DORSET CASE STUDY

Dorset OCR

Swanage Bay

Swanage Bay consists mainly of unconsolidated Wealden clay which is less resistant to erosion. These soft cliffs are subject to weathering processes as well as marine erosion. Nearer to the towns of Swanage, groynes have been installed to slow the process of longshore drift and build a beach

Durlston Head

Durlston Head is a headland of Potland and Purbeck limestone. It has created steep cliffs at Durlston as well as Pevril Point further away

The Foreland

The Foreland is many sedimentary chalk headlands. Weathering and erosion over thousands of years has formed features such as Old Harry (a stack) and Old Harry's wife (a stump)

Stair Hole

The sea has eroded through the limestone and clays to create a small cove. It also shows Lulworth Crumple, an excellent example of limestone folding due to tectonic movements

Durdle Door

Durdle Door is a natural arch formed by the erosive powers of the sea on the vertical layers on different types of rock

Warbarrow Bay

The less resistant clay has been eroded by the sea to expose layers of chalk behind. This chalk now forms the cliffs of the bay

Lulworth Cove

Over time the sea gradually eroded the resistant Purbeck limestone at the entrance to Lulworth Cove. Then, rapid erosion of the less resistant clays behind the limestone led to the formation of the cove

Kimmeridge Bay

The cliffs consist of less resistant clays which are relatively unconsolidated. Cliff recession then takes place at a faster rate. The cliffs at Kimmeridge Bay contain a very thick sequence of Kimmeridge Clay (exposed at low tides) and layers of mudstones, thin shales and resistant yellow-brown dolomites.