GEO Part 1 Final Exam

Salinity is affected by?

1. Atmospheric Conditions 2. Freshwater Inputs 3. Equatorial Precipitation 4. Subtropical Evaporation

Barrier beaches and islands occur worldwide, lying offshore of nearly ________ of Earth's coastlines. A) 10 percent B) 25 percent C) 50 percent D) 70 percent E) 90 percent

A) 10 percent

Seawater that exceeds the 35‰ average is termed A) saline. B) freshwater. C) brackish. D) mesohaline. E) brine.

E) brine.

Wave

undulations of ocean water produced by the conversion of solar energy to wave energy.

Coastal Straightening

wave action generally produces

Which of the following is not an example of an erosional coastal landform? A) notched cliff B) sea terrace C) sea arch D) tombolo E) wave-cut platform

D) tombolo

Jetties

block material from harbor entrances

What are the 4 Coastal Hazards?

1. Beach Erosion 2. Sea Level Change 3. Storm Surge 4. Tsunami

What is Coral Atoll Formation?

1. Fringing 2. Barrier 3. Atoll

What are the Coastal Components?

1. Shoreline 2. Mean Sea Level 3. Littoral Zone

Shoreline

contact line between sea and land

Sea Cliffs

formed by the undercutting action of the sea

Ocean Acidification

increasing acid component of ocean water caused by absorption of excess carbon dioxide

At the peak of the Pleistocene glaciation, sea level was ________ than today. A) 130 m (430 ft) higher B) 130 m (430 ft) lower C) 65 m (215 ft) higher D) 26 m (85 ft) higher E) 65 m (215 ft) lower

B) 130 m (430 ft) lower

The worldwide average salinity of seawater is A) 5‰. B) 35‰. C) 45‰. D) 55‰. E) 75‰.

B) 35‰.

What is a local sand dune example?

West Molokaʻi

Tides

daily oscillations in sea level caused by gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon

Eolian

erosion, transport and deposition of materials by wind

What are the Coastal System Inputs?

1. Solar Energy 2. Atmospheric Winds 3. Climate 4. Human Activities

What is a living coastal environment?

Coral

Which of the following occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in alignment (i.e., in opposition or conjunction)? A) Ebb tides occur. B) A lower tidal range occurs. C) Neap tides occur. D) A higher tidal range occurs. E) No tidal bulges occur.

D) A higher tidal range occurs.

Which of the following is not true of the inputs to Earth's coastal environments? A) Coastal geomorphology are important in determining rates of erosion and deposition. B) Atmospheric winds generate ocean currents and waves. C) Solar energy inputs drive prevailing winds, weather systems, and climates. D) Compared to other inputs, human activities are insignificant coastal inputs. E) Climate strongly influences coastal geomorphic processes.

D) Compared to other inputs, human activities are insignificant coastal inputs.

Which of the following is incorrect regarding the littoral zone? A) Seaward it extends to where water is too deep for storm waves to move sediments. B) Landward, it extends to the highest waterline reached on shore during a storm. C) It shifts over time as sea level varies. D) In general usage, it only includes the near shore area of coastal environments. E) It spans both land and water.

D) In general usage, it only includes the near shore area of coastal environments.

What is one Hawaii Beach Erosion Management?

Hilo Bay breakwater completed in 1929.

Longshore/ Littoral Drift

Materials transported in the current can move a large amount of sediment

What is the distribution of living coral?

Observations of environment within distribution of Coral: Depth: to 10-55 m Salinity: 27 to 40 ppt Temperature:18 to 29°C

Spring Tides

Sun and Moon in line with Earth produces a large tidal bulge.

Neap Tides

Sun and Moon perpendicular to Earth produces smaller tides.

Wave Refraction

along an irregular coastline redistributes energy

Depositional Coastlines

are generally located in tectonically stable areas of gentle relief with numerous sources of sediment

Mean Sea Level

average of hourly tidal levels over a long time period

Ocean

bodies of salt water that surrounds the earth's major land masses

Coral Bleaching

breakdown of the symbiosis between algae and coral

Is composition is uniform/variable?

chemical composition of sea water is quite uniform.

Dust

common in the atmosphere, distributed around the world.

Is concentration is uniform/variable?

concentration is somewhat variable.

