How can coastal systems be viewed as a system?

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  • Created by: D.Knight
  • Created on: 13-09-19 11:34
System
A set of interrelated objects comprising components and processes that are linked together to form a unified whole. They store and transfer energy and material on varying time scales.
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Geomorphic
relating to the form of the landscape and other natural features of the earth's surface
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Marine Deposition
beaches formed from the accumulation of sediments by wave action.
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Fetch
The distance travelled by wind or waves across open water
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Resultant Waves
two waves that are on top of each other which add together to produce a total wave (The result you get when adding them up).
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Erosion
The wearing away of earth material by natural processes (wind, wave or ice) which is then transported.
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Weathering
The wearing away of earth material through the actions of wind, water and ice that is not transported to a different location.
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Aeolian processes
The erosion, transportation and deposition of material due to the action of the wind at or near the Earth's surface.
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Tides
Rise and fall of sea levels due to gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the earth.
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Tidal range
The height difference between high tide and low tide.
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Concordant Coasts
Layers of different rock types are folded into ridges that run parallel to the coast. The outer hard rock provides a barrier to erosion of the softer rocks further inland.
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Discordant coasts
Bands of different rock types run perpendicular to the coast. The different resistance to erosion creates headlands and bays.
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Dip of rocks
The acute angle that a rock surface makes with a horizontal plane.
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Strata
layers of rock in the ground
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Bedding planes
Surfaces that separate one stratum from another. They can form when the upper layer of the sediment is eroded away before the next phase of deposition.
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Currents
A flow of water or air within a large body of water or mass of air.
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Rip currents
Powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water by the shore that pulls swimmers away from the shore.
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Cusps
Shoreline formations made up of various grades of sediment in an arc shape. They are pointed at each end and are evenly spaced along the beach. Wave action creates these formations.
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Perpetuate
Cause to continue
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Sub-aerial processes
Land-based processes (weathering and mass movement etc.) that alter the shape of the coastline.
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Sediment budget
The balance between sediment added to and removed from the coastal system. When more material is added, there is a surplus of sediment and the shore builds up seaward. On the other hand, when more material is removed then there's a deficit.
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Pressure release
When these rocks are exposed to the surface by erosion or uplift, the intense pressure is released and the rock starts developing cracks and joints parallel to the surface.
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Hydrolysis
Water reacts with the rock and alters the size and chemical compositions of the minerals, lessening their resistance to weathering. When minerals are hydrolysed, crystal rocks and clay minerals such as calcium and sodium ions are produced.
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Chelation
A biological process where organisms produce organic substances, known as chelates, that have the ability to decompose minerals and rocks. This can enhance weathering as the moisture regime in the soils is influenced.
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Regolith
A layer of loose solid material covering the bedrock of the planet.
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Pore pressure
The pressure of groundwater in the pore space
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Fluvial processes
The interactions of flowing water and the channels of rivers and streams which create deposits and landforms.
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Flocculation
When fine particulates are caused to clump together.
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Saline
Water that contains a mixture of sodium chloride.
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Deflation
Wind erosion of loose material from flat areas of dry, uncemented sediments. Wind causes the lifting and transport of lighter particles from a dry soil, leaving behind a surface of coarse grains of sand and rock.
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Surface Rolling
the steeper the beach, the larger the sand grain size tends to be. This is because larger particles can be cast higher up the beach by the waves on steep beaches. On flatter beaches, however, sand grains tend to be rolled back and forth and broken.
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Open system
Energy and materials can enter and leave the system.
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Closed System
Only energy can enter and leave the system.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

relating to the form of the landscape and other natural features of the earth's surface

Back

Geomorphic

Card 3

Front

beaches formed from the accumulation of sediments by wave action.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

The distance travelled by wind or waves across open water

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

two waves that are on top of each other which add together to produce a total wave (The result you get when adding them up).

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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