Key Words Flashcards

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1
Q

System

A

a set of interrelated components working together towards some kind of process

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2
Q

system attribute

A

the perceived characteristic of a system element.

e.g. number, size, colour, volume and temperature

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3
Q

system boundary

A

outer edge of system. Zone between one system and another.

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4
Q

system element

A

the kinds of things or substances composing the system. They may be atoms or molecules, or larger bodies of matter-sand grains, rain drops, plants or cows.

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5
Q

system relationship

A

the association that exists between the elements and attributes of a system based on cause and effect.

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6
Q

system state

A

current value of a system’s elements, attributes and/or relationships.

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7
Q

isolated system

A

a system that has no interactions beyond its boundary layer. Many controlled lab experiments are of this type.

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8
Q

closed system

A

a system that transfers energy, but not matter, across its boundary to the surrounding environment. Our planet is often viewed as a closed system.

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9
Q

open system

A

a system that transfer both matter and energy across its boundary to the surrounding environment.

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10
Q

input

A

addition of matter, energy or information to a system.

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11
Q

output

A

movement of matter, energy or information out of a system.

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12
Q

store

A

matter, energy or information is stored.

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13
Q

transfer

A

when something is moved from one place to another

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14
Q

landform

A

a natural feature of the earth’s surface

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15
Q

erosion

A

the gradual destruction of the earth’s surface

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16
Q

transportation

A

when materials are moved by the force of something else

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17
Q

deposition

A

when materials are deposited on the earth’s surface

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18
Q

hydrosphere

A

all the water on the earth’s surface

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19
Q

lithosphere

A

the crust and upper mantle

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20
Q

atmosphere

A

the gas that surrounds the earth

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21
Q

cryosphere

A

frozen water on the earth’s surface

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22
Q

biosphere

A

the region of the earth occupied by living things

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23
Q

hard engineering

A

man-made structures used to defend against natural hazards

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24
Q

soft-engineering

A

using natures existing systems to defend against natural hazards

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25
Q

eustatic change

A

sea level change

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26
Q

isostatic change

A

land level change

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27
Q

backshore

A

lying between the foreshore and coastline. dry under normal conditions bar extreme weather.

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28
Q

backwash

A

the return of water to the sea after waves break on a beach

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29
Q

beach

A

a deposit of sand or shingle at the coast

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30
Q

coastal zone

A

the interface between land and sea.

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31
Q

constructive waves

A

they deposit sand on the beach. Strong swash and weak backwash.

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32
Q

destructive waves

A

they erode and carry sediment away from the beach. Weak swash and strong backwash.

33
Q

Fetch

A

the maximum distance of water over which winds can act upon a wave before being interrupted by land.

34
Q

Foreshore

A

part of the beach which is wet under normal conditions due to varying tide and wave run-up.

35
Q

near shore zone

A

extending seaward from the low water line until well beyond the breaker zone

36
Q

low water line

A

the minimum extent the tide reaches at low tide

37
Q

high water line

A

the maximum extent the tide reaches at high tide

38
Q

offshore zone

A

beyond the nearshore zone (further seaward)

39
Q

littoral zone

A

extends seaward from the nearshore zone to beyond the breaker zone. Where the littoral (shoreline) processes take place - like longshore drift.

40
Q

shoreline

A

intersection between the mean high water line and the shore.

41
Q

swash

A

forward movement of a wave up a beach.

42
Q

positive feedback

A

where a flow/ transfer leads to increase or growth

43
Q

negative feedback

A

where a flow/transfer leads to decrease or decline

44
Q

dynamic equilibrium

A

this represents a state of balance within a constantly changing system

45
Q

sediment cell

A

a distinct area of coastline separated from other areas by well defined boundaries, such as headland and stretches of deep water.

46
Q

physical weathering

A

the disintegration of rocks as a result of weather processes.

