Question 1

A baymouth bar is a manmade feature designed to control wave erosion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Rip currents are strong currents parallel to the coastline; swimmers can easily avoid them by swimming toward shore.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

If you are a sunbather sitting high and dry on a beach,sipping your drink and watching the waves roll in,you are on ________.

Accepted Answer

A) the foreshore 
B) a backshore berm 
C) the shoreline 
D) any of the above 
A) the foreshore 
B) a backshore berm 
C) the shoreline 
D) any of the above

Question 4

A poleward-moving ocean current is considered a warm current.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

wave-cut cliff wave-cut platform sea arch spit

Accepted Answer

The answer of wave-cut cliff wave-cut platform sea arch spit...

Question 6

You are in a ship in deep water offshore from a large island.There is a heavy swell from the northeast and the island is to the southwest of you when the ship capsizes.Based on the wave direction,what should you do?

Accepted Answer

A) Just float,the waves will drive you to shore since the waves are moving toward the island. 
B) Swim like crazy; the waves are going to carry you away from shore. 
C) Swim toward the island; the waves aren't going to take you anywhere. 
D) Swim in a circle because that is what the waves are doing. 
A) Just float,the waves will drive you to shore since the waves are moving toward the island. 
B) Swim like crazy; the waves are going to carry you away from shore. 
C) Swim toward the island; the waves aren't going to take you anywhere. 
D) Swim in a circle because that is what the waves are doing.

Question 7

The black sand beaches in Hawaii are comprised of ________.

Accepted Answer

A) fragments of black coral 
B) fragments of basaltic volcanic rock 
C) fragments of obsidian glass 
D) ground up bottle and other debris placed there by Hawaii tourist bureaus.There is not natural sand in Hawaii because there is no quartz 
A) fragments of black coral 
B) fragments of basaltic volcanic rock 
C) fragments of obsidian glass 
D) ground up bottle and other debris placed there by Hawaii tourist bureaus.There is not natural sand in Hawaii because there is no quartz

Question 8

breakwater groin seawall beach nourishment

Accepted Answer

The answer of breakwater groin seawall beach nourishment...

Question 9

Structures called ________ are built parallel to the shoreline to protect boats from the force of large breaking waves.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Structures called ________ are built parallel to...

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Currents within the surf zone that flow...

Question 11

You land your inflatable boat on a sandbar at high tide in Southeast Alaska,which has a large semi-diurnal tide.You intend to be away from the boat for 12 hours,but come back early after only 8 hours.Your boat is,unfortunately,400m from shore.How long will you have to wait to be able to use your boat (assuming you can't carry it)?

Accepted Answer

A) 12 hours and 25 minutes 
B) 6 hours and 12 minutes 
C) 6 hours 
D) 4 hours and 25 minutes 
A) 12 hours and 25 minutes 
B) 6 hours and 12 minutes 
C) 6 hours 
D) 4 hours and 25 minutes

Question 12

A poleward-moving ocean current is ________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

Why is it warmer in most of Europe than in northern California even though both are on the east side of an ocean and Europe is at higher latitude than California?

Accepted Answer

A) California is affected by a cold offshore current,whereas Europe has the warm north Atlantic current,the continuation of the Gulf Stream. 
B) California weather is affected by the coastal mountains,which hold cold air along the west coast. 
C) Californians are just wimps; it really is warmer than Europe. 
D) The famous California surf stirs up the surface water,bringing deeper colder ocean water to the surface. 
A) California is affected by a cold offshore current,whereas Europe has the warm north Atlantic current,the continuation of the Gulf Stream. 
B) California weather is affected by the coastal mountains,which hold cold air along the west coast. 
C) Californians are just wimps; it really is warmer than Europe. 
D) The famous California surf stirs up the surface water,bringing deeper colder ocean water to the surface.

Question 14

When Europeans first came to the new world they would typically sail south and west to Canary Islands,then sail west to get to the West Indies and Spanish main.On their return,however,they would go north to the "Leeward Islands" of the Caribbean,to the Bahamas,Bermuda,etc.Why did they take this odd route rather than sail straight?

