UK Coastal Erosion MCQs with Answers
What natural process is responsible for shaping and changing the coastline over time?
a) Volcanic activity
b) Earthquakes
c) Coastal erosion
d) Desertification
Answer: c) Coastal erosion
Which type of rock is more resistant to coastal erosion?
a) Limestone
b) Sandstone
c) Shale
d) Clay
Answer: a) Limestone
The White Cliffs of Dover are primarily composed of what type of rock?
a) Sandstone
b) Limestone
c) Granite
d) Slate
Answer: b) Limestone
What coastal structure is designed to protect shorelines from erosion caused by waves?
a) Lighthouse
b) Pier
c) Breakwater
d) Wind turbine
Answer: c) Breakwater
Which factor contributes to increased coastal erosion?
a) Higher sea levels
b) Reduced wave energy
c) Decreased rainfall
d) Thicker vegetation
Answer: a) Higher sea levels
What is the term for the wearing away of coastal rocks by the impact of sediment transported by waves?
a) Attrition
b) Corrasion
c) Abstraction
d) Oxidation
Answer: b) Corrasion
Which coastal erosion process involves the dissolving of rock by acidic water?
a) Attrition
b) Solution
c) Abrasion
d) Hydraulic action
Answer: b) Solution
The Holderness Coast in the UK is known for its rapid coastal erosion. In which region is it located?
a) South West England
b) North West England
c) East Yorkshire
d) West Midlands
Answer: c) East Yorkshire
Which coastal feature forms when a headland is eroded from both sides and a narrow strip of land connects the headland to the mainland?
a) Arch
b) Stack
c) Spit
d) Tombolo
Answer: d) Tombolo
What is the term for a long, narrow stretch of sand or shingle that extends into the sea from the shore?
a) Headland
b) Cliff
c) Bay
d) Spit
Answer: d) Spit
The process of longshore drift involves the movement of sediment:
a) Toward the sea
b) Parallel to the shore
c) Up the beach
d) In a circular motion
Answer: b) Parallel to the shore
The formation of a wave-cut platform is a result of which erosion process?
a) Corrasion
b) Hydraulic action
c) Attrition
d) Solution
Answer: a) Corrasion
Which UK coastline is characterized by its fjords, formed by glacial erosion?
a) South Coast
b) North East Coast
c) South West Coast
d) West Coast of Scotland
Answer: d) West Coast of Scotland
Which coastal feature is formed when a sea cave collapses, leaving a hole in the cliff?
a) Stack
b) Spit
c) Headland
d) Arch
Answer: d) Arch
Coastal erosion can lead to the loss of important historical structures. Which historic site is threatened by erosion along the south coast of England?
a) Edinburgh Castle
b) Stonehenge
c) Tintagel Castle
d) Stirling Castle
Answer: c) Tintagel Castle
The expansion of urban development along coastlines can exacerbate coastal erosion due to:
a) Increased vegetation
b) Reduced human activity
c) Increased pollution
d) Removal of natural barriers
Answer: d) Removal of natural barriers
The Holderness Coast is particularly vulnerable to coastal erosion due to its:
a) Hard rock composition
b) High cliffs
c) Wide beaches
d) Strong vegetation
Answer: b) High cliffs
The process of salt crystallization in coastal rocks can contribute to their erosion through:
a) Abrasion
b) Attrition
c) Corrasion
d) Oxidation
Answer: a) Abrasion
What type of coastal feature is commonly formed when a sea cave collapses and leaves a column of rock separated from the mainland?
a) Arch
b) Stack
c) Spit
d) Tombolo
Answer: b) Stack
Coastal erosion can lead to the loss of valuable farmland. Which UK region is known for its agricultural land threatened by erosion?
a) Highlands of Scotland
b) Midlands of England
c) Valleys of Wales
d) Fens of East Anglia
Answer: d) Fens of East Anglia
The impact of climate change, particularly rising sea levels, can accelerate coastal erosion due to:
a) Reduced wave energy
b) Increased vegetation
c) Enhanced sediment deposition
d) Greater wave action
Answer: d) Greater wave action
What term describes the movement of sediment along a coast in a zigzag pattern?
a) Longshore drift
b) Coastal surge
c) Shoreline shift
d) Wave rotation
Answer: a) Longshore drift
Which coastal erosion process involves the chemical breakdown of rocks due to exposure to water and air?
a) Corrasion
b) Attrition
c) Oxidation
d) Solution
Answer: c) Oxidation
Coastal erosion can threaten vital infrastructure such as:
a) Greenhouses
b) Golf courses
c) Seaside resorts
d) Roads and railways
Answer: d) Roads and railways
The coastal town of Happisburgh in the UK is experiencing rapid erosion, leading to the loss of:
a) Cliffs
b) Sand dunes
c) Historic buildings
d) Marshes
Answer: c) Historic buildings
Which of the following human activities can contribute to coastal erosion?
