Question 1

Briefly discuss the movement of sand on a beach environment. Include those factors, both natural and human- induced, that affect sand movement.

Accepted Answer

Energy from breaking waves often causes large quantities of sand to move along the beach face and in the surf zone roughly parallel to the shore. Wave energy also causes sand to move perpendicular to the shore in a zig zag pattern that follows the longshore current. Sand movement is determined by natural wave energy and can be affected by human- induced stabilization factors such as construction of breakwaters, seawalls, and groins.

Question 2

Horn Island is a small island about 10 km offshore from Biloxi, Mississippi, that is about 20 km long and 1 km wide. What are features like Horn Island called?

Accepted Answer

A)  reefs 
B)  sand spits 
C)  beaches 
D)  barrier islands 
A)  reefs 
B)  sand spits 
C)  beaches 
D)  barrier islands D

Question 3

When prevailing winds blow from onshore to offshore, what generally happens?

Accepted Answer

A)  The wind drives the water away from shore, forcing the water to descend in a downwelling zone. 
B)  The winds cause offshore surface water to flow away from shore, forcing deeper water to rise to the surface. 
C)  The dry conditions from the land evaporate surface waters, making them more dense due to salinity increase, and they sink. 
D)  The wind drives a longshore current, which draws cold air from higher latitudes, producing a cold climate. 
A)  The wind drives the water away from shore, forcing the water to descend in a downwelling zone. 
B)  The winds cause offshore surface water to flow away from shore, forcing deeper water to rise to the surface. 
C)  The dry conditions from the land evaporate surface waters, making them more dense due to salinity increase, and they sink. 
D)  The wind drives a longshore current, which draws cold air from higher latitudes, producing a cold climate. B

Question 4

A spring tide occurs_______  .

Accepted Answer

A)  twice a year at the new or full moon closest to the vernal and autumnal equinox 
B)  once a month, or 12 times a year 
C)  once a year at the first full moon after the vernal equinox 
D)  about 26 times per year, at every full and new moon 
A)  twice a year at the new or full moon closest to the vernal and autumnal equinox 
B)  once a month, or 12 times a year 
C)  once a year at the first full moon after the vernal equinox 
D)  about 26 times per year, at every full and new moon

Question 5

A poleward- moving ocean current is_______  .

Accepted Answer

A)  cold 
B)  warm 
C)  warm only in the Northern Hemisphere 
D)  warm only in the Southern Hemisphere 
A)  cold 
B)  warm 
C)  warm only in the Northern Hemisphere 
D)  warm only in the Southern Hemisphere

Question 6

Shorelines are temporary geologic and topographic features. Explain this statement.

Accepted Answer

Shorelines are temporary geologic and to

Question 7

What is the difference between the coastline and shoreline?

Accepted Answer

A)  The shoreline is the low- tide line, and the coastline is the high- tide line. 
B)  The shoreline is the landward limit of ocean- related landforms, and the coastline is the interface between land and sea. 
C)  The coastline is the landward limit of ocean- related landforms, and the shoreline is the ephemeral line that marks the interface between land and sea. 
D)  The coast is the landward limit of ocean- related landforms, the coastline is the line that separates the coast from the shore, and the shoreline is the ephemeral line that marks the interface between land and sea. 
A)  The shoreline is the low- tide line, and the coastline is the high- tide line. 
B)  The shoreline is the landward limit of ocean- related landforms, and the coastline is the interface between land and sea. 
C)  The coastline is the landward limit of ocean- related landforms, and the shoreline is the ephemeral line that marks the interface between land and sea. 
D)  The coast is the landward limit of ocean- related landforms, the coastline is the line that separates the coast from the shore, and the shoreline is the ephemeral line that marks the interface between land and sea.

Question 8

Currents within the surf zone that flow parallel to the shore are known as_______  currents.

Accepted Answer

A)  spiller 
B)  curl 
C)  longshore 
D)  rip 
A)  spiller 
B)  curl 
C)  longshore 
D)  rip

Question 9

Neap tides occur about the time of_______  phase of the Moon.

Accepted Answer

A)  full moon 
B)  new moon 
C)  sun- aligned 
D)  first quarter 
A)  full moon 
B)  new moon 
C)  sun- aligned 
D)  first quarter

Question 10

The turbulent water created by breaking waves is called_______  .

Accepted Answer

A)  longshore 
B)  oscillation waves 
C)  surf 
D)  berm 
A)  longshore 
B)  oscillation waves 
C)  surf 
D)  berm

Question 11

_______ are short walls perpendicular to the beach constructed for the purpose of maintaining or widening beaches that are losing sand.

Accepted Answer

A)  Groins 
B)  Jetties 
C)  Seawalls 
D)  Breakwaters 
A)  Groins 
B)  Jetties 
C)  Seawalls 
D)  Breakwaters

Question 12

_______ are old, uplifted wave- cut platforms.

Accepted Answer

A)  Barrier islands 
B)  Marine terraces 
C)  Tombolos 
D)  Sea arches 
A)  Barrier islands 
B)  Marine terraces 
C)  Tombolos 
D)  Sea arches

Question 13

The largest daily tidal range occurs in association with _______ tides.

