Coasts as a system

what is the coastline effected by

physical factors and human activity

what are some examples of physical factors

• climate

• fetch

• wind direction

• geology

what are some examples of human activity

• groynes

• sea wall

• jetties

• dredging

what makes the coast a system

it has inputs, outputs, stores and transfers

examples of inputs

• fluvial sediment

• fetch

• tides

examples of stores

• sediment supply

• deposition

• sink

examples of transfers

• wave type

• wave action

• erosion

is the systems theory perfect

no, sometimes it doesnt have one of the factors e.g. outputs

dynamic open system

there is a lot going on and new sediment can come in and leave the system

a cliff sub system

a transfer of sediment from the cliff from mass movement

a beach sub system

the input of sediment from long shore drift

what is the sediment budget

the amount of sediment available

how much sediment comes from land (terrestrial)

90%

how much sediment comes from offshore

10%

where does most of the terrestrial sediment come from

rivers