Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

When waves approach the beach at an angle, their energy is directed parallel to the shoreline, creating a longshore current. This current moves sand and sediment along the coast, resulting in erosion and deposition in different areas.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Longshore drift is a current that moves sand parallel to the shoreline, not in a circular motion in the water column.

Question 3

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.
-tombolo
A)depositional shore
B)erosional shore

Accepted Answer

Tombolo is a depositional shore feature that forms when sand or sediment connects an offshore island or rock outcropping to the mainland.

Answer: B
 Erosional shore refers to a shoreline that is dominated by the actions of waves, currents, and tides causing erosion and land loss. This term is not related to tombolo.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Foreshore refers to the area of beach that is exposed at low tide and covered at high tide.

Answer: B
 Longshore drift refers to the movement of water parallel to shore within the surf zone.

Answer: C
 Young features formed by non-marine processes would not be found in the foreshore or near the ocean.

Answer: D
 The area between dunes and high marsh is known as the intertidal zone, which includes the foreshore.

Answer: E
 The offshore zone is located beyond the low-tide breakers.

Answer: F
 Swash refers to the movement of water from the offshore zone to the foreshore, while backwash moves water from the foreshore back towards the offshore zone.

Answer: G
 A delta deposit refers to sediment that is deposited at the mouth of a river.

Answer: H
 The high marsh is a type of salt marsh that is colonized by grasses and is very productive. It is not part of the foreshore.

Question 5

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.
-wave-cut cliffs
A)depositional shore
B)erosional shore

Accepted Answer

Wave-cut cliffs are formed by the erosion of waves along an erosional shore.

Answer: A
 A depositional shore is characterized by the deposition of sediment and the formation of landforms such as spits and barrier islands.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Longshore currents flow parallel to the shore within the surf zone, caused by waves hitting the shore at an angle and pushing water and sediment down the length of the beach.

Question 7

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.
-barrier island
A)depositional shore
B)erosional shore

Accepted Answer

Barrier islands are depositional shores that form offshore and parallel to the mainland coast. They are created by sediment accumulation from ocean waves and currents.

Answer: B
 Erosional shores are characterized by the gradual wearing away of the coastline by waves, currents and other ocean shore processes. Barrier islands are not erosional shores.

Question 8

The nearshore is equivalent to the intertidal zone.

Accepted Answer

The nearshore zone refers to the area of the ocean that extends from the high tide mark to where the sea floor drops steeply, whereas the intertidal zone is specifically the area between the high tide and low tide marks.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Match the term with the appropriate phrase....

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.

Accepted Answer

Erosional coasts are characterized by the landforms created by the direct action of waves and currents eroding the shoreline, such as cliffs, wave-cut platforms, and sea arches, rather than by the accumulation of materials.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

This is because summer waves tend to be gentler and deposit more sediment, while winter storms cause erosion and remove sediment from the beaches.

Question 12

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.
-sea arches
A)depositional shore
B)erosional shore

Accepted Answer

Sea arches are formed by erosion, specifically by the pounding force of waves eroding away softer rock, leaving behind a natural archway or bridge. Therefore, the appropriate phrase is "erosional shore."

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Sea caves and sea stacks are geological features that are formed by the erosion of hard bedrock near the coast. So it is more likely to occur in an area with hard bedrock. Hence, the statement is true.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

The velocity of the longshore current is influenced by various factors, including wave and wind direction, wave height and period, beach slope, and more. When wave heights are higher, they can generate stronger longshore currents by pushing more water in a specific direction, leading to higher velocities. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 15

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.
-spit
A)depositional shore
B)erosional shore

Accepted Answer

Spits are formed by the deposition of sediments, making them features of depositional shores.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The backshore is indeed 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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Waves will cause much more erosion in...

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Offshore refers to the area beyond the low-tide breakers.

Answer: F
 Offshore currents move water from the swash zone out to sea.

Answer: G
 Offshore deposits can be found at the mouth of a river.

Note: None of the other options match the definition of offshore.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Rip currents move water from the swash zone, where waves break on the beach, directly out to sea, often cutting through the lines of breaking waves.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The beach is the coastal area that is affected by surf, including the zone where waves break and the area of sand and pebbles that extends landward from the low-water mark.

Quiz 10: The Coast: Beaches and Shoreline Processes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The nearshore is equivalent to the intertidal zone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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