Beach Processes and Sand Budget Quiz

What is the term for the movement of sand along the beach when waves move at an angle to the coast?

• Swash

• Backwash

• Longshore current

• Sand budget

Which process moves waves and sand up the beach?

• Backwash

• Swash

• Destructive waves

• Equilibrium

What is the main difference between constructive and destructive waves?

• Constructive waves remove sand, destructive waves add sand

• Constructive waves add sand, destructive waves remove sand

• Both add sand to the beach

• Both remove sand from the beach

What does the term "sand budget" refer to in a beach system?

• The amount of water in the ocean

• The amount of sand coming in and out of a beach system

• The number of waves per hour

• The temperature of the sand

A sand budget that has a balanced expense and income is said to be in what state?

• Erosion

• Deposition

• Equilibrium

• Saturation

If a beach is experiencing more backwash than swash, what is likely to happen to the sand on the beach?

• The sand will increase

• The sand will remain the same

• The sand will decrease

• The sand will turn into rocks

Why is it important for a beach system to maintain its sand budget in equilibrium?

• To prevent the beach from becoming too hot

• To ensure the beach does not erode or grow excessively

• To increase the number of waves

• To attract more tourists

What is coastal erosion?

• The permanent removal of all or parts of a coastline

• The temporary flooding of a coastline

• The building up of sand dunes

• The movement of fish along the coast

What causes water to form waves that push in a certain direction?

• Wind

• Rain

• Tides

• Earthquakes

What happens when large waves hit the shoreline?

• They erode the sand, creating an eroding beach

• They deposit rocks, creating a rocky beach

• They increase the temperature of the sand

• They make the water saltier