering

3.2.3 Mass Movement

3.2.4 Processes of Erosion

3.2.5 Wave-Cut Platforms

3.2.6 Headlands & Bays

3.2.7 Caves, Arches & Stacks

3.2.8 Longshore Drift

3.2.9 Sediment Transport

3.2.10 Deposition

3.2.11 Spits, Bars & Sand Dunes

3.2.12 Coastal Management - Hard Engineering

3.2.13 Coastal Management - Soft Engineering

3.2.14 Case Study: Landforms on the Dorset Coast

3.2.15 Coastal Management - Managed Retreat

3.2.16 Coastal Management Case Study - Holderness

3.2.17 Coastal Management Case Study: Swanage

3.2.18 Coastal Management Case Study - Lyme Regis

3.2.19 End of Topic Test - Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.2.20 Exam-Style Questions - Coasts

3.3 River Landscapes in the UK

3.3.1 The Long Profile of a River

3.3.2 The Cross Profile of a River

3.3.3 Vertical & Lateral Erosion

3.3.4 River Valley Case Study - River Tees

3.3.5 Processes of Erosion

3.3.6 Sediment Transport

3.3.7 River Deposition

3.3.8 Waterfalls & Gorges

3.3.9 Interlocking Spurs

3.3.10 Meanders

3.3.11 Oxbow Lakes

3.3.12 Floodplains

3.3.13 Levees

3.3.14 Estuaries

3.3.15 Case Study: The River Clyde

3.3.16 River Management

3.3.17 Hydrographs

3.3.18 Flood Defences - Hard Engineering

3.3.19 Flood Defences - Soft Engineering

3.3.20 River Management Case Study - Boscastle

3.3.21 River Management Case Study - Banbury

3.3.22 End of Topic Test - River Landscapes in the UK

3.3.23 Exam-Style Questions - Rivers

3.4 Glacial Landscapes in the UK

3.4.1 The UK in the Last Ice Age

3.4.2 Glacial Processes

3.4.3 Glacial Landforms Caused by Erosion

3.4.4 Tarns, Corries, Glacial Troughs & Truncated Spurs

3.4.5 Types of Moraine

3.4.6 Drumlins & Erratics

3.4.7 Snowdonia

3.4.8 Land Use in Glaciated Areas

3.4.9 Conflicts in Glacial Landscapes

3.4.10 Tourism in Glacial Landscapes

3.4.11 Coping with Tourism Impacts in Glacial Landscapes

3.4.12 Case Study - Lake District

3.4.13 End of Topic Test - Glacial Landscapes in the UK

3.4.14 Exam-Style Questions - Glacial Landscapes

4 Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1 Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.1 Urbanisation

4.1.2 Factors Causing Urbanisation

4.1.3 Megacities

4.1.4 Urbanisation Case Study: Lagos

4.1.5 Urbanisation Case Study: Rio de Janeiro

4.1.6 UK Cities

4.1.7 Case Study: Urban Regen Projects - Manchester

4.1.8 Case Study: Urban Change in Liverpool

4.1.9 Case Study: Urban Change in Bristol

4.1.10 Sustainable Urban Life

4.1.11 Reducing Traffic Congestion

4.1.12 End of Topic Test - Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.13 Exam-Style Questions - Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.14 Urban Issues -Statistical Skills

