Inputs of Sediment into the System
- Rivers carry sediment from inland.
- Sea level rise can flood river valleys, forming estuaries.
- Eroded material from cliffs by waves, weathering and landslides.
- Waves, tides and currents can transport sediment into the coastal zone from offshore deposits.
Sediment Budget – difference between the amount of sediment that enters the system and the amount that leaves.
Sediment Cells –
- Coast is divided into sediment cells.
- Lengths of coastline that are entirely self-contained for the movement of sediment.
- Processes going on in one cell don’t affect the movement of sediment in another cell.