Sediment cells are a stretch of coastline and its associated nearshore area within which the movement of coarse sediment, sand, and shingle is largely self-contained
There are 11 sediment cells around the coast of England and Wales, including landmarks like St Abb's Head, Flamborough Head, and Land's End
The boundaries of sediment cells are determined by the topography and the shape of the coastline, with large physical features like headlands acting as natural barriers that prevent the transfer of sediment to adjacent cells
Variations in wind speed and the presence of tidal currents cause some sediment to be transferred between neighboring sediment cells
When equilibrium is disturbed in a coastal landscape, the system undergoes self-regulation and changes its form to restore equilibrium, known as dynamic equilibrium with negative feedback
Coastal systems are open systems that store and transfer energy and material, with interconnected sediment stores linked by flows and sediment pathways