5 The Changing Economic World

5.1 The Changing Economic World

5.1.1 Measuring Development

5.1.2 Limitations of Developing Measures

5.1.3 Classifying Countries Based on Wealth

5.1.4 The Demographic Transition Model

5.1.5 Stages of the Demographic Transition Model

5.1.6 Physical Causes of Uneven Development

5.1.7 Historical Causes of Uneven Development

5.1.8 Economic Causes of Uneven Development

5.1.9 Consequences of Uneven Development

5.1.10 How Can We Reduce the Global Development Gap?

5.1.11 Case Study: Tourism in Kenya

5.1.12 Case Study: Tourism in Jamaica

5.1.13 Case Study: Economic Development in India

5.1.14 Case Study: Aid & Development in India

5.1.15 Case Study: Economic Development in Nigeria

5.1.16 Case Study: Aid & Development in Nigeria

5.1.17 End of Topic Test - The Changing Economic World

5.1.18 Exam-Style Questions - The Changing Economic World

5.1.19 Changing Economic World - Statistical Skills

5.2 Economic Development in the UK

5.2.1 Causes of Economic Change in the UK

5.2.2 The UK's Post-Industrial Economy

5.2.3 The Impacts of UK Industry on the Environment

5.2.4 Change in the UK's Rural Areas

5.2.5 Transport in the UK

5.2.6 The North-South Divide

5.2.7 Regional Differences in the UK

5.2.8 The UK's Links to the World

6 The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1 Resource Management

6.1.1 Global Distribution of Resources

6.1.2 Uneven Distribution of Resources

6.1.3 Food in the UK

6.1.4 Agribusiness

6.1.5 Demand for Water in the UK

6.1.6 Water Pollution in the UK

6.1.7 Matching Supply & Demand of Water in the UK

6.1.8 The UK's Energy Mix

6.1.9 Issues with Sources of Energy

6.1.10 Resource Management - Statistical Skills

6.2.1 Areas of Food Surplus & Food Deficit

6.2.2 Increasing Food Consumption

6.2.3 Food Supply & Food Insecurity

6.2.4 Impacts of Food Insecurity

6.2.5 Increasing Food Supply

6.2.6 Case Study: Thanet Earth

6.2.7 Creating a Sustainable Food Supply

6.2.8 Case Study: Agroforestry in Mali

6.2.9 End of Topic Test - Food

6.2.10 Exam-Style Questions - Food

6.2.11 Food - Statistical Skills

6.3.1 Water Surplus & Water Deficit

6.3.2 Increasing Water Consumption

6.3.3 What Affects the Availability of Water?

6.3.4 Impacts of Water Insecurity

6.3.5 Increasing Water Supplies

6.3.6 Case Study: Water Transfer in China

6.3.7 Sustainable Water Supply

6.3.8 Case Study: Kenya's Sand Dams

6.3.9 Case Study: Lesotho Highland Water Project

6.3.10 Case Study: Wakel River Basin Project

6.3.11 Exam-Style Questions - Water

6.3.12 Water - Statistical Skills

6.4.1 Global Demand for Energy

6.4.2 Increasing Energy Consumption

6.4.3 Factors Affecting Energy Supply

6.4.4 Impacts of Energy Insecurity

6.4.5 Increasing Energy Supply - Solar

6.4.6 Increasing Energy Supply - Water

6.4.7 Increasing Energy Supply - Wind

6.4.8 Increasing Energy Supply - Nuclear

6.4.9 Increasing Energy Supply - Fossil Fuels

6.4.10 Carbon Footprints

6.4.11 Energy Conservation

6.4.12 Case Study: Rice Husks in Bihar

6.4.13 Exam-Style Questions - Energy

6.4.14 Energy - Statistical Skills

Jump to other topics

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

30+ school subjects covered

Coastal Management - Soft Engineering

Coastal Management - Managed Retreat

Coastal Landscape Case Study ( OCR GCSE Geography )

Revision note.

Geography Content Creator

Coastal Case Study - The Dorset Coast

• The geology of the Dorset coast is perfect for both erosional and depositional landforms
• It has bands of sedimentary rock, consisting of soft clay and harder limestone and chalk
• These rocks erode at different rates creating headlands, bays, arches, a long tombolo and more
• This stretch of coastline forms part of the commonly known Jurassic Coast that stretches for 155km from Exmouth in Devon to Poole in Dorset

How has it changed?

