Sediment cells and budgets

Question 1

Sediment cells overview

Answer 1

Coast is divided into cells (littoral cells)
Lengths of coastline separated by headlands or area of deepwater which material is moved but there is a dynamic equilibrium

Regarded as closed cells as nothing major is gained or lost

Question 2

Sediment cells example

Answer 2

Along the coastline of England and Wales there are 11 sediment cells
Sediment cells can be divided into sub cells

Question 3

Sediment Budget definition

Answer 3

Is the balance between sediment being added to and removed from the coastal system
Relationship between accretion and erosion

Question 4

Inputs>outputs

Answer 4

More material is added to the cell than removed- net accretion
Positive budget, or surplus of sediment
shoreline builds towards sea

Question 5

Outputs>inputs

Answer 5

More material is removed from cell than needed
Negative budget, deficit in sediment supply

shoreline reterats

Question 6

Coastal erosion and sediment budget

Answer 6

Controls level deficit as they remove material from shoreline
If more is removed than added= recede

If there is a positive sediment budget somewhere else in wider sediment cell may be experiencing negative sediment budget

Question 6

Coastal erosion and sediment budget

Answer 6

Controls level deficit as they remove material from shoreline
If more is removed than added= recede

If there is a positive sediment budget somewhere else in wider sediment cell may be experiencing negative sediment budget