Question 1

The origin of tsunamis is associated with ________.

Accepted Answer

Tsunamis are primarily associated with undersea tectonic events, such as earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions. These events can cause large amounts of water to be displaced, resulting in powerful and destructive waves. Tides, storms, wind, and pressure gradients can also have an impact on wave height and intensity, but they are not the primary cause of tsunamis.

Question 2

Which of the following is most important in creating landforms along lake shorelines?

Accepted Answer

Ice push, also known as ice shoves or ice heaves, is when sheets of lake ice expand and push onto the shoreline, causing the formation of new landforms. This is a common occurrence in areas with cold winter climates, and is a major contributor to the shaping of lake shorelines. Tides, organic secretion, tsunamis, and animals do not play significant roles in the creation of landforms along lake shorelines.

Question 3

The phenomenon of waves changing direction as they approach the shoreline is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Refraction is the bending of waves, in this case ocean waves, as they approach the shoreline due to changes in water depth. This causes the waves to change direction and lose energy as they move towards the shore.

Question 4

As a wave approaches an irregular shoreline, one portion of the wave reaches shallow waters sooner than other portions and is thus slowed down. This slowing down causes the wave line to bend and the bending is called ________.

Accepted Answer

When a wave reaches an irregular shoreline, one portion of the wave reaches the shallow water sooner and slows down, causing the wave line to bend. This bending is called refraction. A tsunami is a large ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption. Reflection occurs when a wave bounces back off a surface. Misdirection and oscillation are not relevant to the situation described.

Question 5

Tides ________.

Accepted Answer

Tides produce currents that can scour the bottom of the ocean floor.

Question 6

________are most closely associated with a change in the volume of ocean water?

Accepted Answer

Eustatic forces are changes in sea level due to factors such as melting ice caps or changes in ocean basin volume. Tectonic forces, erosional forces, tidal forces, and gravitational forces can all indirectly affect sea level through their impact on eustatic forces.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT associated with tides?

Accepted Answer

Large amounts of erosion on most coasts are not directly associated with tides, although tides can contribute to erosion by bringing in and taking away sediment with the daily cycle. The other choices are all directly related to tides.

Question 8

As they travel on the open sea, tsunamis ________.

Accepted Answer

Tsunamis in the open sea are inconspicuous due to their long wavelengths and low wave heights, making them difficult to detect without specialized equipment.

Question 9

________ occurs first in the evolution of a single ocean wave.

Accepted Answer

In the evolution of a single ocean wave, the first occurrence is a wave of oscillation, which is the movement of water particles in a circular motion. This is followed by a wave of translation, where the wave moves forward but the water particles do not move forward in a continuous motion. The following stages are the formation of a breaker, swash, and backwash.

Question 10

Seismic sea waves may also be referred to as ________.

Accepted Answer

Seismic sea waves are commonly known as tsunamis.

Question 11

Compared to today, sea level 125,0000 years ago (in an interglacial part of the Pleistocene) was ________.

Accepted Answer

During the last interglacial period of the Pleistocene (also known as the Eemian), which occurred about 125,000 years ago, global sea level was estimated to be 6-9 meters (20-30 feet) higher than today. This was due to the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, as well as the thermal expansion of seawater as temperatures were warmer than today.

Question 12

________ is the location of the highest tides in the world.

Accepted Answer

The location of the highest tides in the world is the Bay of Fundy, which is located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The tides in this area can reach up to 52 feet (16 meters) in height, making it a popular tourist attraction.

Question 13

In the last few thousand years, sea level changes have resulted from all but ________.

Accepted Answer

Sea level changes resulting from submergence or emergence of land masses, deglaciation, and eustatic changes are all examples of changes that affect the volume of water in the Earth's oceans. The only choice that is not directly related to changes in water volume is E, which refers to changes in the total volume of water in the Earth system, including changes in ice sheets, groundwater, and atmospheric water vapor. While changes in these water sources can indirectly affect sea level, they do not cause sea level changes directly.

Question 14

Which of the following is most closely related to eustatic forces?

Accepted Answer

Eustatic forces refer to a change in sea level, which is the only option directly related to this concept. Tides, longshore currents, organic secretions, and waves can all affect local coastal processes, but they are not directly related to changes in sea level on a global scale like eustatic forces.

Question 15

Which of the following is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

This is false because sea level has been higher at certain points in Earth's history, such as the Cretaceous Period about 100 million years ago.

Question 16

Where are tides significant agents in coastal erosion?

Accepted Answer

Tides are significant agents in coastal erosion in narrow bays because the constricted space amplifies tidal currents, increasing their erosive power.

Question 17

The oceanic tides rise and fall in a rhythmic cycle that takes place roughly once every ________ hours.

Accepted Answer

The oceanic tides rise and fall in a rhythmic cycle that takes place roughly every 12 hours. This is due to the gravitational pull of the moon and sun on the Earth's oceans.

Question 18

Which of the following is TRUE of tides?

Accepted Answer

Tides have small effects on landforms over long periods of time, such as erosion and sediment deposition.

Question 19

The disastrous tsunami of 2004 ________.

Accepted Answer

The disastrous tsunami of 2004 affected the Indian Ocean.

Question 20

Concerning tsunamis, which of the following is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

While tsunamis can be very tall in shallow water, in the open sea they are actually very long and flat, with a wavelength that can be hundreds of kilometers long.

Quiz 20: Coastal Processes and Terrain