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A cove is a circular or oval coastal inlet with a narrow entrance. Colloquially, the term is sometimes used to describe any sheltered bay.
Coves form on concordant coastlines, where bands of rock of varying strength run parallel to the coast. Initially, a narrow band of relatively strong rock, like limestone or an igneous rock forms the coastline, and behind it lies a band of a weaker rock, such as clays and sands. Waves act on weak areas of the coast, such as joints and cracks, and eventually break through the strong rock, exposing the weak rock. The weak rock is quickly eroded by wave action, sub-aerial processes and weathering (which causes slumping). A circular shape is formed because wave diffraction occurs where waves travel through the narrow entrance and then disperse in the cove, causing equal erosion at all points of the cove shoreline. Often, another band of strong rock, such as limestone or chalk forms the back of the cove. Coves can generally be found on islands and warmer climate locations.
A good example of a cove is Lulworth Cove on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset because just west of it a second cove, Stair Hole, is forming.
Two examples of how coves form. The rock types are those of Lulworth Cove. In example A a river breaks through the resistant chalk back rock and limestone leaving the weak clays to be rapidly eroded. In example B the sea breaks through the limestone, perhaps by forming a cave, and then erodes the clay away.
(Source: Wikipedia) |