Deck 10: The Coast: Beaches and Shoreline Processes

Question 1

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

Answer 1

True

Question 2

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

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)depositional shore
B)erosional shore
tombolo

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)exposed at low tide and covered at high tide
B)flows parallel to shore within surf zone
C)young features formed by non-marine processes
D)found between dunes and high marsh
E)beyond the low-tide breakers
F)moves water from swash zone out to sea
G)deposit at mouth of a river
H)colonized by grasses; very productive
foreshore

Question 5

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)depositional shore
B)erosional shore
wave-cut cliffs

Question 6

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)exposed at low tide and covered at high tide
B)flows parallel to shore within surf zone
C)young features formed by non-marine processes
D)found between dunes and high marsh
E)beyond the low-tide breakers
F)moves water from swash zone out to sea
G)deposit at mouth of a river
H)colonized by grasses; very productive
longshore current

Question 7

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)depositional shore
B)erosional shore
barrier island

Question 8

The nearshore is equivalent to the intertidal zone.

Question 9

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)exposed at low tide and covered at high tide
B)flows parallel to shore within surf zone
C)young features formed by non-marine processes
D)found between dunes and high marsh
E)beyond the low-tide breakers
F)moves water from swash zone out to sea
G)deposit at mouth of a river
H)colonized by grasses; very productive
barrier flats

Question 10

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

Question 11

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

Question 12

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)depositional shore
B)erosional shore
sea arches

Question 13

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

Question 14

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

Question 15

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)depositional shore
B)erosional shore
spit

Question 16

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

Question 17

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 18

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)exposed at low tide and covered at high tide
B)flows parallel to shore within surf zone
C)young features formed by non-marine processes
D)found between dunes and high marsh
E)beyond the low-tide breakers
F)moves water from swash zone out to sea
G)deposit at mouth of a river
H)colonized by grasses; very productive
offshore

Question 19

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)exposed at low tide and covered at high tide
B)flows parallel to shore within surf zone
C)young features formed by non-marine processes
D)found between dunes and high marsh
E)beyond the low-tide breakers
F)moves water from swash zone out to sea
G)deposit at mouth of a river
H)colonized by grasses; very productive
rip current

Question 20

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

Question 21

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 coastal zone.
E)Only A and B are sources of sediment in the coastal zone.

Question 22

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.

Question 23

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

Question 24

A beach is:

A)always found along a coast.
B)always comprised of non-biologic components.
C)constant in space and time.
D)only that area above the high-tide mark.
E)a deposit of the shore area.

Question 25

The Gulf coast of the United States is an example of a coast where tectonic subsidence is occurs.

Question 26

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 during the winter.

Question 27

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 related to whatever material is locally available.
D)shows seasonal variation only on low energy coasts.
E)varies only with storm intensity and duration.

Question 28

Seawalls are quite effective at controlling beach erosion.

Question 29

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

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

Question 30

Eroded material is carried along coastlines 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 31

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

Question 32

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

Question 33

All of the following are typically characteristic of erosional shores except:

A)headlands.
B)wave-cut cliffs.
C)deltas.
D)sea caves.
E)sea arches.

Question 34

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

Question 35

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 36

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

Question 37

Which of the following would you expect to find on a summertime beach?

A)a narrow berm
B)prominent longshore bars
C)a wide, sandy berm
D)larger, high-energy waves
E)a rocky terrain along the beach

Question 38

The Pacific coast of the United States is generally experiencing greater erosion than the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Question 39

Alternatives to hard stabilization to protect coastlines from erosion including construction restrictions, relocation of structures, and construction of seawalls.

Question 40

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

Question 41

Emerging shorelines 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 42

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

A)Californian
B)Atlantic coast
C)Gulf coast
D)New England
E)Northwest Pacific coast

Question 43

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 44

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 45

All of the following are alternatives to hard stabilization except:

A)seawalls.
B)beach replenishment.
C)construction restrictions.
D)relocation.
E)beach renourishment.

Question 46

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

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

Question 47

When seafloor spreading rates increase:

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

Question 48

Eustatic changes in sea level might include:

A)increased glacial 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 49

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

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

Question 50

In terms of erosion protection from wave action, seawalls:

A)are cost effective.
B)lead to erosion of sediment on their seaward sides.
C)result in a more gradual seaward slope of beaches.
D)are permanent and thus never need to be replaced.
E)require very little maintenance.

Question 51

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 52

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 53

All of the following are typically characteristic of depositional shores except:

A)spits.
B)bay-mouth bars.
C)marine terraces.
D)tombolos.
E)barrier islands.

Question 54

Which of the following pairs does not belong together?

A)Atlantic-type coast: thick accumulations of sediment
B)emerging shorelines: drowned beaches
C)Pacific-type coast: earthquake activity
D)depositional shores: sand deposits and offshore barrier islands
E)submerging shorelines: submerged dune topography

Question 55

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

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

Question 56

Submerging shorelines 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 57

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

A)Alaskan
B)New England Coast
C)Great Lake states
D)Southern Atlantic coast
E)Pacific coast

Question 58

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 59

Which of the following landforms shows the greatest erosion rate along United States coasts?

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

Question 60

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 61

Discuss why deltas do not form at all river mouths and why bay mouth bar formation is not always a problem for coastal harbors.

Question 62

Describe the response of a barrier island to a rise in sea level. Why do some barrier islands develop peat deposits running through them from the ocean beach to the salt marsh?

Question 63

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

Question 64

What is longshore drift and how is it related to a longshore current?

Question 65

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 continental crust

Question 66

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 67

Briefly describe differences between summertime and wintertime beaches and explain why these differences occur.

Question 68

Describe the types of hard stabilization and what each is intended to do. Include in your answer the drawbacks of each method, as well as some of the alternatives to hard stabilization.

Question 69

Describe the seasonal migration of sand on a beach.

Question 70

Distinguish between an emerging shoreline and a submerging shoreline.

Question 71

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. groin
B) beach compartment
C) jetty
D) breakwater
E) seawall

Question 72

Compare and contrast erosional coasts and depositional coasts.

Question 73

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 74

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 75

Discuss the forces that contribute to the formation of beaches and give an explanation of the basic terminology used to describe features characteristic of beaches.