Coastal and Oceanography Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What type of current is caused by waves breaking at an angle to the shoreline?

  • Tidal current
  • Longshore current (correct)
  • Rip current
  • Surface current

Which feature is formed by waves eroding the rock through a headland?

  • Sea cave
  • Sea arch (correct)
  • Wave-cut cliff
  • Sea stack

What primarily causes the periodic rise and fall of the ocean surface known as tides?

  • The Earth’s rotation
  • Ocean currents
  • The gravitational pull of the moon and the sun (correct)
  • Wind patterns

Which of the following features is not a type of coastal deposition?

<p>Sea cave (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which coastal feature is characterized as a steep cliff formed by wave action?

<p>Wave-cut cliff (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does porosity refer to in soil or rock?

<p>The percentage of volume that is composed of pores (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which material is likely to have the highest permeability?

<p>Loosely packed sand (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines the water table in relation to groundwater?

<p>The top boundary of the unsaturated zone (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes the zone of saturation?

<p>Water completely fills the pore space in this zone. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Aquifers are best characterized as:

<p>Bodies of permeable rock that store groundwater (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the five major oceans?

<p>Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, Antarctic (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main types of seawater movement?

<p>Waves (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do ocean waves change as they approach the shore?

<p>They change from circular to elliptical motion. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What forms when groundwater flows to the surface due to pressure?

<p>An artesian well (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which shoreline characteristic is primarily shaped by waves?

<p>Rocky cliffs and sandy beaches (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are cirque lakes formed from?

<p>Meltwater filling glacial depressions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that promotes slope failure in mass wasting?

<p>The reduction of friction due to water (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of mass wasting involves rapid downslope movement of water-saturated soil?

<p>Mudflow (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are lateral and terminal moraines formed from?

<p>Ridges of till deposited by glaciers (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does creep differ from other types of mass wasting?

<p>It involves very slow, imperceptible movement. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of a temperature inversion?

<p>Inverted lapse rate (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which climate type is associated with tropical wet and dry conditions?

<p>Tropical (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Under normal atmospheric conditions, what happens to the temperature with increasing altitude?

<p>It decreases (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of climate listed in the content?

<p>Desert (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of a temperature inversion on emitted hot gases?

<p>They remain stagnant below the inversion layer (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of mechanical weathering?

<p>It breaks down rocks without altering their chemical composition. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors does NOT affect the rate of weathering?

<p>Plant growth (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which agent of erosion is associated with the downslope movement of soil and rock?

<p>Gravity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which category of hurricane has wind speeds of 96-110 mph and causes extensive damage?

<p>Category 2 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of weathering involves the reaction of rocks with water changing their chemical composition?

<p>Chemical weathering (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which environmental factor strongly influences both mechanical and chemical weathering processes?

<p>Temperature (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of air pollution?

<p>Industrial processes and combustion (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a Hurricane Watch indicate?

<p>Hurricane conditions are possible in the next 24-36 hours (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which category of hurricane is characterized by wind speeds of more than 155 mph?

<p>Category 5 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during a temperature inversion?

<p>Temperature increases with altitude (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of a thunderstorm?

<p>Heavy localized downpour (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does lightning travel?

<p>At the speed of light (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What atmospheric condition characterizes ice storms?

<p>Rain freezing upon contact with the ground (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a Tornado Watch indicate?

<p>Tornadoes may form due to atmospheric conditions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of a blizzard?

<p>High winds and low temperatures (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which EF Scale number indicates 'total destruction'?

<p>EF5 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Pineapple Express known for?

<p>Bringing moisture from the Pacific to the west coast (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of death during hurricanes?

<p>Drowning due to storm surge. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

At what wind speed does a tropical storm become a hurricane?

<p>119 km/h (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which location has the highest frequency of tornadoes?

<p>United States and Australia. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a Tornado Warning signify?

<p>A tornado has been sighted or indicated on radar. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is described as a dome of water accompanying a hurricane at landfall?

<p>Storm surge (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which EF Scale number indicates 'considerable damage'?

<p>EF1 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the portion of a stream's load that consists of minerals and elements carried in solution?

<p>Dissolved load (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process occurs on the outside of a meander loop due to faster water current?

<p>Erosion (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is formed when an entire meander loop is cut off from the main stream?

<p>Oxbow lake (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of glacier covers most of Greenland and Antarctica?

<p>Continental glacier (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the amphitheater-like depression called that is carved out by cirque glaciers?

<p>Cirque (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Longshore Current

A current that flows parallel to the shoreline, caused by waves breaking at an angle to the shore.

Tides

Periodic rise and fall of ocean water caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and, to a lesser degree, the sun.

Sea Arch

A passageway carved through a headland by wave erosion, often formed by the joining of two sea caves.

Sea Cave

A hollow cavity eroded into a cliff face by wave action, often forming the starting point for a sea arch.

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Wave-Cut Cliff

A steep cliff formed by wave erosion, marking the boundary between the land and the ocean.

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Artesian Well

A well where groundwater flows to the surface due to its own pressure.

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Seawater Movement Types

The three main types of seawater movement are waves, currents, and tides.

