Consider the following statements.1. The coarser materials are dropped...
-
The waves drop the coarser materials (cobbles and boulders) at the top of the beach.
-
The finer materials (pebbles and sand grains) carried down the beach by the backwash are dropped closer to the sea.
-
On smooth lowlands, beaches may continue for miles, like those of the east coast of West Malaysia, but in upland regions where the land descends abruptly into the sea, such as the Chilean coast, long beaches are absent.
View all questions of this test
Consider the following statements.1. The coarser materials are dropped...
Explanation:
The given statements are related to the process of wave action on beaches. Let's understand each statement and its correctness.
1. The coarser materials are dropped by the waves at the top of the beach: This statement is correct. When waves approach a beach, they break and lose their energy. The energy of the waves is used to transport and deposit sediment (materials) on the beach. The coarser materials, being heavier, are dropped first as the waves lose their energy. They are deposited at the top of the beach, forming a ridge or berm.
2. The finer materials which are carried down the beach by the backwash are dropped closer to the sea: This statement is not entirely correct. The backwash is the return flow of water that moves down the beach after a wave has broken. It carries sediment with it, but the sediment is not necessarily finer. In fact, the backwash can carry sediment of any size. The sediment that is carried by the backwash is deposited in a zone known as the swash zone. This zone is located between the high tide and low tide marks, and it moves up and down the beach as the tide changes. Therefore, the sediment deposited by the backwash is not necessarily closer to the sea.
Conclusion:
Hence, both statements are not correct as per the explanation given above. The correct answer is option 'D'.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.