Deck 10: The Coast: Beaches and Shoreline Processes

Question 1

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

Answer 1

True

Question 2

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

Answer 2

True

Question 3

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

Answer 3

True

Question 4

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 5

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 6

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

Question 7

Seawalls are quite effective at controlling beach erosion.

Question 8

The section of the coast that extend 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 9

The nearshore is equivalent to the intertidal zone.

Question 10

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

Question 11

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

Question 12

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

Question 13

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 14

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

Question 15

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

Question 16

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 17

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

Question 18

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 19

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 20

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 21

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 22

Eustatic changes in sea level might include:

A)increase 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 23

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 24

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 25

Nor'easters affect which area of the US 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 26

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 27

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 28

Which of the following landforms shows the least amount of erosion along US 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 29

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 30

Which of the following landforms shows the greatest erosion rate along US 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 31

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 32

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 33

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 34

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 35

Which US 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 36

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 37

Which of the following materials 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 38

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 39

The most common barriers constructed along a coastline are:

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

Question 40

Which US coastline has the greatest average loss due to erosion?

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

Question 41

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 42

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.