Coastal Processes: Interactive Quizzes and Learning Resources

Question 1

Which coastal process involves the movement of sediment parallel to the shoreline?

Accepted Answer

Longshore drift

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Deposition

Answer

Accretion

Question 2

What is the name of the steep, eroding face of a coastline?

Accepted Answer

Cliff

Answer

Beach

Answer

Dune

Answer

Headland

Question 3

What is the primary mechanism by which beaches are formed?

Accepted Answer

Deposition

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Subsidence

Answer

Longshore drift

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a major factor influencing the rate of coastal erosion?

Accepted Answer

Presence of well-established vegetation

Answer

Wave energy

Answer

Sea level

Answer

Climate

Question 5

What type of coastline results from deposition exceeding erosion?

Accepted Answer

Accumulating coastline

Answer

Eroding coastline

Answer

Stable coastline

Answer

Submerged coastline

Question 6

What is the term for the gradual wearing down of coastal landforms by the force of waves and currents?

Accepted Answer

Erosion

Answer

Deposition

Answer

Transportation

Answer

Compaction

Question 7

What type of coastal defence structure is designed to trap sediment and reduce erosion?

Accepted Answer

Groynes

Answer

Sea walls

Answer

Breakwaters

Answer

Beach nourishment

Question 8

What is the primary cause of wave refraction?

Accepted Answer

Variations in water depth

Answer

Wind direction

Answer

Tidal height

Answer

Current speed

Question 9

What is the term for the area of land that is periodically covered by the sea at high tide?

Accepted Answer

Intertidal zone

Answer

Estuary

Answer

Salt marsh

Answer

Sandbar

Question 10

Which coastal process involves the movement of sediment along the coastline by waves and currents?

Accepted Answer

Longshore drift

Answer

Abrasion

Answer

Hydraulic action

Answer

Weathering

Question 11

What is the name of the process by which sediment is transported parallel to the coastline?

Accepted Answer

Longshore drift

Answer

Beach nourishment

Answer

Cliff erosion

Answer

Saltation

Question 12

Which of the following is a characteristic of a wave-cut platform?

Accepted Answer

Flat, gently sloping surface

Answer

Steep, vertical cliffs

Answer

Sandy beach

Answer

Rocky shoreline

Question 13

What is the name of the wind that blows from the west over the British Isles?

Accepted Answer

Prevailing westerlies

Answer

Trade winds

Answer

Polar easterlies

Answer

Jet stream

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a coastal landform formed by erosion?

Accepted Answer

Beach

Answer

Cliff

Answer

Headland

Answer

Wave-cut platform

Question 15

What causes longshore drift?

Accepted Answer

Waves approaching the coast at an angle

Answer

Tidal currents flowing parallel to the coast

Answer

Wind blowing onshore

Answer

Sediment settling out of the water column

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a coastal defence structure?

Accepted Answer

Beach nourishment

Answer

Seawall

Answer

Groyne

Answer

Breakwater

Question 17

Which of the following coastal types is NOT found in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs

Answer

Sandy beaches

Answer

Mudflats

Answer

Fjords

Question 18

What is the name of the process that transports sediment along the coast in a zigzag pattern?

Accepted Answer

Longshore drift

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Deposition

Answer

Wave refraction

Question 19

What is the term for the steep, vertical slope created by coastal erosion?

Accepted Answer

Cliff

Answer

Shoreline

Answer

Beach

Answer

Sand dune

Question 20

Which of the following materials is NOT commonly found on beaches?

Accepted Answer

Clay

Answer

Sand

Answer

Pebbles

Answer

Shingle

Question 21

What is the process called when waves lose energy and break as they approach the shore?

Accepted Answer

Wave breaking

Answer

Wave refraction

Answer

Wave reflection

Answer

Wave diffraction

Question 22

How does rising sea level impact coastal erosion?

Accepted Answer

Sea level rise strengthens waves and currents, increasing erosion.

Answer

Sea level rise weakens waves, reducing their erosive force.

Answer

Sea level rise decreases the amount of sediment available to protect the coastline.

Question 23

The process by which sediment is transported along a coastline parallel to the shore is:

Accepted Answer

Longshore drift

Answer

Cross-shore transport

Answer

Wave refraction

Answer

Rip currents

Question 24

Which of the following coastal landforms is primarily formed by the deposition of sediment?

Accepted Answer

Beaches

Answer

Cliffs

Answer

Wave-cut platforms

Answer

Headlands

Question 25

The angle at which waves approach the coastline is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Wave angle

Answer

Wave height

Answer

Wave period

Answer

Wave fetch

Question 26

The force exerted by water against the coast, which can cause erosion, is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Hydraulic action

Answer

Traction

Answer

Hydrostatic pressure

Answer

Corrosion

Question 27

The term 'fetch' in coastal geography refers to the:

Accepted Answer

Distance over which waves travel uninterrupted by land

Answer

Height of incoming waves

Answer

Direction of incoming waves

Answer

Depth of the seabed

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a commonly used type of coastal defence structure?

