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Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
The Jurassic Coast covers 95 miles of truly stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth's history.
Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
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  • Science and Heritage
    • Geology
      • Geological formation
        • The geological formations that shape the dorset and east devon landscape
      • Walk through time
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      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
    • Food and drink events
    • Festivals
    • Exhibitions
    • Theatre and comedy
    • Community
    • Art events
  • Science and Heritage
    • Geology
      • Geological formation
        • The geological formations that shape the dorset and east devon landscape
      • Walk through time
      • Environmental stories
      • Geoweek
      • Discover by Area
        • Axmouth to Lyme Regis
        • Bat’s Head to Gad Cliff
        • Black Ven to Seatown
        • Brandy Bay to St Aldhelm’s Head
        • Burton Cliff to Abbotsbury
        • Eype to Burton Bradstock
        • Furzy Cliff to White Nothe
        • Ladram Bay to Pennington Point
        • Langton Herring to Portland Harbour Shore
        • Orcombe Point to the River Otter
        • Peveril Point to Studland Bay
        • Salcombe Hill to Seaton
        • The Isle of Portland
        • Winspit to Durlston Head
    • Geomorphology and natural processes
      • Climatic changes
        • Impact of Climate on the Coast
        • Modern climate change
      • Landscapes of the jurassic coast
      • Our dynamic coast
        • Geomorphology and Coastal Processes
        • Glossary of terms
        • How was lulworth cove formed
    • History of science
      • Early innovators
      • Meet mary anning
      • Museum founders
      • Pioneering fossil collectors and geologists
      • Pioneers and trailblazers
    • Palaeontology
      • Fossil Finder
      • Fossils
      • Palaeoecology
        • Brittlestars
        • Coccolithophores
        • Iguanodontids
        • Rhynchosaurs
        • Scelidosaurus
        • Stromatolites and Thrombolites
        • Temnospondyl
      • Fossil conservation
    • Unesco and World Heritage
      • Unesco world heritage sites
      • World heritage day
      • People and Archaeology of the World Heritage Site
  • Fossil Finder
  • Things To Do
    • Fossil Collecting
      • Fossil Collecting
      • Fossil Finder
    • Beaches
      • Coastal walks
      • Dorset beaches
      • Devon beaches
      • Beach sports
      • Dog friendly beaches
      • Beach safety
    • Sports
      • Beach sports
      • Golf
      • Health and Wellbeing
      • Leisure centres
      • Watersports
    • Shopping
      • Independent and individual
      • Markets
      • Towns
    • Entertainment
      • Casinos
      • Cinemas
      • Music
      • Nightlife
      • Theatre and shows
    • Attractions
      • Cultural
      • Families
      • Free
      • Hidden gems
      • History and Heritage
      • Museums and visitor centres
      • Nature and wildlife
      • Group Friendly
      • Young palaeontologists
    • Activities
      • Swimming
      • Walking
      • Boat trips
      • Climbing
      • Cycling
      • Rockpooling
  • Explore
    • Visitor information
      • Filming on the jurassic coast
      • Business
      • Maps brochures and guides
      • Staying safe on the jurassic coast
      • Travel information
        • Parking
        • Public transport
        • Travelling around
        • Travelling to
    • Towns and villages
      • Abbotsbury
      • Beer
      • Branscombe
      • Bridport
      • Budleigh Salterton
      • Charmouth
      • Dorchester
      • Exmouth
      • Lyme regis
      • Portland
      • Seaton
      • Sidmouth
      • Swanage
      • West bay
      • Weymouth
      • Countryside
    • Ideas & Inspiration
      • Food & Drink
        • Veggie and vegan
        • Restaurants
        • Pubs and bars
        • Local produce
        • Seafood
        • Farm shops
        • Cafes and coffee shops
        • Afternoon tea
      • Seasons
        • Autumn
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Winter
      • Itineraries
        • 24 hours on the jurassic coast
        • 48 hours on the jurassic coast
        • Experience the jurassic coast
        • Group friendly
        • Rainy days
        • Sunny days
      • Inspiration
        • Weddings
        • Historic locations
        • Iconic places to visit
        • Teenagers
        • Group Friendly
        • Dog friendly jurassic coast
      • Highlights
        • Best places for afternoon tea
        • Best places to eat in summer
        • Seafood
        • Date nights
        • Free Things To Do
      • Blog
    • Jurassic coast landmarks
      • History of the jurassic coast
      • Kimmeridge bay
      • Ladram bay
      • Lulworth cove
      • Old harry rocks
      • Worbarrow bay
      • Durdle door
      • Golden cap
    • Beaches
      • Dog friendly beaches
      • Staying Safe
  • What’s On
    • Seasonal events
      • Bonfire night
      • Christmas
      • Fathers day
      • Halloween
      • Mothers day
      • New year
      • School holiday
      • Valentines day
    • Seasons
      • Autumn
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
    • Food and drink events
    • Festivals
    • Exhibitions
    • Theatre and comedy
    • Community
    • Art events

Geomorphology and Coastal Processes

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  3. Geomorphology and Coastal Processes

The geomorphology expressed on the Jurassic Coast itself is connected to landforms inland as well as on the seabed, which have been shaped (and will continue to be shaped) by the wider marine and terrestrial processes. The appearance of the Site is largely defined by sub-aerial processes (rain, frost, wind, and streams, among others) which sculpted the present landscape, for example the valleys between Worbarrow Tout via Lulworth to White Nothe.

