coasts as natural systems Flashcards
what are inputs in the coastal system
the addition of matter or energy into a system
e.g. sediment, brought in by wind, waves, tides or currents
what are outputs in the coastal system
the removal of matter or energy from a system
e.g. sediments washed out to sea or deposited along the coast
what are flows/transfers in the coastal system
processes involving the movement of material and energy that link stores/components together
e.g. erosion, weathering,, transportation, and deposition
what are system stores/components in the coastal
a part of the system where energy/material stored or transformed
e.g. landforms- beaches, dunes, spits
what is dynamic equilibrium
a state within the system where the inputs and outputs are balanced
what is negative feedback
decreases the amount of change in a system to return it to dynamic equilibrium
e.g. beach is eroded exposing cliffs behind it. waves attack cliff causing erosion which build the beach back up
what is positive feedback
changes to the balance of a system are amplified which creates a new equilibrium
e.g. as a beach forms the waves slow down. this causes more deposition which build up the beach
what type of systems are coasts
they are closed systems.
inputs and outputs move between the boundaries of the coastline
boundaries = headlands
