What are the various differences between a high rocky coast and a low sedimentary coast in terms of processes and landforms?
High rocky coasts are submerged coasts with highly indented and irregular coastlines. Rivers appear drowned, and hill sides drop off sharply into the water. Erosional features dominate in such coasts. The major landforms include cliffs, terraces, caves and stacks. Shores do not show any depositional landforms initially.
Low sedimentary coasts are emerged coasts with smooth coastlines and occasional incursions of water. Rivers extend their length by building coastal plains and deltas. The land slopes gently into the water, and depositional features dominate. Major landforms include beaches, dunes, bars, barrier bars, spits and lagoons. Marshes and swamps may also abound along these coasts.
In India, the west coast is a high rocky retreating coast where erosional forms dominate, while the east coast is a low sedimentary coast where depositional forms dominate.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the textbook context which contrasts the two coast types. High rocky coasts are characterized by submergence, irregular/indented coastlines, sharp hill sides, and dominant erosional landforms (cliffs, terraces, caves, stacks). Low sedimentary coasts are characterized by emergence, smooth coastlines, gentle slopes, and dominant depositional landforms (beaches, dunes, bars, spits, lagoons, deltas). The Indian example (west vs east coast) is explicitly mentioned in the context and strengthens the answer.