Accepted Answer

A)  third quarter moon 
B)  neap 
C)  first quarter moon 
D)  spring 
A)  third quarter moon 
B)  neap 
C)  first quarter moon 
D)  spring

Question 14

Erosional retreat of an_______  leads to enlargement and extension of a wave- cut platform in the inland direction.

Accepted Answer

A)  wave- cut barrier beach 
B)  wave- cut cliff 
C)  wave- cut tombolo 
D)  offshore, wave- cut, breakwater bar 
A)  wave- cut barrier beach 
B)  wave- cut cliff 
C)  wave- cut tombolo 
D)  offshore, wave- cut, breakwater bar

Question 15

The_______  effect causes ocean currents to be deflected to the right of their path of motion in the Northern Hemisphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  baymouth 
B)  Coriolis 
C)  longshore 
D)  gyre 
A)  baymouth 
B)  Coriolis 
C)  longshore 
D)  gyre

Question 16

You are swimming on a beach in the surf. You leave your cooler and supplies on the beach, and after a half hour you swim back to shore, but your stuff isn't there. You look along the beach and see your cooler 200 m down the beach. How did that happen?

Accepted Answer

A)  You must have had too many and just lost track of where you were. 
B)  You were affected by the longshore current and drifted with it along the coast. 
C)  You must have gotten caught in a rip current without knowing it. 
D)  You must have been swimming parallel to the shore without thinking about it. 
A)  You must have had too many and just lost track of where you were. 
B)  You were affected by the longshore current and drifted with it along the coast. 
C)  You must have gotten caught in a rip current without knowing it. 
D)  You must have been swimming parallel to the shore without thinking about it.

Question 17

Upwelling zones are frequently _______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  high in nutrients 
B)  dead zones 
C)  relatively warm 
D)  anoxic dead zones 
A)  high in nutrients 
B)  dead zones 
C)  relatively warm 
D)  anoxic dead zones

Question 18

Rip currents are dreaded by surf swimmers everywhere. The standard recommendation for swimmers is if you get caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore. Why?

Accepted Answer

A)  It will carry you in the longshore current which will take you ashore. 
B)  This recommendation is wrong; you should swim with the current and wait for it to die away, then swim to shore because the currents dissipate quickly. 
C)  This recommendation is wrong; you should swim toward the shore as fast as you can. 
D)  The current is moving offshore but is confined, so by swimming parallel to shore you can swim out of the current. 
A)  It will carry you in the longshore current which will take you ashore. 
B)  This recommendation is wrong; you should swim with the current and wait for it to die away, then swim to shore because the currents dissipate quickly. 
C)  This recommendation is wrong; you should swim toward the shore as fast as you can. 
D)  The current is moving offshore but is confined, so by swimming parallel to shore you can swim out of the current.

Question 19

Hurricane Sandy produced some of the greatest destruction along the New Jersey coast in communities situated along narrow strips of land between the beach and a coastal lagoon to the west. These communities were vulnerable because they were built on low- lying terrane of_______  .

Accepted Answer

A)  spits and tombolos 
B)  a barrier island 
C)  a wave- cut platform 
D)  an eroding sea cliff 
A)  spits and tombolos 
B)  a barrier island 
C)  a wave- cut platform 
D)  an eroding sea cliff

Question 20

Which of the following is a tidal current?

Accepted Answer

A)  ebb tide 
B)  spring tide 
C)  flood tide 
D)  both flood tide and ebb tide 
A)  ebb tide 
B)  spring tide 
C)  flood tide 
D)  both flood tide and ebb tide

Exam 15: The Dynamic Ocean

Briefly discuss the movement of sand on a beach environment. Include those factors, both natural and human- induced, that affect sand movement.

Horn Island is a small island about 10 km offshore from Biloxi, Mississippi, that is about 20 km long and 1 km wide. What are features like Horn Island called?

When prevailing winds blow from onshore to offshore, what generally happens?

A spring tide occurs_______ .

A poleward- moving ocean current is_______ .

Shorelines are temporary geologic and topographic features. Explain this statement.

What is the difference between the coastline and shoreline?

Currents within the surf zone that flow parallel to the shore are known as_______ currents.

Neap tides occur about the time of_______ phase of the Moon.

The turbulent water created by breaking waves is called_______ .

_______ are short walls perpendicular to the beach constructed for the purpose of maintaining or widening beaches that are losing sand.

_______ are old, uplifted wave- cut platforms.

The largest daily tidal range occurs in association with _______ tides.

Erosional retreat of an_______ leads to enlargement and extension of a wave- cut platform in the inland direction.

The_______ effect causes ocean currents to be deflected to the right of their path of motion in the Northern Hemisphere.

You are swimming on a beach in the surf. You leave your cooler and supplies on the beach, and after a half hour you swim back to shore, but your stuff isn't there. You look along the beach and see your cooler 200 m down the beach. How did that happen?

Upwelling zones are frequently _______ .

Rip currents are dreaded by surf swimmers everywhere. The standard recommendation for swimmers is if you get caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore. Why?

Hurricane Sandy produced some of the greatest destruction along the New Jersey coast in communities situated along narrow strips of land between the beach and a coastal lagoon to the west. These communities were vulnerable because they were built on low- lying terrane of_______ .

Which of the following is a tidal current?

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

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