Shorelines and coastal processes

Question 1

2) Near which type of plate boundaries do you expect to experience the highest-magnitude
earthquakes?
A) convergent
B) divergent
C) transform
D) hotspots

Answer 1

Near convergent plate boundaries, where two tectonic plates are moving toward each other, you are most likely to experience the highest-magnitude earthquakes. These boundaries involve the collision, subduction, or compression of plates, which can generate enormous amounts of stress. When this stress is released suddenly, it can result in very powerful earthquakes.

Question 2

4) Which circumstance will force a wave displaying circular orbital motion to slow down at the
base, which allows the wave to break?
A) The water gets deeper.
B) The seafloor is uneven.
C) The wave is refracted.
D) The wave feels bottom with shallower depth.

Answer 2

D) The wave feels bottom with shallower depth.

When a wave moves into shallower water, the circular orbital motion of the water particles at the base of the wave is disrupted by friction with the seafloor. As the wave approaches the shore and the water becomes shallower, the bottom part of the wave slows down due to friction, while the top part of the wave continues to move at its original speed. This causes the wave to steepen and eventually break, as the wave crest becomes too steep to support itself.

Question 3

What combination of incoming waves and backwash will result in a longshore drift? Explain.

Answer 3

Longshore drift occurs when incoming waves approach the shore at an angle, carrying sediment up the beach in the direction of the wave. The backwash, moving straight down the slope of the beach, carries the sediment back into the water, resulting in a zigzag pattern of sediment transport along the shoreline.

Question 4

6) Recent observations have noted that there appears to be an increase in hurricane activity in
recent years and in locations that had not seen such strong storms in recent years. What role
might global warming be playing in this, and how does global warming worsen the effects of
such storms?

Answer 4

Global warming contributes to the increase in hurricane activity by raising ocean temperatures, which provide more energy for storms, and by increasing atmospheric moisture, which fuels stronger storms. Additionally, rising sea levels and warmer air exacerbate the impacts of hurricanes, leading to more intense rainfall, flooding, and higher storm surges.