Coastal Environments Exam 1 UPDATED
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Geomorphology - CORRECT ANSWER the study of the characteristics, origin, and
development of landforms
LIDAR - CORRECT ANSWER Light Detection and Ranging
Explain LIDAR - CORRECT ANSWER Remote imaging method that users laser light,
often used by airplanes or satellites.
Multibeam Sonar - CORRECT ANSWER Employs an array of sound sources and
listening devices to obtain a profile of a narrow strip of seafloor
Coastal Zone - CORRECT ANSWER Where the land meets the sea
MWL - CORRECT ANSWER Mean Water Level
Tidal Range - CORRECT ANSWER the difference in water level between a high tide
and a low tide
Intertidal Zone - CORRECT ANSWER Land that can be submerged or exposed
depending on tide level
Closure Depth - CORRECT ANSWER Where wave orbitals make contact with the sea
floor
Shoaling - CORRECT ANSWER When a wave becomes modified due to wave orbitals
hitting the sea floor
, Breaker Zone - CORRECT ANSWER Where waves break
Surf Zone - CORRECT ANSWER The region between the breaking waves and the
shore.
Swash Zone - CORRECT ANSWER Where land is constantly exposed due to wave
cycle
Foreshore - CORRECT ANSWER That part of a shore that gets wet under normal
conditions
Backshore - CORRECT ANSWER Area between dunes and the foreshore; doesn't get
wet under normal conditions
Shoreface - CORRECT ANSWER Coastal area underwater
Offshore - CORRECT ANSWER Area outside the coastal area
Littoral Zone - CORRECT ANSWER Portion of the coastal profile where sediment can
be transported by wave action
The five coastal classification strategies - CORRECT ANSWER Visual (What it looks
like)
Genetic (How it was formed)
Process (What processes are shaping the coast)
Energy (Based on hydrodynamic energy)
Morphodynamic State (How the morphology of the coast affects wave action)
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Geomorphology - CORRECT ANSWER the study of the characteristics, origin, and
development of landforms
LIDAR - CORRECT ANSWER Light Detection and Ranging
Explain LIDAR - CORRECT ANSWER Remote imaging method that users laser light,
often used by airplanes or satellites.
Multibeam Sonar - CORRECT ANSWER Employs an array of sound sources and
listening devices to obtain a profile of a narrow strip of seafloor
Coastal Zone - CORRECT ANSWER Where the land meets the sea
MWL - CORRECT ANSWER Mean Water Level
Tidal Range - CORRECT ANSWER the difference in water level between a high tide
and a low tide
Intertidal Zone - CORRECT ANSWER Land that can be submerged or exposed
depending on tide level
Closure Depth - CORRECT ANSWER Where wave orbitals make contact with the sea
floor
Shoaling - CORRECT ANSWER When a wave becomes modified due to wave orbitals
hitting the sea floor
, Breaker Zone - CORRECT ANSWER Where waves break
Surf Zone - CORRECT ANSWER The region between the breaking waves and the
shore.
Swash Zone - CORRECT ANSWER Where land is constantly exposed due to wave
cycle
Foreshore - CORRECT ANSWER That part of a shore that gets wet under normal
conditions
Backshore - CORRECT ANSWER Area between dunes and the foreshore; doesn't get
wet under normal conditions
Shoreface - CORRECT ANSWER Coastal area underwater
Offshore - CORRECT ANSWER Area outside the coastal area
Littoral Zone - CORRECT ANSWER Portion of the coastal profile where sediment can
be transported by wave action
The five coastal classification strategies - CORRECT ANSWER Visual (What it looks
like)
Genetic (How it was formed)
Process (What processes are shaping the coast)
Energy (Based on hydrodynamic energy)
Morphodynamic State (How the morphology of the coast affects wave action)
