Coastal Systems & Landscapes

Question 1

Coastal system

Answer 1

A series of linked elements affecting the coastal zone through which energy and materials circulate.

Question 2

Equilibrium

Answer 2

A state of balance between outputs and inputs.

Question 3

Sediment budget

Answer 3

The net sum value between quantities of input and output of the sediment in the system.

Excess is a positive budget, deficit is a negative budget and no overall difference is a neutral budget.

Question 4

Sediment (Littoral) cell

Answer 4

A section of coastline in which sediment is recycled but not added to all lost.

Question 5

Closed sediment system

Answer 5

A coastal systems that receives no additional sediment inputs and has no losses of sediment to areas external to the system.

Question 6

Sediment sink

Answer 6

When sediment is lost to the system by transfer to a location beyond further access.

Different to sediment store where additions and removal of sediment are possible

Question 7

Negative feedback cycle

Answer 7

Where changes within the system slow down or reduce the causes of further disruption, dampening down the impetus for change.

Question 8

Positive feedback cycle

Answer 8

Where the affect of change is to amplify the original causes so that additional further change occurs.

Question 9

Dynamism

Answer 9

The degree of change taking place within the system in terms of scale and/or rate.

Question 10

Oscillatory wave

Answer 10

A wave in open sea with a full circular motion of particles.

Question 11

Translatory wave

Answer 11

A breaking wave in which the circular motion is broken by basal friction.

Question 12

Fetch

Answer 12

The length of ocean over which winds blow from a consistent direction.
(Unbroken water)

Question 13

Storm surge

Answer 13

Sealevel raised to an abnormal height beyond the usual tidal range as a result of particular short term weather conditions.

Question 14

Swash

Answer 14

The forward movement of the breaking translatory wave as it surges up the shore.

Question 15

Backwash

Answer 15

The return flow of water due to gravity as the energy of the swash subsides.

Question 16

Wave refraction

Answer 16

The changes in wave orientation and frequency as they encounter a non-uniform coastline.

Waves may be refracted (Bent) towards a feature (convergence) or away (divergence) as water depth varies.

Question 17

Tidal range

Answer 17

The vertical difference in height of sealevel between high and low tide.

It varies with the monthly lunar cycle and is at its maximum with spring tide conditions.

Question 18

Intertidal zone

Answer 18

The shoreline between the highest and lowest spring tides.

It is where the predominant wave activity occurs so is subject to most marine oration, transfer and deposition.

Question 19

High-energy coast

Answer 19

A coastline subject to maximum input; it is likely to be dynamic.

Question 20

Low energy coast

Answer 20

A coastline that has key inputs, transfers and outputs in balance and is more likely to be in a state of stable equilibrium.

Question 21

Biota

Answer 21

The distinctive animal and plant life of a particular habit or environmental zone.

Question 22

Subaerial weathering

Answer 22

Involves processes at the base of the atmosphere that cause solid rock to lose integrity, internal coherence and fragment.

Question 23

Weathering

Answer 23

The disintegration of rock in situ

Question 24

Wave-cut notch

Answer 24

A horizontal indentation at the base of the cliff where wave action is most focused and erosional processes are concentrated.

It results in undercutting of the cliffs.

Question 25

erosion

Answer 25

The degradation of rock and its removal to expose a fresh rock face.

Question 26

Cavitation

Answer 26

The opening up of cavities within cliffs as a result of stresses imposed by the breaking of ways due to pressure variations as waves crash into and then recede from joints.

Question 27

Climax vegetation

Answer 27

The dominant mix of vegetation species that characterise an environment within a particular climate region given sufficient time for conditions to suit colonisation and attain stability.

Question 28

Eustatic chain

Answer 28

A change in the relative level of land and sea due to rises and falls in the global sea-level.

Question 29

Isostatic change

Answer 29

The rise or fall of land in relation to a given sea level.

Question 30

Coastal adaptation strategies

Answer 30

Investment in measures to negate the impacts of sea level rise.

Question 31

Costal mitigation strategies

Answer 31

Investment in measures to reduce the factors responsible for sea level rise.

Question 32

Equilibrium budget

Answer 32

The sediment inputs and outputs are in equilibrium.

Question 33

Source

Answer 33

contributes sediment

Question 34

Store

Answer 34

Sediment deposition that may be added to or taken from.

Question 35

Sink

Answer 35

Site of sediment deposition beyond future potential access.

Question 36

Point source / store

Answer 36

A specific coastal location where sediment is removed from (source) or deposited (store)

Question 37

Line source / store

Answer 37

An extended line of coast where sediment is removed from (source) or deposited (store).

Question 38

Dynamic

Answer 38

A state of constant change.

Question 39

Shoreline management plans (SMPs)

Answer 39

Documents describing and addressing the risks associated with coastal evolution.

SMPs form an important part of the UK governments strategy for flood and coastal defence.

Question 40

Hard engineering

Answer 40

Strategies that are designed to intercept and impede natural Marine and coastal processes so that they are less likely to produce undesirable consequences.

Question 41

Soft engineering

Answer 41

Low-incursion, sustainable coastal protection strategies that work with nature to manage the coast.

Question 42

Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM)

Answer 42

A process for the management of the coast using an integrated approach to achieve sustainability.