Virtual Field Trip Naxos

18,000 years ago, the central Cyclades were one island, whereas today they are separated. This could have happened because:

• of river and/or rain inundation over the years.

• of continental rifting that divided the initial island into many lesser ones.

• of eustatic sea-level rise due to glacier melting.

• the central (i.e. planar) part of the initial island was eroded.

The processes that led to the formation of this Naxian tafoni could be:

• aeolian erosion

• corrosion (chemical solution)

• wave erosion

• bioerosion (erosion through organisms)

• development of salt crystals

Would you describe these sand dunes as stabilized?

• Yes, because there is scarce vegetation and the sand is not eroded by the roots.

• No, because there is scarce vegetation and it cannot restrain the sand grains.

• No, because they are very close to the beach and the sand will therefore be eroded by wave activity.

• No, because sand dunes are dynamic landforms.

How did this tombolo form?

• It was a large sandy peninsula and it was eroded through wave activity and this spit is what remained.

• It was the boundary of a lagoon, a part of which was eroded and/or inundated, thus this spit remained.

• It formed as sand was deposited through waves and/or currents.

• It was excavated and/or the sand was removed by humans.

How would you describe the landform in the center of the picture?

• As a beachrock, formed through the cementation of the palaeo-beach, which was linear but was tectonically folded afterwards.

• As a beachrock, formed through the cementation of the palaeo-beach, which bended because there was a river delta, offering the beach sediment.

• As a beachrock, formed through the cementation of the palaeo-beach, which was connected to an adjacent island through a palaeo-tombolo.

• It was constructed by humans.

How did this coastal cliff form?

• Through wave erosion.

• Through splash (rain) erosion.

• Through landfalls/landslides.

• Through glacial erosion.

Why is this beachrock submerged?

• It formed underneath the sea-level.

• It formed underneath the bottom sediments and was later exposed.

• It is not a beachrock, but a rock which fell from the adjacent mountain.

• It formed at the sea-level and was inundated.

These are two maps of a site of Naxos, 6,000 years ago (left) and today (right). How could this difference be explained?

• The area was embanked through sediments transported from an adjacent river.

• The area was uplifted and the initial bay disappeared and was rendered inland.

• The area was embanked through sediments transported from waves and/or currents.

• The area was later filled with sediment artificially (from humans).

How did this notch form?

• It was created in this position through bioerosion by marine organisms

• It was initially created near the sea-level by wave erosion and was later submerged.

• It was initially created near the sea-level by bioerosion and was later submerged.

• It is a palaeo-surface on top of which the overlying sediments were deposited.

Which coastal feature/features protect the coastal zone from flooding due to sea level rise at Naxos?

• Beachrocks

• Sand dunes

• Lagoons