47
Q

chemical weathering

A

the decomposition of rocks due to a chemical reaction

48
Q

biological weathering

A

the breakup of rocks due to flora and fauna

49
Q

beach profile

A

a cross section of a beach

50
Q

strata

A

a layer of sedimentary rock or soil with internally consistent characteristics that distinguish it from other layers

51
Q

bedding planes

A

a line in rocks separating two different

52
Q

joints

A

small cracks in the layers of rock created during earth movements

53
Q

faults

A

a large crack in the rock caused by earthquake movements

54
Q

folds

A

a type of earth movement resulting from the horizontal compression of rock layers by internal forces of the earth along plate boundaries

55
Q

relief

A

refers to the highest and lowest elevation points in an area

56
Q

lithoseres

A

where plants colonise bare rocks

57
Q

hydroseres

A

where plants colonise aquatic areas

58
Q

haloseres

A

where plants colonise salt marshes and sea estuaries

59
Q

psammosere

A

where plants colonise coastal sand areas

60
Q

Name some inputs into the coastal system:

A
river discharge
precipitation
wind and wave energy
tidal system
atmospheric conditions
human action
61
Q

name some stores of the coastal system

A

beach

spit/bar/tombolo

62
Q

name some transfer processes in the coastal system

A

longshore drift
erosion
deposition
transportation

63
Q

name some outputs of the coastal system

A
landforms
habitats e.g mudflats
salt marshes
habitable land
beaches
64
Q

how do waves form and progress?

A

1) wind tugs at the surface of the water causing a wave shape to move
2) when a wave moves into the shallow water near the coast, it is distorted until it ‘breaks’
3) friction occurs between the base of the wave and the seabed
4) the water rushes forward onto the beach.

65
Q

what are the features of a constructive wave

A
low wave height
long wave length
powerful swash
weak backwash
low angle of attack

builds gentler beach profiles

66
Q

what are the features of a destructive wave

A
high wave height
short wave length
weak swash
powerful backwash
steep angle of attack

builds steep beaches.

67
Q

what are currents caused by?

A

temperature differences
salinity differences
wind speed differences
size of fetch

68
Q

What is a rip-current?

How are they formed?

A

a current flowing back out towards deeper ocean. Rip currents can form in a gap between sandbars, piers, or parts of a reef. Such underwater obstacles block waves from washing directly back to sea. The water from these waves, called feeder waves, runs along the shore until it finds an opening around the obstacle. The water rushes through the opening and turns into a rip current, flowing much faster than the water around it and through the line of breaking waves. The rip current pulls anything stuck in it out to sea, although it will later dissolves as deeper water is reached.

69
Q

What is a rip-current?

How are they formed?

A

a current flowing back out towards deeper ocean. Rip currents can form in a gap between sandbars, piers, or parts of a reef. Such underwater obstacles block waves from washing directly back to sea. The water from these waves, called feeder waves, runs along the shore until it finds an opening around the obstacle. The water rushes through the opening and turns into a rip current, flowing much faster than the water around it and through the line of breaking waves. The rip current pulls anything stuck in it out to sea, although it will later dissolves as deeper water is reached.

70
Q

what is a longshore current?

How are they formed?

A

A longshore currents is an ocean current that moves parallel to the shore. It is caused by swells sweeping onto the shoreline at an angle and pushing water down the length of the beach in one direction.

71
Q

What happens as a longshore current approaches the shoreline?

A

As a wave moves toward the beach, different segments of the wave encounter the beach before others, which slows these segments down.

  • As a result, the wave tends to bend and conform to the general shape of the coastline.
  • When a wave reaches a beach or coastline, it releases a burst of energy that generates a current, which runs parallel to the shoreline. This type of current is called a “longshore current.”
72
Q

how can longshore currents shape a coastline?

A

It changes the slopes of beaches and creates long, narrow shoals of land called spits, that extend out from shore. The sediment is transported in the currents.

-Has the ability to create or destroy entire “barrier islands” along a shoreline.

73
Q

how do upwelling currents form?

A
  1. Wind blows across surface, pushes water away.

2. Water rises up from beneath surface to replace the displaced water.

74
Q

how can upwelling currents slow down the formation of a hurricane?

A

tropical storms generate energy from warm surface water. If the surface water is cold then the storm will not be able to gain energy.

75
Q

The water cycle

A

A non stop cycle in which water evaporated from the sea, falls as rain and returns to the sea in rivers.

76
Q

Precipitation

A

Transfer of water from the atmosphere to the ground. It can take the form of rain, snow, hail, dew.

77
Q

Evaporation

A

Transfer of water from a liquid state to a gaseous state.

78
Q

Condensation

A

Transfer of water from a gaseous state to a liquid state (water vapour).