Rock Formation along the Jurassic Coast

Erosional landscape 

• Wave erosion opened a crack in the tough limestone headland
• It is unusual as it has formed parallel to (along) the coastline 
• Further erosion has led to a cave which has developed into an arch in the headland
• Softer rocks behind the limestone have been washed away leaving an eroding line of chalk cliffs by mechanical, chemical and biological weathering
• Lying behind this limestone is a band of soft clay, and this has been scooped out (eroded) to form a bay 
• The entrance to the cove is narrow because the harder band of limestone is more resistant to erosion
• The limestone cliffs forming the back wall of the cove are vulnerable to mass movement and sometimes experience small slides and slumps
• This chalk headland has eroded to form caves, arches and a stack (Old Harry)
• Further erosion has resulted in a stump called Old Harry's Wife
• Chemical weathering and erosion have gradually eroded these features
• Biological weathering, through surface vegetation on the headland, is also weakening the rock

Main features along the Dorset Coast, UK

Map showing main features of the Dorset Coast, UK

• The cliffs behind the bays are areas of soft sandstone and clay
• Between the two bays is The Foreland , a headland of harder chalk
• Longshore drift affects the bay carrying material (mainly gravel) from the south to the north of the beach
• Erosion is the dominant process in the bay with the depositional beach losing material year on year

Depositional landscape

• Formed through the process of longshore drift, it joins the Isle of Portland to the mainland
• There is a shallow salt water lagoon called The Fleet Lagoon that separates the beach from the mainland 
• Studland Bay  has four miles of sandy beaches within sheltered waters and backed by sand dunes
• Sand only began to be deposited about 500 yrs. ago
• A freshwater lake has formed in-land called the Little Sea
• This acidity means that the dunes will be colonised by dune heather and not grass
• Make sure you can name four distinctive landforms from your studied example
• The geological time period it dates to
• The type of rock or rocks it is made from
• State if it was formed through erosion or deposition

Impacts of the 2014 Valentine’s Day storm

• On 14 February 2014, a large storm battered the coastline with winds of up to 80mph and storm waves of more than 30ft high
• Roofs were lost from buildings, power cuts, overturned lorries and landslides
• Hundreds of people were evacuated
• Sea defences were breached and huge waves threw rocks from Chesil Beach into the streets behind the seafront
• Portland Beach Road was under 4 feet of water from flooding at Hamm Beach
• Parts of Chesil Beach were lost and the 150-million-year-old Pom Pom Rock collapsed
• The main railway line from Plymouth to Exeter was washed away at Dawlish and was closed for over 2 months
• West Bay cliffs retreated by a few metres after the cliffs collapsed
• Despite the storm, Lyme Regis was sufficiently protected by its coastal defences

Effects of climate change on the impacts

• As global sea temperatures increase, water levels rise through melting ice caps and seawater expansion
• A warmer atmosphere leads to more intense and frequent storms, creating powerful destructive waves
• A warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapour, which will lead to higher levels of precipitation and increased rates of weathering and erosion. This will lead to increased cliff instability leading to increased levels of landslips and falls
• Climate change has the ability to impact the whole of the UK's coastline, particularly those areas where the cliffs are made from softer rock and clay or are lying close to sea level and can, therefore, flood

Coastal management

• Any coastal management aims to protect the environment but mostly people from the impacts of erosion and flooding
• Not all coastal areas can be protected or managed as there are economic constraints
• Soft engineering that works with natural processes
• Hard engineering that works against natural processes

Hard engineering

• Hard engineering involves building some form of sea defence, usually from concrete, wood or rock
• Structures are expensive to build and need to be maintained
• Defences work against the power of the waves 
• Each type of defence has its strengths and weaknesses
• Protecting one area can impact regions further along the coast, which results in faster erosion and flooding
• Hard engineering is used when settlements and expensive installations (power stations etc.) are at risk - the economic benefit is greater than the costs of build

Hard Engineered Defences

Soft engineering

• Soft engineering works with natural processes rather than against them
• Usually cheaper and does not damage the appearance of the coast
• Considered to be a more sustainable approach to coastal protection
• However, they are not as effective as hard engineering methods

