The diagram demonstrates the changes of a cliff as a result of coastal erosion, which leads to the fossil exposure.
Overall, this natural process consists of two main stages. Initially, the base of the cliff is worn away by waves. Subsequently, this retreat leads to the exposure of fossils at the cliff’s base.
First of all, the initial cliff is located near the ocean, and its geological layers contain fossils. When the tide is high and low, waves hit the cliff constantly around the attack zone. As a result, erosion happens at the cliff, and it makes the cliff retreat away from the sea.
As the coastal erosion continues, the fossils that were buried deep in the rock layers become exposed. This exposure happens mainly in the danger zone, where the wave action is strongest and continuous. Over time, the erosion process continues, revealing more fossils and creating a sloping rocky platform.