Figure 4. Formation of coastal erosion features. Time 1: a small sea cave is eroded into rock along a vertical fracture. Old sea stacks exist seaward of the sea cliff; Time 2: Continued erosion of the sea cave develops a sea arch. The old sea stacks continue to erode from battering by wave-tossed boulders; Time 3: A new sea stack forms when the arch collapses, and a new sea cave begins to develop in a more landward location. The old sea stacks are worn down to a wave-cut platform. The time frame for this scenario varies with rock type and wave energy, but could require up to 500 years in Maine granite.

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Last updated on October 6, 2005

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