1.1.1 Flashcards
What system is a coastal system
open system (experiences gains and lossesw which consists of inputs, throughputs and outputs
How would you describe a coastal system in an essay
The coast is the interface between the land and sea, which is a dynamic sone whereby elements bring about change and stability when interacting
What are the inputs to the coastal system
Energy and Sediments
energy consists of wind, waves, tides, sea currents
Sediments comes from the land from cliffs and beaches, fluvial systems (river), and offshore Deposits
What comes under the coastal throughputs
Throughputs consists of processes, flows and stores
Provide an outline for the three throughputs and then what it consists of
When thinking of the 3 stores- in your exam you must think where at the three places
Processes: including erosion (including weathering and mass movement and , deposition
Flows: Sediment being transported either onshore or offshore
e.g. Long shore drift (LSD)
Stores: Locations that sediment can be stored at the coast- 3 ways e.g.
1. In dunes
2. Beaches
3. Onshore bars
What are the outputs of coastal systems
The output is either and increase or decrease of processes including erosion or deposition which results in landforms and sediment accumulation
Landforms including erosional landforms such as wave cut platforms and cliffs (CASS), or depositional landforms such as beaches, spits or bars
What happens if you change an input
Changes of inputs due to human activity can lead to other effects on the whole coastal system, where the output in a different area will be different
Describe the differences between to the sub systems
Cliff sub system (Subaerial, MM and Dep)
Input- subaerial processes =weathering
Throughput- Transfer via mass movement (slumping/falling)
Output- Deposited at base or transported by marine processes - currents
Beach sub systems (LSD)
Input- LSD
Throughput- material transferred via LSD
Output - Removal via LSD or destructive waves carrying sediment offshore
Outline the three supplies of sediment
- Sand dunes and cliffs (terrestrial processes)
- River (Fluvial processes)
- offshore deposits (marine processes)- currents
recall the three ways sediment can be removed from a store
What is the acronym that helps you to recall this
LOW TIDE
1. Longshore drift
2. Offshore transport
3. Wind -aerial processes (atmospheric and wind changes)
T- Tidal and currents
I- Ice/glacial action
D- dredging-HA
E-Erosion by wave action
Describe the difference between Sub-aerial processes and aerial processes
Sub-aerial processes- is processes that interact the land and air, excluding water (MM and Weathering are erosional processes without water)
Aerial processes- is atmospheric interactions (wind erosion on sand dunes)
Describe the two parts to the sediment budget and explain how this could be used in an essay
Natural sediment budget where inputs of sediment are FROM coastal stores (cliffs, dunes and offshore deposits) - LSD in and outputs of sediment are TO coastal stores- LSD out
Compared to the human sediment budget (called anthropogenic)
When inputs of sediment is from beach feeding/ Dune building and outputs are from dredging and beach mining
Coastal Sediment budget can be used to show how important the balance of sediment inputs and outputs, and link it to dynamic equilibrium in the coastal system, showing that natural SB is ideal and how the HA can have considerable damage. if not balancing the inputs and outputs of sediment
Role of sediment is fundamental to the coastal system as it is the product and driving force of the coastal process
Name the three types of equilibrium
- Steady state
- Meta- state
- Dynamic
Outline what sediment cells are and their role in the coastal system
Sediment cells refers to the movement of sediment NEARSHORE via Longshore drift, there are 11 cells around the UK and all function independently as a closed system
List the 4 coastal zones starting from land to the sea
Land
BACKshore -shrubs
Foreshore - sand
Nearshore -shallow water and sand
Offshore -sea
Ranging from 60/km inland to 360 KM offshore