Soft Engineered Defences

• There are conflicting views about using a particular type of engineering for coastal defence
• Most coastal managers aim to use a range of methods depending on the value of what is being protected
• This method is known as Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
• ICMZ aims to use a combination of methods to best reflect all stakeholder needs
• Management of coastal regions is performed by identifying coastal cells
• The risk of erosion and land retreat 
• The risk of flooding
• Identification allows resources to be allocated effectively to reduce the impacts of these risks
• The ' cost-benefit ' is easier to calculate using coastal cells
• Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) set out an approach to managing a coastline from flooding and erosional risk
• The plans aim to reduce the risk to people, settlements, agricultural land and natural environments (salt marshes etc.)
• Long term approach and the most costly
• Build and maintain coastal defences so the current position of the shoreline remains the same
• Hard engineering is the most dominant method used with soft engineering used to support
• Build new defences to extend the existing shoreline
• Involves land reclamation
• Hard and soft engineering is used
• Coastline is allowed to move naturally
• Processes are monitored and directed when and where necessary
• Most natural approach to coastal defence
• Mostly soft engineering with some hard engineering to support
• Cheapest method, but most controversial of the options
• The coast is allowed to erode and retreat landward
• No investment is made in protecting the coastline or defending against flooding, regardless of any previous intervention
• Economic value of the resources that would be protected, e.g. land, homes etc
• Engineering solutions - it might not be possible to 'hold the line' for moving landforms such as spits, or unstable cliffs 
• Cultural and ecological value of land - historic sites and areas of unusual diversity
• Community pressure - local campaigns to protect the region
• Social value of communities - long-standing, historic communities

Jurassic Coast and SMP

• As areas of the Dorset coast are being eroded, properties and infrastructure are at risk
• Landslides and rockfalls put people at risk
• Coastal management strategies along the Dorset coastline to prevent erosion have impacted the landscape and caused changes to the natural environment
• These have reduced the loss of beach material
• However, beaches further along the coast are becoming narrower and subject to more erosion (due to reduced ability to absorb wave energy)
• Timber groynes have been replaced in Poole and Bournemouth in 2021
• They are recurved and reflect waves back out to sea preventing erosion to the base of the cliff
• However, this creates a strong backwash which removes sand from the beach and leads to erosion under the wall
• As natural erosion has been halted, natural beach replenishment has stopped, reducing the overall beach levels 
• To create a wider beach in parts of upper Swanage Bay, sand and shingle were dredged from the sea bed at Poole Harbour in the winter of 2005-6
• This slowed wave energy, which reduced erosion and helped protect properties and the cliffs
• Although successful, the cost was £5 million and needs to be repeated approximately every 20 years

Human activity impacts the landscape

• Industry and tourism affect the landscape along the Jurassic coast
• As the coastline is a major tourist attraction , footpaths are worn down as people repeatedly walk along them
• Vegetation along the chalk cliff tops is trampled and worn away, exposing the soil and rock to weathering and erosion and increasing cliff instability
• Portland and West Chesil Beach are quarried for limestone and used in construction 
• Quarries expose vast areas of rock to weathering and erosion
• Up until the 1960's Chesil Beach's shingle was extracted commercially and also used in construction
• The shingle was removed so quickly, that natural processes couldn't replenish it and the landform was damaged

You've read 0 of your 10 free revision notes

Get unlimited access.

to absolutely everything:

• Downloadable PDFs
• Unlimited Revision Notes
• Topic Questions
• Past Papers
• Model Answers
• Videos (Maths and Science)

Join the 100,000 + Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

Did this page help you?

Author: Jacque Cartwright

Jacque graduated from the Open University with a BSc in Environmental Science and Geography before doing her PGCE with the University of St David’s, Swansea. Teaching is her passion and has taught across a wide range of specifications – GCSE/IGCSE and IB but particularly loves teaching the A-level Geography. For the last 5 years Jacque has been teaching online for international schools, and she knows what is needed to pass those pesky geography exams.

