Question 1

Mean sea level

Accepted Answer

A) is a consistent value yet to be determined due to the variables involved in producing the tides. 
B) is at the same level along the entire North American coast. 
C) is based on average tidal levels recorded hourly at a given site over a period of many years. 
D) has very little variability across all ocean basins and,therefore,is treated as an absolute value. 
E) is constant enabling scientist to determine a single value thereof,though there are local minor variations. 
A) is a consistent value yet to be determined due to the variables involved in producing the tides. 
B) is at the same level along the entire North American coast. 
C) is based on average tidal levels recorded hourly at a given site over a period of many years. 
D) has very little variability across all ocean basins and,therefore,is treated as an absolute value. 
E) is constant enabling scientist to determine a single value thereof,though there are local minor variations.

Question 2

What is the difference between an ocean and a sea?

Accepted Answer

A) The term sea is used to describe the global,interconnected water body covering 70% of the Earth's surface,whereas oceans refer to the individual basins within this global sea. 
B) An ocean is a vast body of water encompassing 70% of the Earth,whereas a sea refers specifically to a large,inland,saline body of water. 
C) Seas are generally smaller than an ocean and tend to be at least partly enclosed by land,such as large,inland,saline water bodies. 
D) Oceans tend to be composed primarily of salt water,while seas tend to be composed of a near even mixture of brackish and fresh water. 
E) The term ocean is used in the Northern Hemisphere,and sea is used in the Southern Hemisphere,so the difference results from geographical location. 
A) The term sea is used to describe the global,interconnected water body covering 70% of the Earth's surface,whereas oceans refer to the individual basins within this global sea. 
B) An ocean is a vast body of water encompassing 70% of the Earth,whereas a sea refers specifically to a large,inland,saline body of water. 
C) Seas are generally smaller than an ocean and tend to be at least partly enclosed by land,such as large,inland,saline water bodies. 
D) Oceans tend to be composed primarily of salt water,while seas tend to be composed of a near even mixture of brackish and fresh water. 
E) The term ocean is used in the Northern Hemisphere,and sea is used in the Southern Hemisphere,so the difference results from geographical location.

Question 3

Barrier beaches and islands occur worldwide,lying offshore of nearly ___ % of Earth's coastlines.

Accepted Answer

A) 10 
B) 25 
C) 50 
D) 70 
E) 90 
A) 10 
B) 25 
C) 50 
D) 70 
E) 90

Question 4

What are the factors responsible for tides? Describe the conditions that lead to neap and spring tides.

Accepted Answer

Tides are the twice-daily oscillations i

Question 5

Latitudinal variation of surface salinity and temperature

In which of the following region would you expect to have the highest levels of seawater salinity?

Accepted Answer

A) equatorial oceans 
B) subtropical oceans 
C) polar oceans 
D) midlatitude oceans 
E) subarctic oceans 
A) equatorial oceans 
B) subtropical oceans 
C) polar oceans 
D) midlatitude oceans 
E) subarctic oceans

Question 6

When the Sun,Moon,and Earth are in alignment (i.e. ,in opposition or conjunction)

Accepted Answer

A) maximum tidal ranges occur. 
B) neap tides occur. 
C) a lower tidal range occurs. 
D) ebb tides occur. 
E) no tidal bulges occur. 
A) maximum tidal ranges occur. 
B) neap tides occur. 
C) a lower tidal range occurs. 
D) ebb tides occur. 
E) no tidal bulges occur.

Question 7

Which of the following is not true of the inputs to Earth's coastal environments?

Accepted Answer

A) Compared to other inputs,human activities are insignificant coastal inputs. 
B) Solar energy inputs drive prevailing winds,weather systems,and climates. 
C) Atmospheric winds generate ocean currents and waves. 
D) Climate strongly influences coastal geomorphic processes. 
E) Coastal geomorphology is important in determining rates of erosion and deposition. 
A) Compared to other inputs,human activities are insignificant coastal inputs. 
B) Solar energy inputs drive prevailing winds,weather systems,and climates. 
C) Atmospheric winds generate ocean currents and waves. 
D) Climate strongly influences coastal geomorphic processes. 
E) Coastal geomorphology is important in determining rates of erosion and deposition.