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Ocean Wave Formation

Ocean waves are generated by the interaction of wind and the water's surface.

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Wave Movement Near Shore

As waves approach the shore, their circular motion transforms to an elliptical shape, and the wave crest moves forward.

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Coastal Shoreline Variety

Coastal shorelines can range from rocky cliffs to sandy beaches.

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Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous movement of water between Earth's major water reservoirs, including oceans, atmosphere, land, and rivers.

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Porosity

The percentage of empty space (pores) within a rock, sediment, or soil. It determines how much water the material can hold.

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Permeability

How easily water flows through a material. It depends on the size, number, and interconnectedness of pores.

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Zone of Aeration

The area above the water table, where air partially or fully fills the pores.

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Aquifer

Underground rock formation that stores and transmits groundwater. Examples include sand, gravel, and porous sedimentary rocks.

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Mass Wasting

The downslope movement of rock and soil due to gravity. Friction opposes this movement.

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How does water affect mass wasting?

Water increases the weight of soil and rock, and decreases friction between particles, making slopes more likely to fail.

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Landslide

Rapid downslope movement of large blocks of weathered materials.

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Mudflow

Rapid downslope movement of soil that has absorbed a lot of water and become unstable.

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Creep

Very slow, almost imperceptible movement of debris down a slope. Its effects are seen over many years.

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Stream Load

The material carried by a stream, divided into dissolved load (dissolved minerals), suspended load (fine particles), and bed load (larger grains rolling along the bottom).

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Meander

A loop-like bend in a stream, caused by the faster current eroding the outer bank and the slower current depositing sediment on the inner bank.

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Oxbow Lake

A crescent-shaped lake formed when a meander is cut off from the main stream, creating a separate body of water.

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Delta

A fan-shaped deposit of sediment at the mouth of a river, formed as the stream's velocity slows down and deposits its load.

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Cirque Glacier

A small glacier found in a hollow depression in a mountain region, carving out an amphitheater-like shape as it flows.

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Temperature Inversion

A condition where air temperature increases with increasing altitude, unlike the normal decrease. This prevents hot gases from rising.

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Normal Lapse Rate

The typical decrease in air temperature as altitude increases. Hot gases usually rise due to this pattern.

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Climate

The long-term average weather conditions of a region, including temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns.

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Tropical Climate

Characterized by consistently warm temperatures and high humidity, with two subtypes: Tropical wet and Tropical wet and dry.

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Polar Climate

Extremely cold temperatures and long, dark winters, with subtypes including tundra, ice cap, and highlands.

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Thunderstorm

A rainstorm characterized by lightning and thunder, often accompanied by heavy rain and hail.

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Lightning

A large discharge of electrical energy occurring between clouds or between a cloud and the ground.

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How to Determine Lightning Distance

The distance of lightning can be calculated based on the time delay between seeing the flash and hearing the thunder.

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Ice Storm

A severe weather event where rain freezes upon contact with the surface, creating a layer of ice on objects.

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Snowstorm

A weather event characterized by significant snowfall, often accompanied by strong winds and low temperatures.

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What is mechanical weathering?

The breakdown of rocks without changing their chemical composition. This happens through physical forces like freezing water expanding and breaking rocks or plant roots growing into cracks.

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What is chemical weathering?

The chemical composition of rocks changes. This happens when water reacts with the rock, changing its structure.

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What factors affect weathering rate?

Factors like rock type, moisture availability, temperature, and climate all influence how quickly rocks weather.

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What is erosion?

The movement of weathered rock and soil by agents like gravity, water, glaciers, wind, or waves.

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Give examples of agents of erosion.

Gravity (mass wasting), streams, glaciers, wind, and waves are all agents of erosion that move rock and soil.

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Saffir-Simpson Scale

A scale that categorizes hurricane intensity based on wind speed and potential damage. It has 5 categories, with Category 5 being the most severe.

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Hurricane Watch

An alert issued when hurricane conditions are possible within 24-36 hours for a coastal area. It's a warning to be prepared.

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Hurricane Warning

An alert issued when hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours for a particular area. This means take immediate action.

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Air Pollution Source

The main source of air pollution is the release of combustion and industrial products into the atmosphere.

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Tornado Watch

A warning issued when atmospheric conditions suggest that tornadoes might form. It means that tornadoes are possible in the area, but none have been confirmed.

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Tornado Warning

A warning issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated on radar. This means a tornado is occurring or is imminent and immediate action is needed.

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Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF)

A scale used to classify the strength of tornadoes based on wind speed and damage caused. It ranges from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest).

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Tropical Storm

A massive weather disturbance that forms over tropical oceanic regions. It is characterized by strong winds and heavy rainfall.

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Hurricane

A tropical storm with wind speeds exceeding 119 km/h (74 mi/h). These are the most energetic storms on Earth.

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Storm Surge

A dome of water that accompanies a hurricane as it makes landfall. It's caused by the hurricane's winds and low pressure, pushing water towards the shore.

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Hurricane Size and Intensity

Hurricanes are massive, with diameters ranging from 480 to 960 km. Their wind speeds can reach up to 320 km/h, making them incredibly powerful.

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