Question 1

Briefly explain what the effects of rising sea level are on the barrier islands along the United States coastlines,and why coastal communities are concerned.

Accepted Answer

Rising sea levels cause erosion,shoreward migration of barrier islands,and even submergence of barrier islands.This is of concern because so many expensive properties are located on barrier islands,and barrier islands protect the mainland from erosion and flooding and are a part of the natural coastal wetland habitat.

Question 2

What are some depositional features of shorelines?

Accepted Answer

beaches,spits,baymouth bars,barrier islands

Question 3

What three factors interact to create rip currents?

Accepted Answer

wave refraction,longshore currents,and surf zone backwash

Question 4

Why are waves in ponds and lakes smaller than those in oceans?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are waves in ponds and lakes...

Question 5

Nearly all beach sand is quartz.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The aphotic zone is

Accepted Answer

A)   a thin layer, about 100 m or less.
B)   organic substances rain down from the photic zone.
C)   where plants receive enough light to photosynthesize.
D)   all of these.

Question 7

The apparent deflection of a moving object from its anticipated course resulting from Earth's rotation is called _______ _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The apparent deflection of a moving object...

Question 8

How are most waves generated?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How are most waves generated?...

Question 9

Vertical ocean circulation,in which water moves from deep to shallow,is called

Accepted Answer

A)   surface currents.
B)   deep currents.
C)   downwelling.
D)   upwelling.

Question 10

Briefly explain how a tombolo forms.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly explain how a tombolo forms....

Question 11

The bending of waves toward shore as they approach from an oblique angle is called wave ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The bending of waves toward shore as...

Question 12

What options do geologists and engineers have in combating the effects of rising sea level?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What options do geologists and engineers have...

Question 13

The amount of oil from U.S.production that comes from the Gulf of Mexico is

Accepted Answer

A)   10%
B)   30%
C)   65%
D)   100%

Question 14

If hydraulic action and abrasion undercut headlands,structures known as ____________________ may form.When these join they form a(n)____________________,which might later collapse to give a(n)____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If hydraulic action and abrasion undercut headlands,structures...

Question 15

What is wave base,and how deep is it?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is wave base,and how deep is...

Question 16

A beach with a small berm,coarser sediment,and offshore sand bars is a(n)____.

Accepted Answer

A)   summer beach
B)   winter beach
C)   high energy beach
D)   tide-dominated beach
E)   sediment-poor beach

Question 17

The saltiness of seawater has been a state of dynamic equilibrium for at least 1.5 billion years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

How does wave behavior on lakes differ from that of seas?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does wave behavior on lakes differ...

Question 19

What caused the bulk of the damage that was done by Hurricane Katrina to the City of New Orleans? Why was New Orleans so vulnerable?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What caused the bulk of the damage...

Question 20

What is a coast that is straight and has marine terraces called?

Accepted Answer

A)   depositional coast
B)   erosional coast
C)   submergent coast
D)   emergent coast
E)   none of these

Exam 16: Oceans, Shorelines, and Shoreline Processes