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17: Shorelines (Exercises)

  • Page ID
    2057
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    Q17.1 Wave Height versus Length

    This table shows the typical amplitudes and wavelengths of waves generated under different wind conditions. The steepness of a wave can be determined from these numbers and is related to the ratio: amplitude/wavelength.

    1. Calculate these ratios for the waves shown. The first one is done for you.

    2. How would these ratios change with increasing distance from the wind that produced the waves?

    Amplitude Wavelength Ratio
    m m ampl./length
    0.27 8.5 0.03
    1.5 33.8 0.04
    4.1 76.5 0.05
    8.5 136 0.06
    14.8 212 0.07

    Within increasing distance from the source the wave heights would gradually decrease and so the ratios would decrease.

    Q17.2 Wave Refraction

    ex17-2-300x144.png

    [SE]

    Q17.3 Beach Forms

    Barrier islands could from if this was a low-relief coast with an abundant supply of sediment from large rivers.

    ex17-3-300x201.png

    Possible locations of coastal deposits [SE]

    Q17.4 A Holocene Uplifted Shore

    The melting of glacial ice around the world at the end of the last glaciation (between 14 and 8 ka – see Figure 17.25) led to relatively rapid sea-level rise (by a total of approximately 125 m) which resulted in this area being submerged. That was a eustatic process. In response to the loss of ice in this region of coastal British Columbia there was a slower isostatic rebound of the crust, which is why this area is now back up above sea level.

    Q17.5 Crescent Beach Groynes

    ex17-5-300x124.png

    [SE]


    17: Shorelines (Exercises) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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