Accepted Answer

Sand dunes

Answer

Riprap

Answer

Gabions

Answer

Breakwaters

Question 29

The process of weathering and erosion that leads to the formation of distinctive coastal landforms, such as stacks and arches, is known as:

Accepted Answer

Marine abrasion

Answer

Saltation

Answer

Hydraulic action

Answer

Attrition

Question 30

The long-term increase in sea level primarily attributed to the effects of climate change is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Eustatic sea level rise

Answer

Isostatic sea level rise

Answer

Local sea level rise

Answer

Relative sea level rise

Question 31

Which factor does NOT directly influence the rate of coastal erosion?

Accepted Answer

Population density

Answer

Wave energy

Answer

Rock type

Answer

Wind speed

Question 32

A headland is a coastal landform primarily created by:

Accepted Answer

Erosion of softer rock

Answer

Deposition of sand and gravel

Answer

Longshore drift

Answer

Wave refraction

Question 33

Which of the following coastal management strategies involves building structures to minimize erosion and protect the coastline?

Accepted Answer

Groynes

Answer

Beach nourishment

Answer

Dune restoration

Answer

Managed retreat

Question 34

The rate of coastal erosion can be exacerbated by:

Accepted Answer

Both of the above

Answer

Climate change and sea level rise

Answer

Human activities, such as construction and deforestation

Answer

Neither of the above

Question 35

The process by which waves approach the shore at an angle, causing them to bend, is known as:

Accepted Answer

Refraction

Answer

Diffraction

Answer

Reflection

Answer

Erosion

Question 36

Which of the following coastal management strategies involves relocating people and infrastructure away from vulnerable areas?

Accepted Answer

Managed retreat

Answer

Beach nourishment

Answer

Groynes

Answer

Dune restoration

Question 37

Longshore drift refers to the:

Accepted Answer

Movement of sediment parallel to a coastline by waves and currents

Answer

Erosion of a coastline caused by strong winds

Answer

Formation of sand dunes by wind-blown sediment

Answer

Deposition of sediment perpendicular to a coastline

Question 38

Which of the following coastal landforms is created by the deposition of sediment?

Accepted Answer

Beach

Answer

Cliff

Answer

Headland

Answer

Bay

Question 39

The process by which waves erode the base of a cliff, leading to its collapse, is known as:

Accepted Answer

Hydraulic action

Answer

Abrasion

Answer

Attrition

Answer

Corrosion

Question 40

The process by which sediment is transported along a beach by waves is known as:

Accepted Answer

Longshore drift

Answer

Wave refraction

Answer

Tidal currents

Answer

Beach nourishment

Question 41

Which of the following is not a major coastal process?

Accepted Answer

Weathering

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Deposition

Answer

Longshore drift

Question 42

What is the term for the landform created by the deposition of sediment by waves?

Accepted Answer

Beach

Answer

Cliff

Answer

Dune

Answer

Headland

Question 43

What is the primary direction of sediment movement along a coastline?

Accepted Answer

Parallel to the shore

Answer

Perpendicular to the shore

Answer

Diagonally to the shore

Answer

Up and down the shore

Question 44

Which of the following coastal management strategies involves adding sand to a beach to combat erosion?

Accepted Answer

Beach nourishment

Answer

Seawalls

Answer

Dune restoration

Answer

Managed retreat

Question 45

What is the name of the soft, white rock that forms the cliffs along much of the UK coastline?

Accepted Answer

Chalk

Answer

Granite

Answer

Sandstone

Answer

Shale

Question 46

What is the name of the device used to measure wave height?

Accepted Answer

Wave buoy

Answer

Anemometer

Answer

Rain gauge

Answer

Tide gauge

Question 47

Explain how beach nourishment is applied to manage coastal erosion.

Accepted Answer

Adding sand to a beach to increase its width and elevation

Answer

Constructing a vertical seawall along the shoreline to protect against erosion

Answer

Planting trees and vegetation along the coast to stabilize the shoreline

Answer

Limiting public access to the beach to reduce human impact and erosion

Question 48

Which coastal landform is primarily composed of sand and gravel accumulated by waves and currents?

Accepted Answer

Beach

Answer

Cliff

Answer

Sand dune

Answer

Spit

Question 49

What is the name of the process by which sediment is transported along the coast in a zigzag pattern?

Accepted Answer

Longshore drift

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Deposition

Answer

Saltation

Question 50

Which type of coastal protection measure involves adding sand to beaches to replenish their volume?

Accepted Answer

Beach nourishment

Answer

Sea wall

Answer

Groynes

Answer

Gabion baskets

Question 51

What is the term for the sediment deposited by rivers at their mouths, forming a triangular shape?

Accepted Answer

Delta

Answer

Estuary

Answer

Spit

Answer

Tombolo

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental coastal process?

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Deposition

Answer

Longshore drift

Question 53

Which of the following is a potential consequence of coastal erosion?

Accepted Answer

Loss of land and infrastructure

Answer

Increased tourism

Answer

Improved water quality

Answer

Enrichment of marine ecosystems