Deck 7: Coastal Zones and Processes

Question 1

Causes of shifts in relative elevation of land and sea along a coast include

A) Tectonic movements.
B) Glacial loading.
C) Melting of ice caps.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The periodic fall and rise in levels of water as a result of gravitational force of the sun and moon would result in

A) Surges.
B) Currents.
C) Waves.
D) Tides.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Hard/Structural stabilization of a beach

A) Is the best method for controlling beach erosion.
B) Often results in more, rather than less beach erosion.
C) Is banned by the Coastal Management and Protection Act.
D) Is necessary to create littoral drift.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

When waves approach a beach at an oblique angle,resulting in a lateral movement of water along the shoreline a ___________ may develop.

A) Delta
B) Groin
C) Sand dune
D) Long shore current

Question 5

Potentially unstable coastlines may be identified by

A) The absence of shoreline-protection structures.
B) Comparison of recent and older maps or aerial photographs of the area, if available from sources such as county planning office, detailed maps compiled earlier indicating the appearance of the coastline.
C) The width of the coastline.
D) A large amount of driftwood on the beach.

Question 6

When sand replenishment of a beach is undertaken,

A) The effort is considerable, but it need only be done once.
B) Erosion will be halted when the new sand is firmly in place.
C) It may be important to duplicate the mineralogy and grain size of the original sand.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 7

During a storm,

A) Overall water level falls due to the low air pressure associated with storms.
B) Wave height increases because of strong winds.
C) Dunes are typically built up by deposition of extra sediment.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 8

Ocean waves breaking on a beach are formed by this

A) Earthquakes.
B) Wind.
C) Tides.
D) Passing ships.

Question 9

Beach replenishment projects that add sand to eroding beaches

A) Are a permanent solution to beach erosion that will never have to be repeated.
B) Must match the grain size of the sand, because finer sand will be carried away quickly by the ocean currents and coarser sand could result in a steeper beach face.
C) Are fairly inexpensive.
D) Are a hard/structural approach to beach stabilization.

Question 10

Barrier islands

A) Are long, low narrow, coast-parallel, sandy islands typically less than a meter or two above sea level.
B) Protect quiet lagoons that are areas of intense biological productivity and diversity.
C) Are eroded by strong wave action on their seaward side, thus moving them landward.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 11

Along a coast,a body of water receiving input of both fresh and salt water is

A) A breakwater.
B) A berm.
C) A long shore current.
D) An estuary.

Question 12

As tides rise and fall,the portion that is regularly washed by waves is referred to as

A) Beach.
B) Coast.
C) Beach face.
D) Barrier island.

Question 13

Sand may be supplied to a beach by

A) Littoral drift along the coast.
B) Dunes at the back of the beach.
C) Streams draining the continent that end at the shore.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 14

Moving the Cape Hatteras lighthouse from its shore location inland is an example of

A) Hard structural stabilization.
B) Soft structural stabilization.
C) A non-structural strategy.
D) Increasing wave base.

Question 15

Construction of a seawall at the back of a beach will

A) Prevent sand movement by littoral drift along the beach.
B) Cut off sediment supply from dunes at the back of the beach.
C) Prevent water rising during storm surges.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 16

This feature tends to form by wave erosion behind the head of a steep-sided peninsula

A) Sea stack.
B) Sea cave.
C) Spit.
D) Baymouth bar.

Question 17

At present,along the eastern coast of the United States,

A) Sea level is rising.
B) Sea level is falling.
C) Sea level is rising, but the continent is rising faster.
D) Beaches are being extended seaward.

Question 18

When sea level falls or land rises,____________ may be formed.

A) Deltas
B) Wave-cut platforms
C) Drowned valleys
D) Fjords

Question 19

Littoral drift,which results in gradual sand movement down the beach in the same direction is also referred to as

A) Long shore drift.
B) Saltation.
C) Traction.
D) The Gulf Stream.

Question 20

Along an irregular coastline,areas most intensely under attack by waves are

A) Recessed bays into which breakers come rolling from far at sea.
B) Headlands projecting out into the sea.
C) Areas down-current of piers and breakwaters.
D) None of these; all points along a given coastline are affected equally.

Question 21

Sea-level rise is increased by expansion of warmed ocean water.

Question 22

A seawall or riprap barrier is effective in protecting only that section of shoreline along which it is constructed.

Question 23

When sea level rises,the rate at which the shoreline retreats landward depends partly on the slope of the beach.

Question 24

During storms,tides are often unusually high; over wash of dunes and rapid shoreline retreat are possible.

Question 25

Where ocean meets a steep rocky cliff,erosion is most rapid far below the water line,where the pressure of deep water is great.

Question 26

A storm surge results from the high air pressure associated with major storms.

Question 27

Construction on barrier islands is highly desirable because it stabilizes these islands.

Question 28

Dune rebuilding and sand replenishment are examples of Hard structural stabilization and construction of solid structures Soft structural stabilization.

Question 29

The ideal setting for constructing buildings in close proximity to an island or beach is at an elevation of approximate 5 meters or more higher than the normal high tide.

Question 30

The amount of property damage and loss of life caused by a hurricane can be estimated directly from the intensity (category)of the storm.

Question 31

Extraction of oil can lead to coastal flooding.

Question 32

Littoral drift that encounters a bay or indentation along a coast will form this

A) A spit.
B) A baymouth bar.
C) A tombolo.
D) Barrier islands.

Question 33

Salt water may contribute to rapid erosion,and thereby,result in breakup of rocky cliffs through chemical reaction with the rocks.

Question 34

Tides are mainly caused by the difference in pull of the moon's gravity on the oceans.

Question 35

Given a beach influenced by littoral drift,any interception of this drift will result in deposition of sand upstream of the interception and erosion of sand downstream of the interception.

Question 36

The rate of global sea-level rise may be accelerated through greenhouse-effect heating.

Question 37

A drowned valley is one that has been blocked by seawalls and flooded.

Question 38

An active continental margin is one at which many major storms with high storm surges occur.

Question 39

Beach sand replenishment is initially costly,but at least it is lasting; the average "life span" of a replenished beach is about 25 years.

Question 40

Where seawalls have been built,the whole beach in front of them has sometimes been eroded away.

Question 41

The best method for protecting a beach from erosion is the construction of a groin.