What is the effect of stormy weather on the beach?

• A. Erosion of sand and beach shrinks
• B. Sand accumulation and beach growth
• C. No change
• D. Sea-level rise only

Answer: (A)

Storms deliver high-energy waves and storm surge that drag sand from the active beach and move it offshore or along the shore. This redistribution of sediment reduces the beach width and can damage dunes, so the shore erodes and the beach shrinks. While some sediment can be moved and later re-deposited under calmer conditions, the immediate and most common effect of stormy weather on a beach is erosion. The other options describe sand buildup, no change, or only sea-level rise, which don't match what storms typically do to the shoreline in the short term.