Accepted Answer

A) The ships were affected by the Coriolis effect,so this was the natural route. 
B) Although this route was against the ocean currents,it followed the prevailing wind direction so sailing ships could follow this route downwind-hence the name "Leeward Islands." 
C) They were attempting to follow the shortest distance,via what is called a great circle route. 
D) This route followed both the prevailing winds and ocean currents,speeding the trip despite longer distances. 
A) The ships were affected by the Coriolis effect,so this was the natural route. 
B) Although this route was against the ocean currents,it followed the prevailing wind direction so sailing ships could follow this route downwind-hence the name "Leeward Islands." 
C) They were attempting to follow the shortest distance,via what is called a great circle route. 
D) This route followed both the prevailing winds and ocean currents,speeding the trip despite longer distances.

Question 15

Although the Sun influences the tides,its effect is considerably less than the effect of the Moon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

An isolated remnant of wave erosion is a ________.

Accepted Answer

A) spit 
B) jetty 
C) groin 
D) sea stack 
A) spit 
B) jetty 
C) groin 
D) sea stack

Question 17

What kind of man made feature would likely lead to sand loss on a beach regardless of active margin (west coast North America)versus passive margin (east and Gulf coast of North America)setting for the coastline?

Accepted Answer

A) dam construction 
B) building too close to sea-cliff and allowing urban runoff to seep into the rocks along the cliff 
C) constructing a highway bridge over a bay mouth 
D) construction of offshore oil platforms 
A) dam construction 
B) building too close to sea-cliff and allowing urban runoff to seep into the rocks along the cliff 
C) constructing a highway bridge over a bay mouth 
D) construction of offshore oil platforms

Question 18

Seawalls stabilize beaches producing renewed deposition on the beach.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The Bermuda high is a large,persistent high pressure system centered roughly on the island of Bermuda in the mid-Atlantic,hence the name.Air circulates clockwise around high pressure systems because of the Coriolis effect.Is there any connection between Atlantic ocean currents and this weather feature?

Accepted Answer

A) No,the North Atlantic Ocean circulation is counterclockwise,like all Northern Hemisphere gyres. 
B) No,north Atlantic circulation is clockwise,but the connections to the Bermuda high circulation are only circumstantial; the ocean circulation is a bigger feature. 
C) Yes,north Atlantic circulation is approximately the same as the long term average circulation of the Bermuda high. 
D) Yes,they are crudely correlated,but the weather systems are so chaotic that the correlation is not meaningful. 
A) No,the North Atlantic Ocean circulation is counterclockwise,like all Northern Hemisphere gyres. 
B) No,north Atlantic circulation is clockwise,but the connections to the Bermuda high circulation are only circumstantial; the ocean circulation is a bigger feature. 
C) Yes,north Atlantic circulation is approximately the same as the long term average circulation of the Bermuda high. 
D) Yes,they are crudely correlated,but the weather systems are so chaotic that the correlation is not meaningful.

Question 20

Neap tides occur about the time of the first quarter and third quarter phases of the Moon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 15: The Dynamic Ocean

A baymouth bar is a manmade feature designed to control wave erosion.

Rip currents are strong currents parallel to the coastline; swimmers can easily avoid them by swimming toward shore.

If you are a sunbather sitting high and dry on a beach,sipping your drink and watching the waves roll in,you are on ________.

A poleward-moving ocean current is considered a warm current.

wave-cut cliff wave-cut platform sea arch spit

You are in a ship in deep water offshore from a large island.There is a heavy swell from the northeast and the island is to the southwest of you when the ship capsizes.Based on the wave direction,what should you do?

The black sand beaches in Hawaii are comprised of ________.

breakwater groin seawall beach nourishment

Structures called ________ are built parallel to the shoreline to protect boats from the force of large breaking waves.

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

A poleward-moving ocean current is ________.

Why is it warmer in most of Europe than in northern California even though both are on the east side of an ocean and Europe is at higher latitude than California?

Although the Sun influences the tides,its effect is considerably less than the effect of the Moon.

An isolated remnant of wave erosion is a ________.

What kind of man made feature would likely lead to sand loss on a beach regardless of active margin (west coast North America)versus passive margin (east and Gulf coast of North America)setting for the coastline?

Seawalls stabilize beaches producing renewed deposition on the beach.

Neap tides occur about the time of the first quarter and third quarter phases of the Moon.

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Weathering, soil, and Mass Wasting

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, deserts, and Wind

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

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 Weather

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origin of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light,astronomical Observations,and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters