Deck 10: The Coast: Beaches and Shoreline Processes

Question 1

Sea caves and sea stacks are more likely to occur in an area with very hard bedrock.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Seawalls are quite effective at controlling beach erosion.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Groins are constructed for the purpose of maintaining or widening beaches that are losing sand.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Elevated wave-cut platforms in southern California are evidence that this coastal area is emergent.

Question 5

A summer beach typically has more sediment on it than a winter beach.

Question 6

The longshore current is caused by waves striking the beach at an angle.

Question 7

Eustatic changes in sea level refer to changes in the volume of seawater or changes in the volume of the ocean basin.

Question 8

A spit is a coastal feature of deposited sand in the direction of the longshore drift from shore toward deeper water into the mouth of a bay.

Question 9

Waves will cause much more erosion in an area that has a large tidal range when compared to an area with a small tidal range.

Question 10

Longshore drift is a current that transports sand in a circular motion in the water column.

Question 11

The backshore is found between the normal high tide mark and the coastline.

Question 12

The Pacific coast of the U.S. is an example of a coast where active erosion occurs.

Question 13

Erosional coasts are characterized by features of accumulated sand/pebble/rock that are eroded elsewhere and deposited on shore where longshore currents slow.

Question 14

The velocity of the longshore current will be higher when wave heights are higher.

Question 15

The nearshore is equivalent to the intertidal zone.

Question 16

The coastal area affected by surf is referred to as the beach.

Question 17

Barrier islands are offshore islands where sand is deposited parallel to the shoreline creating a protective barrier for the coastline.

Question 18

An increase in the spreading rate at a mid-ocean ridge will cause a decrease in sea level.

Question 19

The most biologically productive part of a salt marsh would be the:

A) barrier flat.
B) dune.
C) high marsh.
D) low marsh.
E) lagoon.

Question 20

The section of the coast that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide is called the:

A) backshore.
B) foreshore.
C) nearshore.
D) offshore.
E) shoreline.

Question 21

The rate of wave erosion along a coastline is determined by all of the following except the:

A) amount of open ocean exposure.
B) coastal bedrock composition.
C) direction of the longshore current.
D) tidal range.
E) wave height and wave period.

Question 22

Which of the following materials would you expect to be found on the steepest beach?

A) coarse sand
B) fine sand
C) large gravel
D) small pebbles
E) cannot be determined based solely on particle size

Question 23

If one were to walk from the ocean landward across a barrier island complex, in which order would one encounter the following environments?

A) barrier flat, dune, beach, low marsh, high marsh
B) beach, dune, barrier flat, high marsh, low marsh
C) beach, dune, barrier flat, low marsh, high marsh
D) dune, barrier flat, beach, high marsh, low marsh
E) low marsh, high marsh, barrier flat, dune, beach

Question 24

Winter beaches:

A) are narrower than summer beaches due to high-energy waves during the winter.
B) are wider than summer beaches due to low-energy waves during the winter.
C) contain more sediment than summer beaches due to high-energy waves during the winter.
D) contain less sediment than summer beaches due to low-energy waves during the winter.
E) have better smaller offshore bars to sand deposition on the beach during the winter.

Question 25

Large deposits of sediment at the mouths of rivers are called:

A) barrier flats.
B) barrier islands.
C) bay-mouth bar.
D) deltas.
E) tombolos.

Question 26

Submergent coasts might have all of the following characteristics except:

A) drowned beaches.
B) drowned river delta.
C) marine terraces.
D) river mouths found below sea level.
E) submerged dune topography.

Question 27

A linear ridge of sediment attached to land at one end might be called a:

A) barrier island.
B) bay barrier.
C) bay-mouth bar.
D) spit.
E) tombolo.

Question 28

Emergent coasts might have all of the following characteristics except:

A) cliffs.
B) drowned beaches.
C) exposed wave-cut bench.
D) marine terraces.
E) shell debris found well above current shoreline.

Question 29

Which of the following pairs does not belong together?

A) Atlantic-type: thick sediment wedge
B) emergent: drowned beaches
C) Pacific-type: earthquake activity
D) secondary coast: mangroves
E) submergent: submerged dune topography

Question 30

Sediment is supplied to the coastal zone by:

A) coastal erosion.
B) local biological activity.
C) rivers.
D) All of the above are sources of sediment in the costal zone.
E) Only A and B are sources of sediment in the coastal zone.

Question 31

Eroded material along coastlines is carried from high wave energy areas to:

A) active offshore bars.
B) low wave energy areas.
C) the backshore.
D) the foreshore.
E) the nearshore zone.

Question 32

The area of the barrier island complex that would contain thickets and woodlands would be the:

A) barrier flat.
B) dune.
C) high marsh.
D) lagoon.
E) low marsh.

Question 33

Narrow currents flowing across the surf zone toward the open ocean are called:

A) longshore currents.
B) nearshore currents.
C) rip currents.
D) surf flow.
E) swash.

Question 34

Which of the following landforms shows the least amount of erosion along U.S. coasts?

A) coralline structures of the Florida Keys
B) crystalline rocks of New England
C) mud flats
D) sandy beaches
E) sedimentary rocks of Pacific Northwest

Question 35

The section of the coast that extends from normal high tide level to the highest elevation on land that is effected by storm waves is called the:

A) backshore.
B) foreshore.
C) nearshore.
D) offshore.
E) shoreline.

Question 36

Which of the following landforms shows the greatest erosion rate along U.S. coasts?