Question 8

The height of a tsunami grows as it approaches a coastline primarily because

Accepted Answer

A) its energy level increases. 
B) its wavelength shortens. 
C) the height of the surf is added to the height of the tsunami. 
D) the coastline is typically lower than sea level. 
E) of the Coriolis force. 
A) its energy level increases. 
B) its wavelength shortens. 
C) the height of the surf is added to the height of the tsunami. 
D) the coastline is typically lower than sea level. 
E) of the Coriolis force.

Question 9

Describe the three main vertical zones of the ocean.

Accepted Answer

The ocean consists of three vertical lay

Question 10

When the Sun and Moon form a right angle with Earth,the ___occurs and results in the ____tidal range between low and high tides.

Accepted Answer

A) spring tides;lowest 
B) spring tides;greatest 
C) neap tides;lowest 
D) neap tides;greatest 
E) tidal bore;lowest 
A) spring tides;lowest 
B) spring tides;greatest 
C) neap tides;lowest 
D) neap tides;greatest 
E) tidal bore;lowest

Question 11

Regular patterns of smooth,rounded waves are called

Accepted Answer

A) breakers. 
B) wave ripples. 
C) wave trains. 
D) swells. 
E) tidal bulges. 
A) breakers. 
B) wave ripples. 
C) wave trains. 
D) swells. 
E) tidal bulges.

Question 12

An atoll is approximately___ in shape because it forms ____.

Accepted Answer

A) circular;around sea stacks 
B) circular;around submerged volcanic islands 
C) linear;along barrier islands 
D) linear;along continental shorelines 
E) rectilinear;geologic faults 
A) circular;around sea stacks 
B) circular;around submerged volcanic islands 
C) linear;along barrier islands 
D) linear;along continental shorelines 
E) rectilinear;geologic faults

Question 13

Particles of sand,gravels,and shells that move along the shore in a process called

Accepted Answer

A) breakers. 
B) longshore current. 
C) beach drift. 
D) translation effects. 
E) wave refraction. 
A) breakers. 
B) longshore current. 
C) beach drift. 
D) translation effects. 
E) wave refraction.

Question 14

If the material deposited in a long ridge extending out from a coast grows to completely cut off the bay from an ocean,it becomes a

Accepted Answer

A) barrier spit. 
B) lagoon. 
C) tombolo 
D) stack. 
E) baymouth bar. 
A) barrier spit. 
B) lagoon. 
C) tombolo 
D) stack. 
E) baymouth bar.

Question 15

A ____is created when the backwash of water produced by breakers flows to the ocean from the beach in a concentrated column.

Accepted Answer

A) longshore current 
B) wave refraction 
C) tsunami 
D) rip current 
E) rogue wave 
A) longshore current 
B) wave refraction 
C) tsunami 
D) rip current 
E) rogue wave

Question 16

Approximately what percentage of the United States' population lives in coastal areas?

Accepted Answer

A) 17% 
B) 22% 
C) 53% 
D) 65% 
E) 81% 
A) 17% 
B) 22% 
C) 53% 
D) 65% 
E) 81%

Question 17

Wave action works to straighten a coast as wave energy focuses around headlands and tends to disperse energy in coves and bays in a process called

Accepted Answer

A) longshore current. 
B) breakers. 
C) wave refraction. 
D) tidal bore. 
E) wave train. 
A) longshore current. 
B) breakers. 
C) wave refraction. 
D) tidal bore. 
E) wave train.

Question 18

Long,narrow depositional features of sand that form offshore roughly parallel to the coast are called

Accepted Answer

A) tombolos. 
B) barrier beaches. 
C) baymouth bar. 
D) groins. 
E) tidal inlet. 
A) tombolos. 
B) barrier beaches. 
C) baymouth bar. 
D) groins. 
E) tidal inlet.

Question 19

Multiple terraces result from

Accepted Answer

A) collapse of a sea arch. 
B) lowering sea level or tectonic uplift. 
C) undercutting action along an emergent coastline. 
D) beach drift. 
E) a tsunami. 
A) collapse of a sea arch. 
B) lowering sea level or tectonic uplift. 
C) undercutting action along an emergent coastline. 
D) beach drift. 
E) a tsunami.

