Shoreline Erosion

​Shoreline Erosion

Open Ended

Name a beach you and your family go to.

Multiple Choice

What is erosion?

• The process of building up soil, rock, or other materials through the action of wind, water, or ice.
• The process of wearing away or displacing soil, rock, or other materials through the action of wind, water, or ice.
• The process of breaking down soil, rock, or other materials through the action of plants and animals.
• The process of creating new landforms through the action of wind, water, or ice.

Multiple Choice

How does water impact erosion?

• Water carries away sediment and loosens soil particles, causing erosion.
• Water only impacts erosion in rivers and streams.
• Water helps to prevent erosion.
• Water has no impact on erosion.

How does shoreline erosion work?

Shoreline is influenced by:

• Sediment-laden riverS

• Weather patterns

• Tectonic plates

• Coastal configuration

• Beaches replenished by sediment in the river

• Dams and reservoirs disrupt sediment flow

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​Sediment-laden rivers

​​Image of sediment and pollution into the Atlantic through the Cape Fear Tributaries after Hurricane Florence.

Winds move in different directions depending on the time of year.

As winds change, so do weather patterns.

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​Weather Patterns

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• Research shows coastal bluffs and cliffs contribute to beach sand erosion.

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Tectonic Plates

Big Sur

Erosion of cliffs reduces weight of crust.

Pressure from the aesthenosphere occurs simultaneously.

Together this keeps cliffs afloat along boundaries. (isostacy)

While cliffs are caused by boundary collision (subduction), the east coast is an extension of the continental shelf.

Coastline differences

Prevailing winds cause waves to move onto the beach at an angle (longshore current).

Longshore current causes sand to be suspended and then shifted in a zigzag pattern down the beach (beach drift).

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Coastal Configuration

​Orientation (direction) of beaches impact the intensity of erosion.

For example: Beaches facing south are more likely to experience greater shoreline erosion during northerly traveling hurricanes.

In summer, the beach widens because lower waves cause a build up of sand.

In winter, higher waves increase sand which narrows the beach.

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Multiple Select

Which of the following factors affect beach erosion?

• Proximity to sediment-laden rivers

• Presence of coral reefs

• Prevailing wind and weather patterns

• Distance from the equator

Multiple Select

What is the impact of seasonal changes in wind and weather patterns on shoreline erosion?

• It has no impact on shoreline erosion

• It widens the beach during winter

• It narrows the beach during summer

• It creates sand dunes for Ford trucks to drive on.

Multiple Choice

How do prevailing winds affect beach erosion?

• By pushing sand and sediment away from the beach
• By creating a barrier that prevents sand from reaching the beach
• By causing waves to crash onto the beach
• By pulling sand and sediment towards the beach

Multiple Choice

How does winter weather affect beaches?

• It increases sand erosion which narrows the beach.

• It increases beach attendance, improves the sand composition, and prevents erosion.
• It has no effect on beaches.
• It causes the water to recede and exposes more beach area.

Hard Stabilization:

Hard stabilization structures are designed to protect the coast against the force of breaking waves.

• Barriers built at a right angle to the beach

• Trap sand

​Groins

• ​Barriers built offshore and parallel to the coast

• Protects boats from the force of large breaking waves

​Breakwaters

• ​Armors the coast against the force of breaking waves

• Stops waves from reaching the beach areas behind the wall

Seawalls

Beach Nourishment

• Process of adding sand or sediment to beaches to combat erosion.

• Common method used to protect coastlines from large breaking waves.

• It is not always effective in the long term as the added sand can be washed away by the waves over time.

• Barriers built offshore and parallel to the coast are more effective in protecting against large breaking waves.

Multiple Choice

Which method is often ineffective in protecting against large breaking waves?

• Barriers built offshore and parallel to the coast

• Beach nourishment

• Relocating buildings away from the beach

• Off-shore Fracking

Multiple Choice

What is a seawall?

• A type of boat used for fishing.
• A structure built to attract marine life for conservation purposes.
• A type of seaweed found in the ocean.
• A structure built along the shoreline to protect land from erosion and flooding caused by waves and tides.

Multiple Choice

Why don't all beaches receive nourishment even if they need it?

• Beaches do not need nourishment
• There is no available sand for nourishment
• Beaches receive natural nourishment
• Transporting and depositing sand can be expensive and time-consuming

Multiple Choice

What is longshore current?

• A current that flows away from the shore
• A current that flows towards the shore
• A current that flows perpendicular to the shore
• A current that flows diagonalto the shore

Multiple Select

What are the highest uses of water in the United States?

• industrial use

• Thermoelectric power

• agriculture

• residential

Multiple Choice

What is not a function of wetlands?

• Watershed maintenance

• Carbon dioxide emission
• Habitat for wildlife
• Water purification

Multiple Choice

Cryptosporidium is what type of pollutant?

• biological

• inorganic

• physical

• organic

Multiple Choice

What is beach nourishment?

• The process of removing sand or sediment from a beach to combat erosion and decrease its width.
• The process of adding sand or sediment to a beach to combat erosion and increase its width.
• The process of adding rocks or concrete to a beach to combat erosion and increase its stability.
• The process of adding plants or vegetation to a beach to combat erosion and increase its biodiversity.

Multiple Choice

How do wetlands protect against floods?

• By absorbing and storing excess water during heavy rainfall, and releasing it slowly to reduce the risk of floods downstream.
• By increasing the flow of water downstream
• By creating more channels for water to flow through
• By blocking the flow of water and causing more flooding

Multiple Choice

What is grey water not used for?

• Washing clothes

• Irrigation
• Cooking
• Drinking water

Multiple Choice

What is not a method of collecting rainwater?

• Rain barrels

• Cisterns

• Reservoirs

• Water Treatment Plants

Multiple Choice

What are sea groins?

• Structures built to trap sand and prevent erosion
• Structures built to trap fish and prevent erosion
• Structures built to trap water and prevent erosion
• Structures built to trap oil and prevent erosion