Question 1

The area where the land meets the sea is termed the:&#10;A) littoral zone&#10;B) coast&#10;C) shore&#10;D) backshore

Accepted Answer

The littoral zone is the area where the land meets the sea, encompassing the intertidal zone (the portion of the shore exposed during low tide) and the shallow offshore waters. The coast refers to the entire zone bordering the sea, including the littoral zone, as well as the land farther inland. The shore specifically refers to the zone where the waves break on the land, and the backshore is the area landward of the shoreline that is only affected by waves during storms or high tides.

Question 2

The key agents that shape coastal landforms are:&#10;A) winds&#10;B) waves&#10;C) earthquakes&#10;D) volcanoes

Accepted Answer

Waves are the primary agent that shape coastal landforms through erosion, transport, and deposition of sediment. Winds can also contribute to erosion and transport, but are not as significant as waves. Earthquakes and volcanoes may have some influence on coastal landforms, but their effects are typically localized and temporary compared to the ongoing processes of wave action.

Question 3

Large waves are generated by:&#10;A) short fetch&#10;B) short duration that wind blows&#10;C) variable wind directions&#10;D) none of these

Accepted Answer

Large waves are not generated by short fetch, short duration of wind, or variable wind directions. Instead, they typically require a long fetch (the distance over which the wind blows without interruption), a sustained wind duration, and consistent wind direction to build in size.

Question 4

The period of a wave is defined as the time required for a wavelength to pass a fixed point.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of period of a wave.

Question 5

When waves begin to interact with the seafloor:&#10;A) wavelength decreases&#10;B) wave height increases&#10;C) steepness decreases and the wave breaks&#10;D) both a and b

Accepted Answer

When waves begin to interact with the seafloor, their wavelength decreases due to the friction between the water and the seafloor, and their height increases as the energy of the wave is compressed into a smaller vertical space, leading to taller waves.

Question 6

If a wave's wave height is 10 meters and its wavelength is 20 meters, at what depth will the wave begin dragging on the ocean floor?&#10;A) 5 meters&#10;B) 10 meters&#10;C) 15 meters&#10;D) 20 meters

Accepted Answer

A wave will typically begin to drag on the ocean floor when the depth of the water is equal to half of the wavelength (L/2). In this case, L/2 = 20/2 = 10 meters, which matches the wave height. Therefore, the wave will begin dragging on the ocean floor at a depth of 10 meters.

Question 7

As a wave approaches the shoreline, its energy decreases.

Accepted Answer

As a wave approaches the shoreline, its energy does not decrease; instead, the wave height increases as the wave speed decreases due to the shallower water, concentrating the energy.

Question 8

Water moving up the beach after the wave breaks is termed:&#10;A) surf&#10;B) backwash&#10;C) breaker&#10;D) swash

Accepted Answer

The water moving up the beach after the wave breaks is called swash.

Question 9

The effect of the concentration of wave energies on headlands is to:&#10;A) make the coastline more irregular&#10;B) make the coastline straighter&#10;C) produce more sand dunes along the coast&#10;D) erode the bays

Accepted Answer

Wave energy concentrates on headlands, causing erosion that tends to straighten the coastline over time.

Question 10

Wave benches expand through these processes:&#10;A) sand deposition on the bench&#10;B) hydraulic action&#10;C) river erosion along the coast&#10;D) corrosion&#10;E) both (b) and (d)

Accepted Answer

Wave benches are formed through the processes of both hydraulic action and corrosion. Hydraulic action occurs when the force of the waves erodes the rock surface, while corrosion happens when the minerals in the rock are dissolved by the water. As deposits of sand collect on top of the bench, it can expand further. Additionally, river erosion along the coast also contributes to the formation and expansion of wave benches.

Question 11

Groins are mostly constructed to:&#10;A) stabilize beaches by lessening erosion&#10;B) to protect boats along the coast&#10;C) to prevent cliff erosion&#10;D) to produce a calm environment along the coast for organisms of the sea

Accepted Answer

The answer of Groins are mostly constructed to:&#10;A) stabilize beaches...

Question 12

Which is not a major factor in the development of tides on our planet?&#10;A) the tilt of the earth&#10;B) the rotation of earth&#10;C) the gravitational pull of the moon&#10;D) the gravitational pull of the sun

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which is not a major factor in...

Question 13

When the earth is at right angles to the moon's and sun's attraction, these will be generated.&#10;A) neap tides&#10;B) spring tides&#10;C) both a and b&#10;D) none of these

Accepted Answer

The answer of When the earth is at right angles...

Question 14

The tidal range increases _______.&#10;A) along straight beaches&#10;B) in narrow estuaries and bays&#10;C) along wide beaches&#10;D) along shallow beaches

Accepted Answer

The answer of The tidal range increases _______.&#10;A) along straight...

Question 15

Storm surges result in part from:&#10;A) strong winds associated with tsunami&#10;B) high atmospheric pressure along the coast associated with storms&#10;C) low atmospheric pressure along the coast associated with storms&#10;D) all of these

Accepted Answer

The answer of Storm surges result in part from:&#10;A) strong...

Question 16

Lake waves would be largest when:&#10;A) winds are strong and fetch is short&#10;B) winds are strong and fetch is long&#10;C) winds are weak and fetch is short&#10;D) winds are weak and fetch is long

Accepted Answer

The answer of Lake waves would be largest when:&#10;A) winds...

Deck 48: Coastal Processes