Coasts as a Natural System Flashcards
Why type of system is a coastline
Open system
Inputs into the system
- sediment
Where does the inputs of the system come from
- rivers
- flooded river valleys
- erosion from cliffs
- waves and tides
Outputs of the system
- sediment washed out to sea
Energy sources in the system
- wind
- waves
- tides
- currents
Stores in the system
- depositional landforms
Flows / transfers in the system
- erosional processes
- weathering
- mass movement
- transportation
- deposition
Definition : dynamic equilibrium
When Inputs and outputs are generally balanced
An example of dynamic equilibrium in the system
When constructive waves build up the beach which then encourages destructive waves which remove sediment from the beach
Definition : positive feedback
When inputs amplify the output
Definition : negative feedback
When inputs nullify the output
Definition : sediment cell
Areas of the coastline that are self contained for the movement of sediment (they act as a closed system)
Definition : sediment budget
Difference between amount of sediment that enters and leaves
Definition : positive cell budget
Sediment builds the coast outwards
Definition : negative cell budget
Sediment causes the coastline to retreat
