Question 1

Plunging breakers are more common on west coast beaches because of the shape of the shoreline.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Waves approaching an irregular shoreline speed up and break when they hit the headlands and slow down in the quiet beaches.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

Describe one soft stabilization method, how it works to minimize coastal erosion and the drawbacks of using it.

Accepted Answer

Beach nourishment consists of artificially placing sand on beaches in the hope of constructing a positive beach budget, where more sand remains in storage than leaves in output.
Coastal zone bioengineering (CZB) is an emerging coastal defense that uses living or dead plants to assist in erosion control. CZB is a relatively new concept being tested.

Question 4

Which type of wave would you expect to see on a barrier island on the East Coast of the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  Plunging breaker 
B)  Spilling breaker 
C)  Tidal wave 
D)  Sonic wave 
E)  Tropical wave 
A)  Plunging breaker 
B)  Spilling breaker 
C)  Tidal wave 
D)  Sonic wave 
E)  Tropical wave

Question 5

If you placed a small boat in waves in the open ocean (not near the shoreline) what would the motion of the boat be?

Accepted Answer

A)  Up and down slowly moving towards shoreline 
B)  Up and down slowly moving out to sea 
C)  Circular pattern staying mostly in the same place 
D)  Circular pattern slowly moving towards the shoreline 
E)  Circular pattern slowly moving out to sea 
A)  Up and down slowly moving towards shoreline 
B)  Up and down slowly moving out to sea 
C)  Circular pattern staying mostly in the same place 
D)  Circular pattern slowly moving towards the shoreline 
E)  Circular pattern slowly moving out to sea

Question 6

The most effective hard stabilization is beach replenishment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Climate and tectonic processes are the main contributors to relative sea level change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

From the perspective of someone standing in the water on the shoreline, explain what wavelength, wave height, and period are and how they might measure it for a wave.

Accepted Answer

wave height (H) is the difference in hei

Question 9

If you are wading on the edge of the ocean where the waves move in and out, you are probably in the swash zone.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Relative sea level fluctuates constantly throughout the day.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a coastal hazard?

Accepted Answer

A)  Coastline erosion 
B)  Strong coastal currents 
C)  Storm surge 
D)  Tsunamis 
E)  Earthquakes 
A)  Coastline erosion 
B)  Strong coastal currents 
C)  Storm surge 
D)  Tsunamis 
E)  Earthquakes

Question 12

At what depth do waves begin to slow down and "feel bottom"?

Accepted Answer

A)  At depth equal to twice the wavelength 
B)  At depth equal to one wavelength 
C)  At depth equal to ½ wavelength 
D)  At depth equal to ¼ wavelength 
E)  Never. Waves don't slow down. 
A)  At depth equal to twice the wavelength 
B)  At depth equal to one wavelength 
C)  At depth equal to ½ wavelength 
D)  At depth equal to ¼ wavelength 
E)  Never. Waves don't slow down.

Question 13

Most of the sand moves parallel to the shoreline due to longshore currents.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

West coast coastlines have more cliffs and rocky shorelines due to their proximity to active convergent and transform boundaries.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Describe what happens to waves as they hit the shoreline.

Accepted Answer

The shape of the motion of an object on

Question 16

Describe the fundamental differences in the topography and coastal hazards between East Coast U.S. and West Coast U.S. beaches.

Accepted Answer

The east coast of the United States is d

Question 17

What is the effect of leveling the sand dunes on a barrier island?

Accepted Answer

A)  It makes them more vulnerable to storms. 
B)  It puts more sand on the beach increasing the size of the beach. 
C)  It puts less sand on the beach decreasing the size of the beach. 
D)  It requires hard stabilization methods such as seawalls to control rates of erosion. 
E)  It makes the island less heavy, causing it to rise. 
A)  It makes them more vulnerable to storms. 
B)  It puts more sand on the beach increasing the size of the beach. 
C)  It puts less sand on the beach decreasing the size of the beach. 
D)  It requires hard stabilization methods such as seawalls to control rates of erosion. 
E)  It makes the island less heavy, causing it to rise.

