1. How can coastal landscapes be viewed as systems? Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is a coastal landscape system?
It’s an open system with inputs (like energy and sediment), processes (like erosion and deposition), and outputs (such as sediment transfer or landform changes).
What are the main inputs into a coastal landscape system?
Energy (from wind, waves, tides, and currents) and sediment (from rivers, cliffs, the sea, or human activities).
What are the key processes in coastal systems?
Erosion, transportation, deposition, weathering, and mass movement.
What are outputs from a coastal system?
Sediment transported beyond the system (e.g., out to sea) or deposited to form landforms (like beaches or bars).
How does energy flow through coastal systems?
Energy from wind drives waves and currents, which erode, transport, and deposit sediment along the coast.
What is a sediment cell?
A stretch of coastline where sediment moves in a self-contained cycle. It acts like a closed system for coastal management.
Why are sediment cells considered closed systems?
Because little sediment is transferred between them, so changes in one part can affect the rest of the cell.
How many sediment cells are there in England and Wales?
There are 11 main sediment cells.
What is dynamic equilibrium in coastal systems?
It’s when inputs and outputs of sediment are balanced over time, unless disrupted by events like storms or human activity.
What causes disruption to coastal dynamic equilibrium?
Natural events (e.g. storms, sea level change) and human activity (e.g. groynes, dredging).
What is a negative feedback loop in a coastal system?
It helps restore balance — for example, erosion forms an offshore bar that reduces wave energy and protects the coast.
What is a positive feedback loop in a coastal system?
It increases change — for example, dune erosion reduces protection, which makes more erosion likely.
What is fetch and why is it important?
Fetch is the distance wind travels over water. A longer fetch means larger, more powerful waves.
