Coasts as a system

What is a coast?

The zone where the sea interacts with the land

What is a coastal system?

A dynamic open system in the zone where the sea interacts with the land

What are inputs?

Energy or matter entering a system such as gravity, heat, waves and tides

What are flows?

The movement or transferring of things - energy, water and matter

What are stores?

Where energy or matter can accumulate such as sand on a beach, sand dunes and spits

What are outputs?

Matter or energy leaving the system such as deposition through currents and waves

What does a system contain?

Inputs, flows, stores and outputs

What is an open system?

A system which freely exchanges inputs and outputs of energy and material (such as sand) with other systems

What is an example of an open system?

River systems and the water cycle

Can you enter an open system?

Yes

What is a closed system?

A self-contained system that does not share energy and material with space

What is an example of a closed system?

Earth

Can you leave a closed system?

No

Is an open system or a closed system larger?

A closed system

What are the two systems that supply sediment?

Cliff systems and beach systems