Quiz - Sandy Coasts

What is the stretch of sand shown in this photo called?

• a sand spit
• a sand bar
• a tombolo
• a headland

What type of ecosystem would you NOT expect to find in the estuary/lagoon behind a barrier island?

• seagrass bed
• mangroves
• mudflats
• oyster reef
• coral reef

What creates longshore current?

• Which way the rip current is moving
• The depth in the surf zone
• The angle at which the swash washes onto the beach
• The direction that the majority of boats are moving in

What creates sand bars, sand spits, and tomobolos?

• rip currents
• ocean gyres
• slack currents
• longshore currents

If winds coming from the west are causing the waves (swash) to hit the beach at an angle, then the longshore drift will be moving ____ down the beach.

• east
• west
• it's impossible to say

Which of the following is NOT TRUE of life on a beach?

• there is a lot of food available
• the sand is always shifting
• burrowing is a useful adaptation
• some species must wait on the tide for a new meal

Which location is the estuary?

• location A
• location B

Which location would have the lower salinity?

• location A
• location B

Which location would have the higher salinity?

• location A
• location B

Why don't mangroves or seagrasses grow along the beach?

• the water is too salty
• they cannot take root in the shifting sands
• the water is too deep
• the water is too warm