---
title: "Landforms by sea water and groundwater"
subject: "Engineering Geology I"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_3/engineering_geology_i:landforms-by-sea-water-and"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/landforms-by-sea-water-and
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Landforms by sea water and groundwater

Engineering Geology I · Chapter 6: Physical Geology

- Asked in: 2081 Baisakh, 4 marks
- Video: [Coastal Wave Erosion and deposition Land forms.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpv5Aa1I8HU) — Tower Academic
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/landforms-by-sea-water-and
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/chapter-6

## Question

Describe the landforms developed by seawater and groundwater.

## Short answer

Seawater erosion forms cliffs, wave-cut platforms, caves, arches, stacks, and stumps; deposition builds beaches, spits, bars, tombolos, and barrier islands. Groundwater creates karst erosional features like sinkholes and caves, and deposits stalactites, stalagmites, and travertine.

## Answer

**Seawater (waves, tides, currents)**
- *Erosional:* sea cliffs, wave-cut platforms, sea caves, arches, stacks and stumps, headlands and bays.
- *Depositional:* beaches, spits, bars (baymouth bars), tombolos, barrier islands, lagoons and deltas.

**Groundwater**
- *Erosional:* sinkholes, caves, karst valleys, lapies and springs (in limestone areas).
- *Depositional:* stalactite, stalagmite, travertine and tufa.

```text
  Sea cliff section
       |  cliff
       |   \
  _____|    \___ wave-cut platform
  notch ^ wave erosion
```

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. A sea erosional landform is:
   A. Spit
   B. Tombolo
   C. Wave-cut platform
   D. Lagoon
   Answer: C. The others are depositional. (Key point: Sea erosion)

2. A sea depositional landform is:
   A. Sea arch
   B. Sea cave
   C. Stack
   D. Beach or spit
   Answer: D. Arches, caves and stacks are erosional. (Key point: Sea deposition)

3. Groundwater deposits include:
   A. Stalactite, stalagmite, travertine, tufa
   B. Sinkholes
   C. Karst valleys
   D. Lapies
   Answer: A. Those are erosional. (Key point: Groundwater deposition)

4. Stacks and stumps form after:
   A. Spits grow
   B. Arches collapse
   C. Deltas build
   D. Dunes move
   Answer: B. Wave erosion of headlands. (Key point: Stack)

## Related in Engineering Geology I

- [Geological work of running water and its landforms](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Ageological-work-of-running-water) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 6, asked 5×
- [Geological work of wind and its landforms](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Ageological-work-of-wind-and) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 6, asked 6×
- [Erosional feature of running water and wind](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Aerosional-feature-of-running-water) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 6
- [Erosional features of underground water](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Aerosional-features-of-underground-water) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 6

## Related in other subjects

- [Sea level fluctuation, effective stress](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsoil_mechanics%3Asea-water-level-effective-stress) — Soil Mechanics, chapter 6
- [Significance of groundwater and potential zones](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Agroundwater-significance-zones) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 3
- [Role of groundwater in irrigation development](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fengineering_hydrology%3Agroundwater-irrigation-role) — Engineering Hydrology, chapter 1
- [Why groundwater; quality parameters](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Agroundwater-source-quality-parameters) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 2