Coastal Landscapes - A Product of the System

Flashcards covering definitions, inputs, processes, and outputs related to coastal landscapes as open systems.

What is the definition of the 'coast'?

The part of the land that adjoins the sea and is influenced by it directly in some way.

What kind of system is a coastline an example of?

An open system.

How does an open system like a coastline function?

Matter and energy can be transferred from the system into the surrounding area.

What is a 'landform'?

A natural feature on the Earth's surface that forms a part of the wider landscape.

What does 'landscape' refer to?

The geographic features that are characteristic of a particular area.

What are the primary energy inputs into a coastal system?

Waves, wind, tides, and sea currents.

Besides energy, what other physical factors serve as inputs to a coastal system?

Sediment, the geology of the coastline, and sea level.

What natural processes primarily impact coastal landscapes?

Weathering, wave energy, deposition, erosion, wind, temperature, biological weathering, and geology (types of rock).

What are some major outputs from a coastal system?

Dissipation of wave energy, accumulation of sediment above the tidal limit, and sediment removed beyond local sediment cells.

What characterizes coastal landscapes in terms of their state?

They are in a state of constant change.

What two main categories describe the landforms and landscapes created by coastal processes?

Erosional landforms and landscapes, and depositional landforms and landscapes.

What are the primary agents of transport within coastal systems?

Wind and water transport.