Deck 9: Coastal Hazards

Question 1

What is the most effective means of minimizing the structural damage that results from the high winds of a hurricane?

A) strap the roof to the frame and board the windows
B) elevate the structure and buy insurance
C) elevate the structure and board the windows
D) build a seawall and strap the roof to the frame
E) build a seawall and buy insurance

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Seawalls are commonly used to stop shoreline retreat. Which of the following is a negative consequence of building a seawall?

A) loss of the beach at high tide
B) unwanted deposition on the up-drift side
C) unwanted deposition on the down-drift side
D) are costly and must be periodically rebuilt
E) creates a beach composed of very coarse particles

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Hurricanes cause a regional rise in sea level (dome of water) that can result in a very dangerous phenomenon known as storm surge. What best explains the cause for this rise in sea level?

A) high winds and lower air pressure within the storm
B) shallow water near the shoreline
C) convergence of tides and longshore currents
D) convergence of high winds and longshore currents
E) heavy rains within the storm

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Over the past 3 million years, sea level has been as much as 400 feet lower and 100 feet higher compared to today.

Question 5

Shoreline retreat is a natural process that humans have made worse in recent years. Which of the following is NOT a major factor in the rate at which shorelines move inland?

A) coastal development
B) frequency of storms
C) sea-level rise
D) disruptions in sediment supply

Question 6

Breakwaters are commonly used in coastal engineering. What is the basic purpose of installing a breakwater?

A) create a quiet area to moor boats and reduce erosion
B) keep sediment from filling a navigational channel
C) cause sediment to be deposited on the down-drift side
D) cause sediment to be deposited on the up-drift side
E) increase the amount of sediment moving through the surf zone

Question 7

Should you ever find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip current, it is important to immediately try to swim directly back to shore.

Question 8

Which of the following is the primary mechanism that causes barrier islands to retreat (migrate) toward the shoreline?

A) storm overwash
B) tides
C) longshore currents
D) beach drift
E) rip currents

Question 9

Mass wasting hazards are less likely to occur along trailing edge (passive) shoreline than along leading edge (tectonically active) since the slopes are typically much more gentle.

Question 10

Which of the following explains why longshore currents develop along shorelines?

A) wave refraction
B) rip currents
C) tidal currents
D) offshore winds
E) underwater channels

Question 11

What best describes why irregular shorelines evolve and become straighter over time?

A) waves erode headlands and deposit sediment in coves and bays
B) plate tectonics causes uplift of the land, producing a more uniform coastline
C) waves smooth out differences in the width of the beach
D) continuous sea level rise
E) forces that result from Earth spinning on its axis

Question 12

Beach nourishment is a common technique for minimizing shoreline retreat. Which of the following is a negative consequence of beach nourishment?

A) is costly and must be done periodically
B) loss of the beach at high tide
C) unwanted deposition on the up-drift side
D) unwanted deposition on the down-drift side
E) excessive algae growth in the surf zone

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the cause of ocean tides?

A) Earth's spinning motion and gravitational effect of the Moon and Sun.
B) Earth's spinning motion and plate tectonics.
C) Plate tectonics and gravitational effect of the Moon and Sun.
D) Prevailing wind direction and gravitational effect of the Moon and Sun.
E) Prevailing wind direction and plate tectonics.

Question 14

Tsunamis can form in a variety of ways. Which of the following will NOT cause a tsunami?

A) strong winds
B) volcanic eruptions
C) landslides
D) asteroid impacts
E) earthquakes

Question 15

Which of the following are key characteristics of ocean waves?

A) energy travels horizontally and water molecules move in a circular manner
B) energy travels in a circular manner and water molecules travel horizontally
C) both water molecules and energy travel horizontally
D) waves only involve the transmission of energy
E) waves only involve the motion of water molecules

Question 16

Which of the following is the energy source that provides power for tropical storms and hurricanes?

A) warm seawater
B) converging trade winds
C) diverging ocean currents
D) converging ocean currents
E) diverging trade winds

Question 17

Currents out in the open ocean are primarily driven by which of the following?

A) prevailing winds and density differences of the water
B) prevailing winds and tides
C) shape of the shoreline and tides
D) tides and density differences of the water
E) shape of the shoreline and prevailing winds

Question 18

What best explains how surf forms along a shoreline?

A) waves beginning to drag on the seafloor and slowing down
B) waves beginning to interacting with the tides
C) waves beginning to encounter offshore winds
D) waves beginning to encounter warmer coastal waters
E) waves beginning to interact with rip currents

Question 19

There are two basic types of shorelines in terms of plate tectonics: leading edge (active) and trailing edge (passive). Which of the following best describes leading edge shorelines?

A) steep slopes, irregular coastline, restricted beaches
B) gentle slopes, straight coastline, broad beaches
C) steep slopes, straight coastline, restricted beaches
D) gentle slopes, irregular coastline, broad beaches
E) steep slopes, irregular coastline, broad beaches

Question 20

Why are longshore currents important in environmental geology?

A) cause the beach itself to migrate over time
B) pose a hazard to boats and swimmers
C) transport heat energy from the tropics to the polar regions
D) are important in the formation of offshore oil and gas deposits
E) transport nutrients that are important to fisheries