A) coralline structures of the Florida Keys
B) crystalline rocks of New England
C) mud flats
D) sandy beaches
E) sedimentary rocks of Pacific Northwest

Question 37

All of the following are examples of features found along primary coasts except:

A) coasts with extensive coral reefs.
B) drowned river valleys.
C) drowned glacial valleys.
D) subaerial deltas.
E) volcanic coasts.

Question 38

Which of the following will decrease the velocity of the longshore current?

A) increased beach slope
B) increased wave frequency
C) increased wave period
D) larger waves
E) faster wind speed

Question 39

The distinction between a barrier island and a sea island is:

A) barrier islands are erosional coastal features whereas sea islands are depositional coastal features.
B) barrier islands are less affected by storm surge and erosion in a storm than sea islands.
C) barrier islands are most common on the west coast of the U.S, in contrast to sea islands which are common on the west and east coast of the U.S.
D) barrier islands are transient depositional features whereas sea islands have bedrock foundations.
E) barrier islands are typical of secondary coasts where biological processes modify the original coastline and sea islands are more of a feature associated with primary coasts.

Question 40

The particle size on a beach:

A) can be related to the frequency of storms.
B) is a function of the type of bedrock underlying the coastal area.
C) is inversely proportional to the water velocity at the shoreline.
D) shows seasonal variation only on low energy coasts.
E) varies only with storm intensity and duration.

Question 41

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)marine terrace
B)sea arches
C)sea caves
D)tombolo
E)wave-cut cliffs

Question 42

Isostatic movement of a coastline might occur due to:

A) additional seawater.
B) changes in the rate of seafloor spreading.
C) the removal of a large glacier that rested in that area.
D) underwater landslides.
E) uplift related to earthquake activity.

Question 43

Nor'easters affect which area of the U.S. coastline during the fall and winter?

A) Gulf coast
B) northern Atlantic coast
C) northern Pacific coast
D) southern Atlantic coast
E) southern Pacific coat

Question 44

How do living organisms shape coasts and list the kinds of biological activities that modify coastlines?

Question 45

Compare and contrast erosional coasts and depositional coasts.

Question 46

Eustatic changes in sea level might include:

A) increased glacial and sea ice melting due to the global warming.
B) rise in sea level due to a large weight of glacier on a continental mass.
C) sinking of the crust due to large increases in sediment load.
D) uplift related to earthquake activity.
E) volcanic activity resulting in the formation of new continental crust.

Question 47

The most common barriers constructed along a coastline are:

A) breakwaters.
B) groins.
C) jetties at harbor entrances.
D) seawalls.
E) spits.

Question 48

In terms of erosion protection from wave action, seawalls:

A) are cost effective.
B) are ineffective.
C) are moderately effective.
D) are very effective.
E) require very little maintenance.

Question 49

Which U.S. coastline has the greatest average loss due to erosion?

A) Alaskan
B) Atlantic
C) Gulf
D) New England
E) Pacific

Question 50

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)formation of large inland lakes
B)increased seafloor spreading rates
C)melting glacial ice
D)melting sea ice
E)uplifted crust

Question 51

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)bay-mouth bar
B)delta
C)sea stack
D)spit
E)tombolo

Question 52

When seafloor spreading rates increase:

A) new continental crust is formed.
B) sea level falls.
C) subduction increases.
D) there is a rise in sea level.
E) there is no change in sea level.

Question 53

Which U.S. coast is being most starved for sediments due to the damming of rivers?

A) Alaskan
B) Atlantic
C) Great Lake states
D) Gulf
E) Pacific

Question 54

A beach is:

A) an area of loose particles that cover all or part of the area closest to the waterline on shore.
B) are associated with high energy coasts.
C) characteristic of depositional coasts.
D) form about 30% of the coastline in the United States.
E) All of the above are true of beaches.

Question 55

Distinguish between an emergent coast and a submerged coast.

Question 56

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)barrier flat
B)beach face
C)berm
D)longshore bar
E)trough

Question 57

Which of the following structures is designed to prevent or retard shoreline erosion?

A) beach nourishment
B) groin
C) seawall
D) All of these structures prevent or retard shoreline erosion.
E) Both the groin and seawall prevent or retard shoreline erosion.

Question 58

Coastal areas in the Gulf coast states are:

A) generally protected from erosion because they have low energy coasts with small tidal ranges.
B) high energy coasts characterized by the presence of headlands and wave cut plateaus.
C) protected from storm erosion by broad expanses of salt marsh which absorb storm surge.
D) subject to greater erosion during tropical storms and hurricanes because they have small tidal ranges compared to areas on the Atlantic coast.
E) vulnerable to coastal flooding because they have barrier islands protecting the mainland preventing storm surge from dissipating.

Question 59

Describe the features associated with depositional coasts and discuss their formation.

Question 60

Discuss why deltas don't form at all river mouths and why bath mouth bar formation is not always a problem for coastal harbors.

Question 61

Discuss the seasonal migration of sand on a beach.

Question 62

Why do coastlines tend to become more straight (linear) with time? Discuss the processes that contribute to the formation of a smooth coast.

Question 63

Describe the features associated with erosional coasts and discuss their formation.

Question 64

Discuss the forces that contribute to the formation of beaches and include an explanation of why beaches only cover 30% of coasts.

Question 65

Compare and contrast the biological communities common to temperate and tropical intertidal coasts. Explain why the tropical intertidal plants would need to have larger root structures and grow taller than their temperate counterparts?