Question

The 2 images above show the same location. The top picture was taken in 2011 and the bottom picture was taken 5 years later in 2016. Notice the yellow arrow in each picture, it is pointing to the same location. The water at the bottom of each picture is an ocean and the changes occurred due to natural processes. In other words, no one used equipment to reshape the shoreline.

1) What is the big difference between the 2 pictures?

2) What are 2 possible explanations for this change?

(5 points)
grade 6

Answer 1

1) Big difference: the shoreline moved — land that was there in 2011 is gone by 2016 and the ocean now reaches farther inland (the beach/shore has been eroded).

2) Two possible natural explanations:
- Strong storms or hurricanes and wave action (including storm surge) washed sand and soil away from the shore, causing rapid erosion.
- Changes in coastal processes such as longshore currents or a rise in sea level that carry sediment away faster than it is replaced, so the beach retreats over time.