a) Planting trees and shrubs
b) Building seawalls and groynes
c) Establishing marine reserves
d) Implementing sustainable fishing practices
Answer: b) Building seawalls and groynes
The Isle of Eigg in Scotland is known for its coastal features, including:
a) Barrier reefs
b) Fjords
c) Raised beaches
d) Geysers
Answer: c) Raised beaches
Coastal erosion can expose previously buried remains of:
a) Pirates
b) Dinosaurs
c) Shipwrecks
d) Ancient cities
Answer: c) Shipwrecks
What type of coastal feature is formed when waves erode the back of a headland, creating a curved bay?
a) Arch
b) Spit
c) Cavern
d) Cove
Answer: d) Cove
The erosion of coastal cliffs can contribute to the formation of what sediment feature at the base of the cliffs?
a) Barrier island
b) Wave-cut platform
c) Iceberg
d) Moraine
Answer: b) Wave-cut platform
What is the term for the process by which water enters cracks in rocks, freezes, and causes the rock to break apart?
a) Oxidation
b) Solution
c) Freeze-thaw weathering
d) Corrasion
Answer: c) Freeze-thaw weathering
The formation of spits and bars is influenced by the movement of:
a) Glaciers
b) Rivers
c) Tides
d) Earthquakes
Answer: c) Tides
Coastal erosion can impact local economies by reducing revenue from:
a) Surfing competitions
b) Tourist attractions
c) Geothermal energy production
d) Wind farms
Answer: b) Tourist attractions
Which coastal erosion process involves the constant pounding of waves on the shore?
a) Attrition
b) Corrasion
c) Oxidation
d) Creep
Answer: b) Corrasion
Coastal erosion can impact marine ecosystems by altering:
a) Gravity
b) Salinity
c) Ocean currents
d) Earth’s magnetic field
Answer: c) Ocean currents
Which coastal feature is formed when waves erode through a headland, creating a passage or tunnel?
a) Stack
b) Spit
c) Bar
d) Cave
Answer: d) Cave
The process of littoral drift refers to the movement of sediment:
a) From the beach to the ocean floor
b) From the ocean floor to the beach
c) Parallel to the shoreline
d) In a circular pattern
Answer: c) Parallel to the shoreline
Which human intervention is often used to mitigate coastal erosion by trapping sediment?
a) Building seawalls
b) Constructing groynes
c) Removing vegetation
d) Drilling for oil
Answer: b) Constructing groynes
Coastal erosion can result in the loss of:
a) Soil fertility
b) Desertification
c) Air quality
d) Species extinction
Answer: a) Soil fertility
The construction of coastal defenses such as seawalls and breakwaters can have what impact on erosion?
a) Accelerate erosion
b) Have no effect on erosion
c) Prevent erosion
d) Cause landslides
Answer: a) Accelerate erosion
The Isle of Portland is known for its unique coastal landforms, including:
a) Fjords
b) Barrier islands
c) Chesil Beach
d) Salt flats
Answer: c) Chesil Beach
Coastal erosion can expose valuable mineral deposits, such as:
a) Gold
b) Oil
c) Iron ore
d) Limestone
Answer: c) Iron ore
What type of coastal feature is formed when a spit extends across the mouth of a bay, partially closing it off from the sea?
a) Lagoon
b) Cliff
c) Fjord
d) Estuary
Answer: a) Lagoon
The process of abrasion in coastal erosion involves the:
a) Dissolving of rock by acidic water
b) Breaking down of rocks by chemical reactions
c) Pounding of waves against the shore
d) Scratching of rocks by pebbles carried by waves
Answer: d) Scratching of rocks by pebbles carried by waves
Coastal erosion can lead to the loss of cultural heritage sites, including:
a) Music festivals
b) Historic buildings
c) Art galleries
d) Cinemas
Answer: b) Historic buildings
The process of hydraulic action involves the erosion of coastal features by the:
a) Dissolving of rock by acidic water
b) Breaking down of rocks by chemical reactions
c) Pounding of waves against the shore
d) Scratching of rocks by pebbles carried by waves
Answer: c) Pounding of waves against the shore
Coastal erosion can lead to the loss of habitats for:
a) Desert animals
b) Mountain gorillas
c) Coastal birds
d) Polar bears
Answer: c) Coastal birds
The formation of barrier islands is often influenced by the movement of:
a) Rivers
b) Glaciers
c) Tides
d) Avalanches
Answer: a) Rivers
Coastal erosion can cause changes in the coastline that affect navigation, leading to the need for updated:
a) Road maps
b) Flight schedules
c) Nautical charts
d) Train timetables
Answer: c) Nautical charts
The formation of wave-cut notches and platforms is primarily a result of:
a) Chemical weathering
b) Biological activity
c) Mechanical weathering
d) Erosion by glaciers
Answer: c) Mechanical weathering