Systems Flashcards
a system
a set of interrelated components that work together
3 types of system
closed, open, isolated
example of closed system
earth
example of open system
atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere which link together as a cascading system
zones of the coastline
backshore, foreshore, inshore, offshore, nearshore
backshore
area between HWM and landward limit of marine activity
foreshore
area lying between hwm and lwn- most important for marine processes
inshore
area between lwn and point where waves cease to have any influence on land beneath them
offshore
area beyond point where waves cease to impact upon seabed and which activity limited to deposition
nearshore
area extending seaward from hwm to area where waves begin
isolated system
no interactions with anything outside system boundary, no input/output of energy/matter
closed system
have transfers of energy both into and beyond the system boundary but not transfer of matter
open system
where matter & energy can be transferred from system across boundary into surrounding environment
dynamic equilibrium
when there is a balance between inputs and outputs so stores stay the same
feedback
if one of the elements of system changes, the stores change and equilibrium is upset
