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When sediment removal exceeds sediment accumulation ____________.

a. The delta will build seaward.
b. The delta will be stationary.
c. The delta will not form.
d. A barrier island will form.
e. Both a. and d.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

When sediment removal exceeds sediment accumulation, the delta will not form as the necessary buildup of sediment deposits is not sustained.

Step-by-step explanation:

When sediment removal exceeds sediment accumulation, the delta will not form. This is because deltas require a consistent or growing deposit of sediments at the mouth of a river where it flows into a larger body of water, like an ocean or a lake. If the rate of sediment being washed away is greater than what is being deposited, the landform cannot build outward and maintain its structure as a delta. In such cases, existing deltas can even erode away.

A delta can build seaward if sediment accumulation outpaces erosion. Conversely, if sediment accumulation and removal are in balance, the delta will likely remain stationary. The formation of a barrier island is a separate process, often involving longshore drift and not directly linked to the conditions described in the question.

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