Coasts Flashcards
what is a system?
many interrelated components that work together to carry out some source of process
what is an open system?
a system in which both matter and energy are able to transfer across the system boundery
what are the inputs of a system
matter and energy transferring into a system across the system boundery
what are the outputs of a system?
matter and energy transferring out of a system across the system boundery
what are the components of a system?
the parts that make up a system
what are the stores of a system?
where matter accumulates and is stored for a length of time
what are the flows/transfers of a system
a connection between stores, along which matter flows
what is dynamic equilibrium?
the balanced state of a system when it’s inputs and outputs are equal
what is feedback?
when an element of a system changes due to outside influence
what is positive feedback?
when the process tends to increase the change in the system
what is negative feedback?
when the process seems to counter the change and maintain equilibrium
what is the backshore?
the area between the high water mark and the landward limit of marine activity.
changes normally take place here only during storm activity
what is the foreshore?
the area between the high water mark and the low water mark
the most important zone for marine processes in times that are not influenced by storm activity
what is the inshore?
the area between the low water mark and the point at which waves cease to have any influence on the land beneath them
what is the offshore?
the area beyond the point at which waves cease to have any impact on the land beneath them
any activity is limited to the deposition of sediments
what is the swash zone?
the zone on the landward side of the surf zone where waves wash up the shore
what is the surf zone?
the zone of a beach past the swash zone, where the waves break
what is erosion?
the wearing away of the earth’s surface by the mechanical action of processes of glaciers, rivers, marine waves and wind
what is weathering?
the gradual breakdown of material over time in situ
what is mass movement?
the gradual downhill movement of material under the influence of gravity
what is fetch?
thr distance a wave has traveled across the sea
what is physical weathering?
the break-up of material without any chemical changes taking place
what is chemical weathering?
the break up of material due to the influence of chemical reactions where salts may be dissolved or a clay-like deposit may result which is then easily eroded
what is biological weathering?
the breakdown of material by organic activity