Coasts Key terms: coast as a system

• What is isolated system


  No interactions with anything outside the system boundary e.g labs.
• What is closed system


  Have inputs and outputs of energy but not matter.
• What is open system


  There are inputs and outputs of matter and energy across the boundary.
• What is dynamic equilibrium?


  The balance between the inputs and outputs is eventually achieved within the system
• What is positive feedback?


  Chain of events that amplifies the impact of the original event
• What is negative feedback


  Chain of event that nullifies the impacts of the original event
• What is littoral zone?


  Area of land between cliffs or dunes on the coast and the offshore area thats beyond the influence of the waves
• What is foreshore?


  The area between the high water mark and the low water mark most important zone for marine activity.
• What is backshore?


  The area between the high water mark and the landward limit of marine activity.
• What is inshore


  The zone between lowe water mark and offshore
• What is offshore?


  Waves have no influence on the seabed
• What is swash zone?


  Where a turbulent layer of water washes up the beach
• What is surf zone


  Zone between breaking wave
• What is fetch


  The distance the wind blows across the water
• What is oscillatory wave?


  Type of wave action occurs in coastal zone (back-and-forth movements e.g sea waves)
• What is translatory wave?


  Numerous waves of various wavelengths
• What is wavelength?


  The length of one whole oscillation
• What is wave height?


  Vertical distance from crest to trough
• What is wave period


  Time taken to produce a single wave
• What is wave frequency?


  Number of waves, passing a particular point over a given period of time
• What is wave velocity?


  Speed by which a wave crest moves forward
• What is constructive wave?


  Swash stronger than backwash
• What is destructive wave?


  Backwash much stronger than there swash