Furthermore, the geology of those cliffs reveals very recent (in geological time-scales) Earth surface processes. Similarly, many of the present-day landslides depend on groundwater draining to the coast from catchments inland.

Offshore, the processes which shape the coast and affect its dynamics exist in a zone of variable width where waves influence sediment movement both onshore-offshore and alongshore, as well as in areas in which currents transport sediment, mainly sand, on-and offshore.


Processes and landforms along the Jurassic Coast

The cliffs are at one and the same time both dynamic and unchanging.  The long geological history of this coast has produced rocks and structures which are varied in age, alignment and strength on which the forces of sea and air, and occasionally humans, have worked to erode and mould the present coastal landscape.

The wide variety of landforms and processes that occur along the Jurassic Coast enable a great diversity of marine and coastal habitats.  The sea cliffs support varied plant and invertebrate communities of particular conservation significance. Underwater, this is also a diverse and dynamic landscape, on which sand and pebbles are moved by the waves and currents and sometimes cover existing rocky outcrops.

Internationally renowned erosional features include Lulworth Cove, Stair Hole, Worbarrow Bay, Durdle Door and Old Harry Rocks.  Chesil Beach is recognised as a unique shingle and cobble ridge supplied by eroding cliffs which and separates the equally important Fleet, one of Britain’s few lagoons, from the sea.

Aspects of the ancient geomorphological history are preserved on hill-top surfaces at White Nothe and in East Devon.  Some landforms directly influence the Site’s  character as seen from the sea, especially hanging Chalk dry valleys and small coastal valleys, e.g. Winspit.  The inland features, notably in Purbeck, show how the underlying rocks influence the landscape of the Site and its evolution.

Although the coastal streams and rivers influence the overall shape of the landscape, they supply hardly any sediment to present-day beaches.  Typically streams are deflected at their mouths by longshore sediment movements or flow directly through shingle ridges.  Occasional flooding may breach these ridges and alter the position of the river mouth.

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  • Geology
    • The geological formations that shape the dorset and east devon landscape
    • Geological formation
    • Walk through time
    • Environmental stories
    • Geoweek
    • Discover by Area
      • Burton Cliff to Abbotsbury
      • Brandy Bay to St Aldhelm’s Head
      • Black Ven to Seatown
      • Eype to Burton Bradstock
      • Furzy Cliff to White Nothe
      • Axmouth to Lyme Regis
      • Orcombe Point to the River Otter
      • Ladram Bay to Pennington Point
      • Langton Herring to Portland Harbour Shore
      • Bat’s Head to Gad Cliff
      • Peveril Point to Studland Bay
      • Salcombe Hill to Seaton
      • The Isle of Portland
      • Winspit to Durlston Head
      • Palaeontology
  • Geomorphology and natural processes
    • Climatic changes
      • Impact of Climate on the Coast
      • Modern climate change
    • Landscapes of the jurassic coast
    • Our dynamic coast
      • Geomorphology and Coastal Processes
      • Glossary of terms
      • How was lulworth cove formed
  • Palaeontology
  • Palaeoecology
    • Brittlestars
    • Coccolithophores
    • Iguanodontids
    • Rhynchosaurs
    • Scelidosaurus
    • Stromatolites and Thrombolites
    • Temnospondyl
  • Fossils
    • Fossil Collecting
    • Fossil Finder
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  • Towns and villages
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  • Beaches
    • Dog friendly beaches
  • Jurassic coast landmarks
    • Kimmeridge bay
    • Ladram bay
    • Lulworth cove
    • Old harry rocks
    • Worbarrow bay
    • Durdle door
    • Golden cap
  • Visitor information
    • Filming on the jurassic coast
    • Business
    • Maps brochures and guides
    • Staying safe on the jurassic coast
    • Travel information
      • Parking
      • Public transport
      • Travelling around
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    • Health and Wellbeing
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    • Markets
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  • Attractions
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    • Families
    • Free
    • Hidden gems
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    • Museums and visitor centres
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    • Young palaeontologists
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    • Experience the jurassic coast
    • Group friendly
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