• International
• Education Jobs
• Schools directory
• Resources Education Jobs Schools directory News Search

Dorset coast case study

Subject: Geography

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

4 February 2020

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

A comprehensive one page case study of the Dorset coastline. Perfect for any specification, but written specifically for the AQA GCSE 9-1 course.

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 75%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Case studies/Examples required for the AQA 9-1 GCSE specification

This is a bundle of 16 case studies/examples from the AQA 9-1 GCSE specification. This is a perfect set of resources to give to students to support them in preparation for this GCSE. Each case study/example is condensed to one A4 page, but contains the content that is required aligned with the specification. Each one of these is for sale at £2, but all can be bought together for £8! This has been produced by a team leader for AQA for this specification.

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

This resource hasn't been reviewed yet

To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:

• Find Flashcards
• Why It Works
• Tutors & resellers
• Content partnerships
• Teachers & professors
• Employee training

Brainscape's Knowledge Genome TM

Entrance exams, professional certifications.

• Foreign Languages
• Medical & Nursing

Humanities & Social Studies

Mathematics, health & fitness, business & finance, technology & engineering, food & beverage, random knowledge, see full index.

• User generated content

A-level Geography Case Study Dorset-A high energy coastline

This class was created by Brainscape user esme appleby. Visit their profile to learn more about the creator.

Decks in this class (8)

More about a-level geography case study dorset-a high energy coastline.

• Class purpose General learning

Learn faster with Brainscape on your web, iPhone, or Android device. Study esme appleby's A-level Geography Case Study Dorset-A high energy coastline flashcards for their Redmaids class now!

How studying works.

Brainscape's adaptive web mobile flashcards system will drill you on your weaknesses, using a pattern guaranteed to help you learn more in less time.

Add your own flashcards.

Either request "Edit" access from the author, or make a copy of the class to edit as your own. And you can always create a totally new class of your own too!

What's Brainscape anyway?

Brainscape is a digital flashcards platform where you can find, create, share, and study any subject on the planet.

We use an adaptive study algorithm that is proven to help you learn faster and remember longer....

Looking for something else?

World geography.

• 1,050 flashcards
• 269,932 learners

U.S. Geography

• 226 flashcards
• 21,124 learners

Geography A Level Case Studies

• 54 flashcards

Energy - Eduqas A Level Geography

• 218 flashcards
• 19 learners
• Corporate Training
• Teachers & Schools
• Android App
• Help Center
• Law Education
• All Subjects A-Z
• All Certified Classes
• Earn Money!

• 0 Shopping Cart

Lulworth Cove

A bay located on the Dorset Coast.

Lulworth Cove is a landform created by coastal erosion on the Dorset Coast. Lulworth Cove is a bay located next to the village of Lulworth.

Knowing the geology of the area helps understand how the bay was formed. The bedrock around Lulworth cove is sedimentary. This means it was originally laid down flat with layers of rock forming on top of each other. In Lulworth they are no longer like this. Tectonic movement of the Earth’s crust has led to the bedrock folding. The area is extremely important for its geology, with some of the finest folding strata in Europe. (see image below).

Folding at Lulworth Cove

The rocks at Lulworth we lifted, twisted and and folded into their current position. They now lie with the oldest rock, the Portland Stone, nearest the sea and the youngest stone, chalk, furthest inland.

At the end of the last ice age , a river formed from glacial meltwater flowed overland to the sea. The river cut a valley and breached the portland stone. The rising sea flooded the valley and further eroded the cliffs to form the cove.

The entrance is a breach in the very resistant Portland Stone that about 120 metres wide.

The landscape around the cove is constantly changing – it continues to evolve behind a narrow Portland Stone entrance whilst the softer chalk exposures are eroded.

Related Topics

Use the images below to explore related GeoTopics.

Constructive Waves

Destructive Waves

Mass Movement

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

Please Support Internet Geography

If you've found the resources on this site useful please consider making a secure donation via PayPal to support the development of the site. The site is self-funded and your support is really appreciated.

Search Internet Geography

Latest Blog Entries

Pin It on Pinterest

• Click to share
• Print Friendly