Coastal Systems and Landscapes: Coasts as natural systems Flashcards
Systems in physical geography: systems concepts and their application to the development of coastal landscapes – inputs, outputs, energy, stores/components, flows/transfers, positive/negative feedback, dynamic equilibrium. The concepts of landform and landscape and how related landforms combine to form characteristic landscapes.
1
Q
What are the four coastal energy inputs?
A
- Waves
- Wind
- Tides
- Sea currents
2
Q
What are inputs?
A
The addition of energy/matter into a system.
3
Q
What are berms?
A
Ridges in the beach.
4
Q
How are waves formed from the wind?
A
Transfer of energy from the wind blowing over the sea surface.
5
Q
Give the three outputs of a coastal system:
A
- Dissipation of wave energy
- Accumulation of sediment above the tidal limit
- Sediment removed beyond local sediment cells
6
Q
What are the 4 coastal inputs?
A
- Energy
- Sediment
- Geology of coastline
- Sea level change
7
Q
What is it called when the inputs and outputs in a system are balanced?
A
Dynamic equilibrium.