Salinity

concentration of natural elements and compounds dissolved in solution

Dune

depositional feature of sand grains deposited in transient mounds, ridges, or hills

Beach

portion of the coastline where an accumulation of sediment is in motion

Sea Stacks

produced by the on-going erosion of headlands

Breakwaters

reduce wave energy on beaches

Swells

regular patterns of smooth rounded waves on the open ocean

Deep Cool Zone

remains near freezing as a result of salinity and pressure.

Ventifact

rock etched and smoothed by eolian erosion

Erosional Coastlines

rugged, with high relief and are tectonically active (eg. west coast of North America)

Groins

slow longshore drift along the coast

Coral

small simple marine invertebrate that is symbiotic with algae

Sea

smaller division of an ocean that is partially or largely enclosed by land

Littoral Zone

the coastal environment; between storm high-water line and the max. depth that storms can move ocean sediments (~60m)

Fetch

the length of open water along the direction of wind (greater fetch equals greater wave height)

Breaker

the point where a waves height exceeds its vertical stability and the wave breaks.

Thermocline

transition zone is 1 km deep and relatively still (friction depth dampens surface currents)

Number of elements that account for ___% of all dissolved ions in seawater

7 elements account for more than 99% of all dissolved ions.

What is the difference between an ocean and a sea? A) Seas are generally smaller than an ocean and tend to be at least partly enclosed by land, such as large, inland, saline water bodies. B) An ocean is a vast body of water encompassing 70% of the Earth, whereas a sea refers specifically to a large, inland, saline body of water. C) The term ocean is used in the Northern Hemisphere, and sea is used in the Southern Hemisphere, so the difference results from geographical location. D) Oceans tend to be composed primarily of salt water, while seas tend to be composed of a near even mixture of brackish and fresh water. E) The term sea is used to describe the global, interconnected water body covering 70% of the Earth's surface, whereas oceans refer to the individual basins within this global sea.

A) Seas are generally smaller than an ocean and tend to be at least partly enclosed by land, such as large, inland, saline water bodies.

Which of the following is not correct regarding tides? A) They are produced solely by the gravitational pull of the Sun. B) They are influenced by shoreline configuration and latitude. C) They are influenced by the size, depth, and topography of ocean basins. D) They also exist in large lakes, though often indistinguishable from movement of windblown water. E) They are complex twice daily oscillations in sea level.

A) They are produced solely by the gravitational pull of the Sun.

Particles of sand, gravels, and shells that move along the shore in a process called A) beach drift. B) translation effect. C) breaking. D) longshore stacking. E) wave cutting.

A) beach drift.

Within the mixing zone and thermocline, average temperature and salinity primarily A) decrease with depth. B) increase with depth. C) decrease within the mixing zone, but increases within the thermocline. D) remain fairly constant with depth. E) remains constant within the mixing zone, but increases within the thermocline.

A) decrease with depth.

Within the deep cold zone, average temperature and salinity A) remain fairly constant with depth. B) decreases and then increases just above the seafloor. C) increase with depth. D) increases and decreases, respectively. E) decrease with depth.

A) remain fairly constant with depth.

Which of the following is not an example of a depositional coastal landform? A) sea arch B) bay barrier C) tidal inlet D) barrier spit E) wave-built terrace

A) sea arch

Regular patterns of smooth, rounded waves are called A) swells. B) wave ripples. C) wave trains. D) breakers. E) tidal bulges.

A) swells.

Sudden motion in the seafloor from an earthquake, landslide, or volcano create waves with wavelengths exceeding 100 km (60 mi) called A) tsunamis. B) rip currents. C) tides. D) breakers. E) tidal bore.

A) tsunamis.

Which of the following is correct regarding mean sea level? A) A consistent value has yet to be determined due to all the variables involved in producing the tides. B) It is calculated based on average tidal levels recorded hourly at a given site over a period of many years. C) It has very little variability across all ocean basins and, therefore, is treated as an absolute value. D) It is at the same level along the entire western North American coast. However, it has far greater variability along the Eastern seaboard. E) While there are daily fluctuations due to waves, tides, air temperature, and gravity, over the long term, it is constant enabling scientist to determine a single value thereof.

B) It is calculated based on average tidal levels recorded hourly at a given site over a period of many years.

Beaches are A) places where sediment is stable and unchanging. B) places along the coast where sediment is in motion. C) always composed of sand. D) permanent coastal features. E) the near coastal area that ranges from the high tide point to the highest on shore waterline.

