Coasts as Systems

How are coasts seen as systems? They have...

• inputs

• stores

• flows

• outputs

What transfers in and out of a closed system?

• Energy

• Matter

What is an example of a closed coastal system?

• Sediment cell

• Weathering processes

• Waves and tides

• Erosion processes

Why is a sediment cell not strictly closed?

• Matter can transfer into other cells via high energy storm waves

• It is strictly closed

• Energy transfers through the sediment cell

What type of energy drives wind and currents?

• Thermal

• Kinetic

• Potential

What type of energy drives erosional processes

• Thermal

• Kinetic

• Potential

What type of energy drives tidal processes?

• Thermal

• Kinetic

• Potential

What is equilibrium?

• Inputs > Outputs

• Inputs = Outputs

• Inputs < Outputs

Negative feedback is when...

• the system is disturbed and the system produces its own response to correct the disturbance

• the system is disturbed and spirals out of control

An example of negative feedback in the coastal system is...

• seasonal shifting of sediment stores from beaches to offshore banks

• albedo effect (loss of ice -> absorbing more heat -> sea warms up)

• loss of ice increases the fetch and high energy waves which erodes more ice