2.5C Sediment cell model

• sediment cell = This system contains inputs, transfers and outputs. 

  operates as a closed system, with virtually no inputs or outputs of sediment from the cell. 
• Sediment cell (Inputs):

  • Cliff erosion,
  • Onshore currents
  • River transport 
  • Wind blown (aeolian) sediment from land
  • Subaerial processes
• Sediment cell (transfers):

  • Longshore drift
  • Swash
  • Backwash
  • Tidal currents
  • Sea/ocean currents
• coast as dynamic equilibrium:

  • reached when inputs of sediment from the source region are balanced by the amount being deposited in sinks.
  • the size of the landforms in the transfer zone will remain the same
  • However, the dynamic equilibrium is itself dynamic because its constantly changing as energy and sediment inputs constantly alter. 
• Sediment cell (Sinks):

  • Backshore depositional landforms
  • Foreshore depositional landforms
  • Nearshore depositional landforms
• Negative feedback = when the change produced creates effects that operate to reduce or work against the original change. 
• Positive feedback = when the changed produces an effect that operates to increase the original change