B) places along the coast where sediment is in motion.

When the Sun and Moon are on the same side Earth or on opposite sides of earth, the ________ occurs and results in the ________ tidal range between low and high tides. A) neap tides; greatest B) spring tides; greatest C) spring tides; lowest D) tidal bore; lowest E) neap tides; lowest

B) spring tides; greatest

Which of the following is true of the chemical composition of seawater? A) The chemical properties of seawater show very little latitudinal variability, though some minor variability with depth. B) Samples of ancient seawater suggest a great deal of chemical variation over the Earth's history. C) Seawater contains dissolved gases, suspended and dissolved organic matter, and many trace elements. D) Eighteen elements account for 75% of the dissolved matter in seawater. E) The highest salinity values of seawater are found near landmasses and at higher latitudes.

C) Seawater contains dissolved gases, suspended and dissolved organic matter, and many trace elements.

Long, narrow depositional features of sand that form offshore roughly parallel to the coast are called A) baymouth bar. B) groins. C) barrier beaches. D) tidal inlet. E) tombolos.

C) barrier beaches.

Material deposited in a long ridge extending out from a coast and partially blocking the mouth of a bay is called a A) wave cut platform. B) lagoon. C) barrier spit. D) tombolo. E) barrier island.

C) barrier spit.

Seawater with less than 35‰ is termed A) metahaline. B) freshwater. C) brackish. D) saline. E) brine.

C) brackish.

When the height of a wave exceeds its vertical stability, the wave is called a A) tidal wave. B) wave of transition. C) breaker. D) rip current. E) wave train.

C) breaker.

The height of a tsunami grows as it approaches a coastline primarily because A) the coastline is typically lower than sea level. B) its energy level increases. C) its wavelength shortens. D) of the Coriolis force. E) the height of the surf is added to the height of the tsunami.

C) its wavelength shortens.

A shallow saltwater body cut off from the ocean by a bay barrier is known as a A) baymouth bar. B) wave-built terrace. C) lagoon. D) tombolo. E) barrier spit.

C) lagoon.

A multiple terraces results from A) undercutting action along an emergent coastline. B) collapse of a sea arch. C) lowering sea level or tectonic uplift. D) a tsunami. E) beach drift.

C) lowering sea level or tectonic uplift.

When the Sun and Moon form a right angle with Earth, the ________ occurs and results in the ________ tidal range between low and high tides. A) spring tides; lowest B) tidal bore; highest C) neap tides; lowest D) neap tides; greatest E) spring tides; greatest

C) neap tides; lowest

Increasing ocean acidification has been attributed to A) changes in thermohaline circulation associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. B) higher evaporation rates associated with climate change. C) ocean absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide. D) freshwater inputs from melting ice. E) coastal erosion caused by changes in stream flow and increased precipitation.

C) ocean absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Which of the following region would you expect to have the highest levels of seawater salinity? A) equatorial oceans B) polar oceans. C) subtropical oceans D) subarctic oceans E) midlatitude oceans

C) subtropical oceans

Which of the following is true of Earth's coastlines? A) There are few inputs that directly affect the Earth's coastlines beyond tidal action. B) The erosion and deposition that shapes coastlines is caused by marine forces, alone. C) The Earth's coastline show a remarkable degree of similarity across the planet. D) Most of the Earth's coastlines are relatively young and undergoing continuous change. E) The Earth's coastlines are among the oldest landforms on the planet.

D) Most of the Earth's coastlines are relatively young and undergoing continuous change.

Which of the following statements is true about seawater? A) The salinity of seawater is negligible. B) Seawater is pure water (H20). C) Seawater is densest near the surface, with decreasing density at increasing depths. D) Seawater is a solution. E) The chemical composition of seawater has little spatial variability.

D) Seawater is a solution.

Which of the following is true regarding wave movement in open water? A) waves are closer spaced and typically higher than those near shore. B) water particles are vertically compressed, causing friction with the ocean floor C) the crest of the wave rises to a height that exceeds its vertical stability, leading to breakers. D) Water doesn't advance, rather wave energy moves through the fluid medium of water. E) the greatest motion of individual water particles at depths greater than one -half the wave length.

D) Water doesn't advance, rather wave energy moves through the fluid medium of water.