Question 18

Swells refer to the trough of the wave.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Explain the differences between eustatic and relative sea level.

Accepted Answer

The position of the sea at the shore, re

Question 20

The main problem with engineering solutions to shoreline erosion is that it is expensive, but it generally solves the problem once stabilizations are put in place.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Plunging breakers are more common on west coast beaches because of the shape of the shoreline.

Waves approaching an irregular shoreline speed up and break when they hit the headlands and slow down in the quiet beaches.

Describe one soft stabilization method, how it works to minimize coastal erosion and the drawbacks of using it.

Which type of wave would you expect to see on a barrier island on the East Coast of the United States?

If you placed a small boat in waves in the open ocean (not near the shoreline) what would the motion of the boat be?

The most effective hard stabilization is beach replenishment.

Climate and tectonic processes are the main contributors to relative sea level change.

From the perspective of someone standing in the water on the shoreline, explain what wavelength, wave height, and period are and how they might measure it for a wave.

If you are wading on the edge of the ocean where the waves move in and out, you are probably in the swash zone.

Relative sea level fluctuates constantly throughout the day.

Which of the following is NOT a coastal hazard?

At what depth do waves begin to slow down and "feel bottom"?

Most of the sand moves parallel to the shoreline due to longshore currents.

West coast coastlines have more cliffs and rocky shorelines due to their proximity to active convergent and transform boundaries.

Describe what happens to waves as they hit the shoreline.

Describe the fundamental differences in the topography and coastal hazards between East Coast U.S. and West Coast U.S. beaches.

What is the effect of leveling the sand dunes on a barrier island?

Swells refer to the trough of the wave.

Explain the differences between eustatic and relative sea level.

The main problem with engineering solutions to shoreline erosion is that it is expensive, but it generally solves the problem once stabilizations are put in place.

Introduction to Natural Hazards

Internal Structure of the Earth and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes

Tsunamis

Volcanoes

Flooding

Mass Wasting

Subsidence and Soils

Atmosphere and Severe Weather

Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones

Climate and Climate Change

Wildfires

Impacts and Extinctions

Filters

Exam 11: Coastal Hazards

Plunging breakers are more common on west coast beaches because of the shape of the shoreline.

Waves approaching an irregular shoreline speed up and break when they hit the headlands and slow down in the quiet beaches.

Describe one soft stabilization method, how it works to minimize coastal erosion and the drawbacks of using it.

Which type of wave would you expect to see on a barrier island on the East Coast of the United States?

If you placed a small boat in waves in the open ocean (not near the shoreline) what would the motion of the boat be?

The most effective hard stabilization is beach replenishment.

Climate and tectonic processes are the main contributors to relative sea level change.

From the perspective of someone standing in the water on the shoreline, explain what wavelength, wave height, and period are and how they might measure it for a wave.

If you are wading on the edge of the ocean where the waves move in and out, you are probably in the swash zone.

Relative sea level fluctuates constantly throughout the day.

Which of the following is NOT a coastal hazard?

At what depth do waves begin to slow down and "feel bottom"?

Most of the sand moves parallel to the shoreline due to longshore currents.

West coast coastlines have more cliffs and rocky shorelines due to their proximity to active convergent and transform boundaries.

Describe what happens to waves as they hit the shoreline.

Describe the fundamental differences in the topography and coastal hazards between East Coast U.S. and West Coast U.S. beaches.

What is the effect of leveling the sand dunes on a barrier island?

Swells refer to the trough of the wave.

Explain the differences between eustatic and relative sea level.

The main problem with engineering solutions to shoreline erosion is that it is expensive, but it generally solves the problem once stabilizations are put in place.

Introduction to Natural Hazards

Internal Structure of the Earth and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes

Tsunamis

Volcanoes

Flooding

Mass Wasting

Subsidence and Soils

Atmosphere and Severe Weather

Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones

Climate and Climate Change

Wildfires

Impacts and Extinctions

Filters