the coastal system

Question 1

what type of system is the coastal system?

Answer 1

open- it interacts strongly with other systems e.g sediment from rivers can alter sea levels

Question 2

what is feedback?

Answer 2

can be positive or negative- increasing or decreasing inputs and outputs and enabling equilibrium

Question 3

how does the coastal system interact with other earth systems?

Answer 3

• sediment movement and deposition from rock cycle
• biogenic aspects (shells)
• atmospheric cycle- wind causes weathering, creates waves

Question 4

examples of inputs

Answer 4

precipitation, wind, fluvial sediment

Question 5

examples of flows/transfers

Answer 5

erosion, evaporation, mass movement, longshore drift

Question 6

examples of outputs

Answer 6

evaporation, ocean currents, riptides, wave cut platforms

Question 7

examples of stores and components

Answer 7

sand dunes, beaches, bays, spits, headlands, bars

Question 8

examples of feedback

Answer 8

coastal management can increase coastal erosion elsewhere, mass movement decreases cliff foot erosion as it is more protected

Question 9

factors influencing the coastline

Answer 9

terrestrial, marine processes, human intervention, atmospheric

Question 10

terrestrial intervention

Answer 10

tectonics, sub aerial processes, supply of sediment, fluvial processes, glaciations

Question 11

marine processes

Answer 11

wave shape/size, fetch, wave direction, sea level change, tides, biotic features (reefs)

Question 12

human intervention

Answer 12

sea defences, tourism and recreation, industrial and residential development, pollution, conservation

Question 13

atmospheric

Answer 13

temperature, precipitation, global warming, solar energy, winds

Question 14

what is a dynamic equilibrium?

Answer 14

when inputs and outputs of energy and matter balance

Question 15

what is the equilibrium affected by?

Answer 15

supply of sand, energy of waves, sea level changes, location of the shoreline

Question 16

what are landforms?

Answer 16

individual features which are created by coastal processes

Question 17

what are landscapes?

Answer 17

the entire area of sea, coastline and immediate land behind sea front, within the landscape are characteristic landforms

Question 18

explain why some areas of the UK are subject to powerful waves whilst others are not

Answer 18

areas such as cornwall and south wales are located on a shoreline surrounded by a large expanse of sea so waves hitting these beaches have a large fetch as the wind has a greater distance to blow over and more time to gather energy. however areas like london or brighton do not experience powerful waves as the fetch distance is small creating smaller waves

Question 19

what does the tidal range dictate

Answer 19

how long wave processes can act on a cliff face for with a small range meaning they are focused on the same area for longer and capable of more erosion

Question 20

what is the incoming tide called

Answer 20

flood current

Question 21

what is the out coming tide called

Answer 21

ebb current

Question 22

sediment cells in the UK

Answer 22

there are 11, divided into sub cells

Question 23

transfers in a sediment call

Answer 23

LSD, winds and currents

Question 24

sinks in a sediment cell

Answer 24

beaches, sand dunes, offshore bars

Question 25

sources of sediment

Answer 25

rivers
cliff erosion
offshore sediment
wind

Question 26

rivers

Answer 26

accounts for most of coastal sediment

river erosion, sediment deposited in river mouths and estuaries and reworked by waves and tides

Question 27

cliff erosion

Answer 27

areas of soft rock e.g. sand and clay e.g holderness are eroded more easily that areas of hard rock e.g granite in cornwall

Question 28

offshore sediment

Answer 28

transferred by waves, tides and currents
sea levels rose after last glacial period and sediment was brought onto south coast, forms landforms such as barrier beaches

Question 29

wind

Answer 29

wind blows sand deposited e.g sand dunes

Question 30

what might dictate the amount of sediment input to a sediment cell?

Answer 30

high rainfall leads to more river erosion
cliffs composed of softer rock eroded easily by waves
offshore sediment transported more easily if sea levels are high
wave energy- constructive or destructive
human interference e.g groins stops transport of sediment
winter months- storms due to strong winds and larger waves