Question

A coastal flood occurs when low lying land areas bordering a large body of water are inundated. Coastal flooding may be caused by abnormal rise in water level associated with an approaching ocean storm or by large breaking waves on the shore from large ocean swells. The extent of coastal flooding depends upon the tide levels, the underwater and shoreline topography and the runoff from rivers and estuaries. Coastal floods are often associated with high water from a storm surge, caused by winds generated by tropical (hurricanes) or extratropical cyclones. Coastal flooding can be produced also by a tsunami, a seismic sea wave produced by earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic activity; these waves have been erroneously called tidal waves. Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific coast are more vulnerable to a tsunami. The greatest danger and damage associated with most tropical cyclones (hurricanes) is the storm surge. A storm surge is a dome of water, perhaps 50 miles wide that sweeps across the coastline ahead of a tropical cyclone landfall. The magnitude of a storm surge depends upon the strength of the storm, the ocean bottom conditions where the surge comes onshore, the storm's movement relative to the shoreline, and the astronomical tides at landfall time. In addition, the destruction of the storm surge is often compounded by the hammering effect of the breaking waves. Because many tropical cyclones produce excessive rainfall rates and huge amounts of total precipitation even after landfall, they may also be responsible for floods and flash floods. The strong and gusty winds, coupled with the possibility of tornadoes, are added perils to residents of areas near the landfall of a hurricane. Coastal floods and beach erosion can also be associated with extratropical cyclones, such as the "nor'easters", that may batter the East Coast from Cape Hatteras to Maine, especially during the winter season. Coastal flood watches and warnings are issued by certain designated National Weather Service Offices and pertain to the region extending from the ocean beaches inland, including waterways, estuaries, and river mouths. The National Weather Service issues various public statements for tropical weather systems as well as for other types of situations that can cause coastal floods. These statements follow the advisory, watch and warning formaat and are intended to inform the coastal residents and commercial and recreational marine interests of a potentially hazardous weather situation. QUESTIONS: 1. The most damaging aspect of a hurricane to coastal inhabitants is usually the [(high wind) (storm surge) (heavy rain) (low pressure)]. 2. Coastal flooding is not caused by [(tropical systems) (extratropical systems) (normal lunar tides) (tsunamis)]. Possible answers are in brackets and parentheses. Only pick from the options provided.

Answer 1

Answer:The most damaging aspect of a hurricane to coastal inhabitants is usually the (storm surge).

During a hurricane, the storm surge poses the greatest danger to coastal areas. A storm surge is a dome of water that is pushed onto the shore by the strong winds and low pressure of the hurricane. This surge of water can cause extensive flooding and can be responsible for significant damage to coastal structures and infrastructure. The magnitude of the storm surge depends on factors such as the strength of the storm, the ocean bottom conditions, the storm's movement relative to the shoreline, and the astronomical tides at landfall time. In addition to the storm surge, the destructive power of breaking waves also compounds the destruction caused by the flooding.

2. Coastal flooding is not caused by (normal lunar tides).

Normal lunar tides refer to the regular rise and fall of the ocean tide due to the gravitational pull of the moon. While lunar tides can cause fluctuations in water levels along the coast, they are not typically responsible for coastal flooding. Coastal flooding, on the other hand, can be caused by various factors such as abnormal rises in water levels associated with an approaching ocean storm, large breaking waves on the shore from ocean swells, runoff from rivers and estuaries, tsunamis, or extratropical cyclones. So, normal lunar tides alone are not the primary cause of coastal flooding.

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