Sedimentary Environments Near Shorelines

Sedimentary Environments Near Shorelines

Section 7.2

Beaches

Stretch of coastline in which sediment has accumulated, consisting of sand, shells and gravel.

Lagoon

A sheltered body of water, commonly shallow, warm and calm.

Reef

An area where the ocean water is clear, shallow and warm. Marine organisms and corals live and construct these structures to protect the shoreline from big waves and erosion.

Continental Shelves and Slopes

An offshore area consisting of layers of mud, sand and carbonate minerals. Commonly on the steep slopes landslides or turbidity currents carry massive amounts of sediment into deeper waters.

Multiple Choice

An underwater landslide down the continental slope is called a

• avalanche

• turbidity current

Coastal Dunes

Found slightly inland from the beach, these form where sand and finer sediment are blown or washed inland and reshaped by the wind.

Tidal Flats

Low shoreline areas that are flooded during high tide and exposed during low tide. Commonly covered by mud, sand or evaporite minerals like salt.

Submarine Delta

The muddy or sandy extension of a delta that extends several kilometers into the sea.

Barrier Islands

Formed from accumulations of sand that rise above the shallow coastal water. Most are long and narrow only a few miles from the shore and protect it from large waves and erosion.

Multiple Choice

Identify this sedimentary environment described as a sheltered body of water, commonly shallow, warm and calm.

• tidal flat

• reef

• lagoon

Multiple Choice

Found slightly inland from the beach, these form where sand and finer sediment are blown or washed inland and reshaped by the wind.

• beach

• coastal dune

• barrier island

Multiple Choice

Low shoreline areas that are flooded during high tide and exposed during low tide. Commonly covered by mud, sand or evaporite minerals like salt.

• tidal flat

• salt marsh

• delta

Multiple Choice

Formed from accumulations of sand that rise above the shallow coastal water. Most are long and narrow only a few miles from the shore and protect it from large waves and erosion.

• beaches

• barrier islands

• reef

Multiple Choice

An area where the ocean water is clear, shallow and warm. Marine organisms and corals live and construct these structures to protect the shoreline from big waves and erosion.

• continental shelf

• lagoon

• reef

Multiple Choice

The muddy or sandy extension of a delta that extends several kilometers into the sea.

• submarine delta

• reef

• continental slope

Multiple Choice

Stretch of coastline in which sediment has accumulated, consisting of sand, shells and gravel.

• barrier island

• tidal flat

• beach