Sediment cells

What is a sediment cell

A stretch of coastline bordered by headlands movement is contained and it is considered a closed system

Note:

11 sediment cells in the UK

What is sediment budget

This is the balance between changes in volume of sediment held within the system and the volume of sediment entering or leaving system

What is positive sediment budget and what is a negative budget

• Positive: More inputs than outputs

• Negative: More outputs than inputs

What are the main inputs of a sediment cell

• Rivers are the biggest input of sediment

• Cliff erosion

• Longshore drift

• Aeolian processes (Swash, backwash currents)

What are the main outputs/sinks of a sediment cell

• Backshore landforms like dunes

• Foreshore landforms such as beaches

• Nearshore landforms such as bars and spits

• Offshore landforms like bars and barrier islands

What are characteristics of a sediment cell

• Separated by headlands

• Sediment is not exchanged between cells only stored and transferred within cell

How can human activity affect sediment cells

• Groynes trap sediment so they can no longer be transferred within the cell

• Dams cut down amount of fluvial sediment entering sediment

• Protecting cliffs reduces sediment entering by erosion