env geo exam 3 chap 9

Worldwide average salinity is _______.

3.5%

The largest ocean in the world in terms of area is the _______ ocean and the smallest ocean in terms of area is the ocean.

Pacific, Arctic Pacific > Atlantic > Indian > Southern > Arctic

The concentration of dissolved solids in the seawater is called_________.

Salinity

Mass wasting hazards are less likely to occur along trailing edge shorelines than along leading edge shorelines.

True

The Moon's gravitational pull on the Earth is greater than that of the Sun's.

True

Tropical cyclones originate entirely within tropical air masses.

True

What is meant by wave base?

Water depth affected by a wave

What is wave base a measure of?

Wave energy

What is meant by the term surf zone?

Zone of breaking waves

What is the problem with the use of beach groins?

Down-drift areas will experience beach starvation

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

prevailing winds and density differences of the water

Which of the following is incorrectly matched?

spring tides-high tides only

Which of the following best describes leading edge shorelines?

steep slopes, irregular coastline, restricted beaches

About 2% of the oceanic mass comprise

the mixing zone of blended solutes and temperatures

Which of the following is not true of tides?

they are produced solely by the gravitational pull of the Sun

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

wave refraction

What best explains how surf forms along a shoreline?

waves beginning to drag on the seafloor and slowing down

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

waves erode headlands and deposit sediment in coves and bays

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

Earth's spinning motion and gravitational effect of the Moon and Sun.

Which part of a hurricane consists of dry, descending air?

Eye

Although many elements are dissolved in seawater. no gases are dissolved in it.

False

As the evaporation rate increases, salinity decreases.

False

Brine water tends to occur near coastal deltas.

False

Seawater is not a solution.

False

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.

False

Why are longshore currents important in environmental geology?

cause the beach itself to migrate over time

From inland to the ocean, which sequence of zones is correct?

coast, backshore, foreshore, nearshore

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

create a quiet area to moor boats and reduce erosion

Hurricanes are a coastal hazard for all of the following reasons except

excessive beach development

The size of the contact area between the wind and water is called ______.

fetch

Brine water results from

high evaporation rates

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?

high winds and lower air pressure within the storm

Brackish water would be most likely to occur

in a deltaic swamp

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

is costly and must be done periodically

A general term for the coastal environment is

littoral zone

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

loss of the beach at high tide

Which of the following occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in alignment (i.e., in opposition or conjunction)?

maximum tidal ranges occur