Cosatal Systems And Landscapes

Question 1

what is an input in a coastal system?

Answer 1

sediment being brought into a system

Question 2

where do energy inputs in coastal systems come from?

Answer 2

Wind, waves, tides and currents

Question 3

What is an output in a coastal system?

Answer 3

Sediment being washed out to sea

Question 4

What is an example of a flow or transfer?

Answer 4

Processes such as erosion, weathering, transportation and deposition

Question 5

What is an example of a store or component in a coastal system?

Answer 5

Landforms such as beaches dunes and spits

Question 6

What does dynamic equilibrium mean?

Answer 6

Inputs and outputs are balanced

Question 7

In a dynamic equilibrium what does a change in the output or input cause?

Answer 7

Negative feedback to restore the system

Question 8

Give an example of negative feedback

Answer 8

As a beach is eroded the cliffs behind are exposed to wave attack, sediment eroded from the cliffs is deposited on the beach causing it to grow in size again

Question 9

What is positive feedback?

Answer 9

When a change in the system causes other changes that have a similar effect

Question 10

Give an example of positive feedback

Answer 10

As a beach starts to form it slows down waves which causes more sediment to be deposited increasing the size the beach. The equilibrium is reached when long term growth of the beach stops

Question 11

In the costal system how is energy transferred?

Answer 11

Air (as wind) and water (waves, tides and currents)

Question 12

How are winds created?

Answer 12

Air moving from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure

Question 13

What can strong winds generate?

Answer 13

Powerful waves

Question 14

What are prevailing winds?

Answer 14

Wind consistently blowing in the same direction

Question 15

What gives water circular motion on waves?

Answer 15

Friction between the wind and the surface of the sea

Question 16

What is wave height affected by?

Answer 16

Wind speed and the fetch of the wave

Question 17

What is the fetch?

Answer 17

The maximum distance if sea the wind has blown over

Question 18

What is the swash?

Answer 18

Water washing up the beach

Question 19

What is the backwash?

Answer 19

Water washing back towards the sea

Question 20

What are the two types of wave?

Answer 20

Constructive and destructive waves

Question 21

Constructive waves

Answer 21

Low frequency (6-8 per minute) 
Low and long giving an elliptical cross profile 
Powerful swash deposits material

Question 22

Destructive waves

Answer 22

High and steep with a circular cross profile
Higher frequency (10-14 waves per minute)
Strong backwash removes material

Question 23

What is a tide?

Answer 23

The periodic rise and fall of the ocean surface caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun

Question 24

What do tides affect the position of?

Answer 24

That waves break on the beach

Question 25

Define an open system (3 marks)

Answer 25

An open system is a system that transfers both energy and matter across its boundary to the surrounding environment
Most ecosystems are examples of open systems
Elements make up a system e.g sand grains, atoms, plants and animals
Attributes are characteristics of the elements that may be perceived or measured
Relationships are associations between elements and attributes

Question 26

Name an input, process and output of the coastal system (3 marks)

Answer 26

Input: waves, rock types, weather, human activities
Process: wreathing and mass movement
Output: erosional landforms