If the material deposited in a long ridge extending out from a coast grows to completely cut off the bay from an ocean, it become a A) stack. B) tombolo. C) lagoon. D) bay barrier. E) barrier spit.

D) bay barrier.

Estimates of future sea level rise are mostly attributable to A) thermal expansion of warming seawater only. B) tectonic forces only. C) losses in glacial ice only. D) both losses in glacial ice and thermal expansion of warming seawater. E) glacial ice, thermal expansion of warming seawater, and tectonic forces.

D) both losses in glacial ice and thermal expansion of warming seawater.

The coast extends inland A) to the foreshore dune. B) to the trough between the primary and secondary dune. C) to the backshore dune. D) from the high tide level to the first major landform change. E) to the highest water line that occurs during a storm.

D) from the high tide level to the first major landform change.

Brine water may results from A) the influx of river water into the ocean. B) melting of sea ice. C) stagnation of water in a floodplain swamp. D) high evaporation rates. E) heavy rainfall and low temperatures.

D) high evaporation rates.

In which of the following areas would one expect to find lower than average seawater salinity? A) in areas with low evaporation only B) at lower latitudes, particular in subtropical high regions, only C) near landmasses only D) near landmasses and in areas with low evaporation E) near landmasses, in areas with low evaporation, and at lower latitudes

D) near landmasses and in areas with low evaporation

Large, storm generated waves that radiate outward in all directions across the ocean are known as A) swells. B) ripples. C) breakers. D) wave trains. E) tidal bores.

D) wave trains.

On average, how many oil-releasing accidents occur worldwide each year? A) 27 B) 175 C) 2,250 D) 5,732 E) 10,000

E) 10,000

Which of the following affect the chemical composition of seawater? A) bottom sediments only B) atmosphere only C) living organisms only D) minerals only E) atmosphere, minerals, bottom sediments, and living organisms

E) atmosphere, minerals, bottom sediments, and living organisms

Which of the following marine typically results from tectonic forces and uneven erosion? A) gulfs only B) coves only C) bays only D) both coves and bays E) coves, bays, and gulfs

E) coves, bays, and gulfs

Over the past decade, the salinity of high-latitude oceans has ________ due to________. A) increased; higher evaporation rates associated with climate change B) declined; coastal erosion caused by changes in stream flow and increased precipitation C) increased; changes in thermohaline circulation associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation D) increased; ocean absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide and associated coral die off E) declined; freshwater inputs from melting ice

E) declined; freshwater inputs from melting ice

On average, the beach zone spans the area A) from the high tide point to the highest on shore waterline. B) from the high tide line during a spring tide to the low tide line during a neap tide. C) between high and low neap tides. D) between high and low spring tides. E) from several meters above high tide to several meters below low tide.

E) from several meters above high tide to several meters below low tide.

A general term for the coastal area and shallow offshore environment is A) shoreline. B) coastline. C) coast. D) mixing zone. E) littoral zone.

E) littoral zone.

On average, ocean water is A) moderately acidic (a pH slightly less than 6) B) very acidic (low pH) C) very basic (high pH) D) neutral (pH range 6.6 to 7.3) E) moderately basic (a pH slightly higher than 8)

E) moderately basic (a pH slightly higher than 8)

Undercutting action of the sea results in A) lagoons. B) sea terrace. C) barrier splits. D) tombolos. E) sea cliffs.

E) sea cliffs.

A ________ is deposited sediment that connects a shoreline with an offshore island. A) barrier spit B) lagoon C) bay barrier D) beach E) tombolo

E) tombolo

An earthquake, a submarine landslide, or an eruption of an undersea volcano is capable of producing a A) breaker. B) slow-moving giant swell. C) wave in the open ocean of great height. D) tidal wave. E) tsunami.

E) tsunami.

A longshore current involves all of the following except A) effective wave direction. B) transportation of large amounts of sediment and debris. C) effective wind direction. D) depositional coastline features. E) waves of transition.

E) waves of transition.

Longshore Current

Waves are refracted as the wave slows in shallow water and generate a zig-zag current parallel the coast

Gulf

a large arm of the ocean that is enclosed by land between two headlands (larger than a bay)

Tsunami

a seismic sea wave, traveling at high speeds across the ocean, formed by sudden and sharp motion of the seafloor, e.g. earthquakes, landslides