Geography Recap Mini Test

Which of the following factors primarily determines the size of waves that reach a coastline?

• The amount of rainfall and temperature changes over the sea surface

• The distance over which the wind blows across open water (fetch), wind speed, and wind duration

• The type of marine life present in the area

• The water's color and clarity

The term "fetch" is best defined as:

• The height difference between high and low tide on a given coastline

• The distance over open water that the wind blows continuously without obstruction, building wave energy

• The measure of the wave's speed as it approaches the shoreline

• The amount of erosion occurring in a particular area of the coastline

What is one key difference between constructive and destructive waves?

• Constructive waves have a stronger backwash, which transports material away from the shore, while destructive waves have a stronger swash, building up the beach.

• Constructive waves have a strong swash and weak backwash, building up the beach, while destructive waves have a weak swash and strong backwash, eroding the beach.

• Both types of waves build up beaches, but constructive waves occur in stormy weather, and destructive waves occur in calm weather.

• Both wave types have equal swash and backwash, with no impact on beach formation.

Destructive waves are known for their strong backwash and high energy levels. Which of the following accurately describes their impact on coastal areas?

• They primarily deposit materials onto the shore, helping to build up sandy beaches.

• They cause significant erosion of the shoreline by removing sediment and material, often making beaches steeper.

• They are only common in areas with low tides and generally calm weather conditions.

• They are responsible for creating wide, flat beaches with large amounts of deposited material.

Attrition is one of the processes that contribute to coastal erosion. Which statement best describes how attrition affects coastal materials?

• Attrition is the dissolving of soluble rocks like limestone by seawater, weakening the shoreline.

• Attrition occurs when rocks carried by the waves collide, gradually breaking down into smaller, smoother particles.

• Attrition involves the impact of water and air forced into cracks in the rock, causing the rock to break apart over time.

• Attrition only affects the cliffs, not the material in the water, and has no effect on the beach composition.

The process of hydraulic action in coastal erosion involves which of the following?

• Water and air being forced into cracks in the rock face, creating pressure that eventually causes pieces of rock to break off.

• Large boulders being moved along the coastline by tidal waves.

• The dissolving of rock materials due to the chemical composition of seawater.

• Waves depositing materials onto the shore, creating sandy beaches.

How does wave energy differ between waves with a long fetch and waves with a short fetch?

• Waves with a longer fetch tend to lose energy before reaching the coast, leading to smaller waves.

• Waves with a longer fetch accumulate more energy due to sustained wind, often resulting in larger and more powerful waves.

• Waves with a shorter fetch travel faster and hit the coast with more force.

• Fetch does not impact wave energy; only wind speed matters.

Which of the following best describes the process of solution in coastal erosion?

• The impact of rocks and pebbles colliding with each other, breaking down into smaller fragments

• The dissolving of soluble rocks such as limestone by acidic seawater

• The movement of large rocks and sediments by strong backwash into the deeper ocean

• The process where seawater freezes and expands, breaking apart rocks

What is the primary role of constructive waves in shaping coastlines?

• They transport beach material offshore, leading to a steep and narrow shoreline.

• They deposit materials onshore, helping to build up and widen beaches.

• They cause steep cliffs to erode more rapidly through constant wave action.

• They primarily erode rocky coastlines rather than sandy beaches.

Which type of wave would you expect to be more common in calm weather conditions and why?

• Destructive waves, because they are created by low-energy conditions and low wind speeds.

• Constructive waves, because they are low-energy waves that deposit sand and materials on the shore.

• Constructive waves, because they have a strong backwash, building up coastal landforms.

• Destructive waves, because they occur when there is little wind or fetch.