Which coastal feature is a flat, wave-eroded surface?

• A. Beach face
• B. Swash
• C. Wave-cut Bench
• D. Berm

Answer: (C)

A wave-cut bench is a flat surface formed directly by the destructive action of waves at the base of a cliff. Over time, waves hollow out a notch at the cliff’s base through abrasion and hydraulic action. As erosion continues, the cliff retreats landward, leaving behind a relatively level platform that once stood at the old cliff base. This surface sits at or near the low-tide line and can be exposed at low tides while being covered at high tides. It’s distinct from a beach face (the sloping, sediment-covered surface of the beach), swash (the water that runs up the shore after a wave breaks), and a berm (a raised, sandy ridge formed by wave run-up).