Sediment in the coastal

system.

Sediment sources.

Sediment inputs within

coastal system is from
erosion processes.

These sediments are

stored as depositional
landforms or as
nearshore features.
They are tend
transported (throughputs)
and become outputs from
the coastal system as
they moved into deep
waters of the ocean and
away from immediate
coastal zone.

The sediment can be

divided into two types:

(i) Clastic sediments – from

rock weathering and
erosion. (vary in sizes;
clay, mud, sand and
 larger cobbles and
boulders)

(ii)Biogenic sediments –
shells and skeletons of
marine organisms.

Sediment transport and

deposition.

1.Waves, currents, tides

and wind provide energy
inputs for erosion and
transport of sediment
from the source to create
 coastal depositional
landforms.

(Depositional landforms:
beaches, dunes, salt
marshes and mud flats) –
sediment stores

2.These sediments are

transported onshore,
offshore and alongshore
to create them.

3.Small particles such as

silt and clay are carried in
suspension, and settle as
 depositional landforms in
areas of reduced wave
energy but high tidal
energy to form salt
marshes and mud flats.

Sediment cells:
1. The movement of sand
and shingle-sized sediment
in the nearshore zone by
littoral (longshore) drift
found to occur in discrete,
functionally separate
sediment cells.
2. Around the coastline of
England and Wales, 11
main sediment cells with
smaller subcells have been
identified.

3. These major cells are

defined as a length of
coastline and its associated
nearshore area within which
the movement of coarse
sediment (sand and
shingle) is largely self-
contained.
4. Interruptions to the
movement of sand and
shingle within one cell
should not affects beaches
in an adjacent sediment
cell.

5. These sediment cells, as

functional systems, form
basis for coastal
management schemes.

6. Sub cell boundaries

identify smaller cells
associated within the major
cells.

7. There is some movement

of sediment between the
cells, i.e. they are open not
closed systems.

8. There are two main types

of boundary:
(i) Littoral drift divides
These occur when the
coastline abruptly changes
direction such as at major
headlands, e.g. Portland Bill
in Dorset.

These also occur without

dramatic change in the
shape of the coastline but
where wave conditions
cause a change in drift
direction e.g. near
Sheringham in Norfolk.

Material is moved outwards

from a drift divide, there is a
net output of sediment from
the area.

This result in a dominance

of erosional processes and
landforms e.g. eroding
beaches and cliffs.

(ii) Sediment sinks

These are where sediment
transport paths meet so that
sediment builds up in major
depositional environments.
Sediment sinks occur in
deeply indented bays and
estuaries although spits and
cuspate forelands may form
subcell sinks.

Sediment cells are an

important concept in coastal
geomorphology, but there
are problems with this
approach.

The cells are based upon

the movement of coarser
particles, rather than the
movement of suspended
fine material that can be
moved long distances.

Cell boundaries in such a

dynamic system cannot be
fixed and static.