coastal landscapes

• define coastal zone

  where the influence of terrestrial processes weakens and marine processes strengthens
• are coastal zones an open or closed system?

  almost always open
• define open system

  interacts with the surrounding environment
• define closed system

  doesn't interact with the surrounding environment
• outline components of a coastal landscape system

  input = sediment

  output = landforms

  processes = erosion, transportation, deposition

  energy = climatic and marine
• define a sediment cell

  reaches of shoreline that encompass the intertidal and nearshore movement of sediment.
• outline an example of a sediment cell in the UK

  Between:

  • The Wash in North Norfolk = wide, fine sand beaches and spits (Blakeney Point) due to deposition

  and

  • Thames Estuary = mud and sand banks
  • Cliff erosion occurs in the middle of the sediment cell.
• define geomorphic processes

  processes that change the land. for example erosion, transportation, deposition.
• define river estuary

  when a river connects to the sea