Question 20

Describe the process of wave motion.

Accepted Answer

Friction between wind and the ocean surf

Mean sea level

What is the difference between an ocean and a sea?

Barrier beaches and islands occur worldwide,lying offshore of nearly ___ % of Earth's coastlines.

What are the factors responsible for tides? Describe the conditions that lead to neap and spring tides.

Latitudinal variation of surface salinity and temperature In which of the following region would you expect to have the highest levels of seawater salinity?

When the Sun,Moon,and Earth are in alignment (i.e. ,in opposition or conjunction)

Which of the following is not true of the inputs to Earth's coastal environments?

The height of a tsunami grows as it approaches a coastline primarily because

Describe the three main vertical zones of the ocean.

When the Sun and Moon form a right angle with Earth,the _occurs and results in the __tidal range between low and high tides.

Regular patterns of smooth,rounded waves are called

An atoll is approximately_ in shape because it forms __.

Particles of sand,gravels,and shells that move along the shore in a process called

If the material deposited in a long ridge extending out from a coast grows to completely cut off the bay from an ocean,it becomes a

A ____is created when the backwash of water produced by breakers flows to the ocean from the beach in a concentrated column.

Approximately what percentage of the United States' population lives in coastal areas?

Wave action works to straighten a coast as wave energy focuses around headlands and tends to disperse energy in coves and bays in a process called

Long,narrow depositional features of sand that form offshore roughly parallel to the coast are called

Multiple terraces result from

Describe the process of wave motion.

Essentials of Geography

Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons

Earth’s Atmosphere

Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Water and Atmospheric Moisture

Weather

Water Resources

Earth’s Climatic Regions

Climate Change

The Dynamic Planet

Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanism

Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement

River Systems

Aeolian Processes and Arid Landscapes

Glacial Landscapes and the Cryosphere

The Geography of Soils

Ecosystem Essentials

Terrestrial Biomes

Filters

Exam 16: Oceans and Coastal Systems

Mean sea level

What is the difference between an ocean and a sea?

Barrier beaches and islands occur worldwide,lying offshore of nearly ___ % of Earth's coastlines.

What are the factors responsible for tides? Describe the conditions that lead to neap and spring tides.

Latitudinal variation of surface salinity and temperature In which of the following region would you expect to have the highest levels of seawater salinity?

When the Sun,Moon,and Earth are in alignment (i.e. ,in opposition or conjunction)

Which of the following is not true of the inputs to Earth's coastal environments?

The height of a tsunami grows as it approaches a coastline primarily because

Describe the three main vertical zones of the ocean.

When the Sun and Moon form a right angle with Earth,the ___occurs and results in the ____tidal range between low and high tides.

Regular patterns of smooth,rounded waves are called

An atoll is approximately___ in shape because it forms ____.

Particles of sand,gravels,and shells that move along the shore in a process called

If the material deposited in a long ridge extending out from a coast grows to completely cut off the bay from an ocean,it becomes a

A ____is created when the backwash of water produced by breakers flows to the ocean from the beach in a concentrated column.

Approximately what percentage of the United States' population lives in coastal areas?

Wave action works to straighten a coast as wave energy focuses around headlands and tends to disperse energy in coves and bays in a process called

Long,narrow depositional features of sand that form offshore roughly parallel to the coast are called

Multiple terraces result from

Describe the process of wave motion.

Essentials of Geography

Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons

Earth’s Atmosphere

Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Water and Atmospheric Moisture

Weather

Water Resources

Earth’s Climatic Regions

Climate Change

The Dynamic Planet

Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanism

Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement

River Systems

Aeolian Processes and Arid Landscapes

Glacial Landscapes and the Cryosphere

The Geography of Soils

Ecosystem Essentials

Terrestrial Biomes

Filters

When the Sun and Moon form a right angle with Earth,the _occurs and results in the __tidal range between low and high tides.

An atoll is approximately_ in shape because it forms __.