Question 1

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Question 5

What best explains how surf forms along a shoreline?

Accepted Answer

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 
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 6

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

Accepted Answer

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. 
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 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.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

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 
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 10

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?

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

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 
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 12

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

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Question 13

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?

Accepted Answer

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 
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 14

Which of the following are key characteristics of ocean waves?

Accepted Answer

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 
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 15

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

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 
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 18

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

Accepted Answer

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 
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 19

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.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Why are longshore currents important in environmental geology?

Accepted Answer

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 
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

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?

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

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

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

What best explains how surf forms along a shoreline?

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

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.

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

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

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?

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

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

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?

Which of the following are key characteristics of ocean waves?

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

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

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

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

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.

Why are longshore currents important in environmental geology?

Humans and the Geologic Environment

Earth From a Larger Perspective

Earth Materials

Earths Structure and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes and Related Hazards

Volcanoes and Related Hazards

Mass Wasting and Related Hazards

Streams and Flooding

Soil Resources

Water Resources

Mineral and Rock Resources

Conventional Fossil Fuel Resources

Alternative Energy Resources

Pollution and Waste Disposal

Global Climate Change

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Exam 9: Coastal Hazards

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?

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

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

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

What best explains how surf forms along a shoreline?

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

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.

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

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

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?

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

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

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?

Which of the following are key characteristics of ocean waves?

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

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

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

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

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.

Why are longshore currents important in environmental geology?

Humans and the Geologic Environment

Earth From a Larger Perspective

Earth Materials

Earths Structure and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes and Related Hazards

Volcanoes and Related Hazards

Mass Wasting and Related Hazards

Streams and Flooding

Soil Resources

Water Resources

Mineral and Rock Resources

Conventional Fossil Fuel Resources

Alternative Energy Resources

Pollution and Waste Disposal

Global Climate Change

Filters