coasts as natural systems Flashcards
Is the coast an open or closed system?
open
inputs
introduction of sediment and energy
stores
repositories of sediment that may be added to or removed from
flows
transfers of energy and sediment from one location to another
outputs
sediment and energy losses to the system
What is a dynamic equilibrium?
inputs and outputs are balanced
What is a dynamic equilibrium?
inputs and outputs are balanced
What happens when there is a change in input or output?
causes a negative feedback that restores the balance of the system
negative feedback
a change in the system causes other changes that have an opposite effect
positive feedback
when a change in the system causes other changes that have a similar effect
example of positive feedback
as beach forms is starts to slow down waves which causes more sediment to be deposited increasing size of the beach
new equilibrium reached when long term growth of beach stops
examples of negative feedback
as beach is eroded, cliffs behind it are exposed to wave attack. sediment eroded from cliff deposited on the beach causing it to grow again
landform
one feature made from erosion/deposition (e.g cave or spit)
landscape
lots of unrelated landforms form a distinctive area
