Which feature forms behind dunes as sand is deposited through storm passes and becomes vegetated with grasses?

Prepare for the Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which feature forms behind dunes as sand is deposited through storm passes and becomes vegetated with grasses?

Explanation:
Storm overwash deposits sand behind the dunes, filling in the low-lying area and creating a flat, sandy surface known as the back-barrier plain. Once this newly formed surface dries and stabilizes, grasses that tolerate salt and shifting sand rapidly colonize it, turning the area into a vegetated barrier flat. This back-barrier zone differs from the dunes themselves (the raised ridges formed by wind), from high salt marsh (which develops in tidal, wetter areas with mud and dense vegetation), and from peat deposits (organic-rich soils that form in permanently waterlogged conditions).

Storm overwash deposits sand behind the dunes, filling in the low-lying area and creating a flat, sandy surface known as the back-barrier plain. Once this newly formed surface dries and stabilizes, grasses that tolerate salt and shifting sand rapidly colonize it, turning the area into a vegetated barrier flat. This back-barrier zone differs from the dunes themselves (the raised ridges formed by wind), from high salt marsh (which develops in tidal, wetter areas with mud and dense vegetation), and from peat deposits (organic-rich soils that form in permanently waterlogged conditions).

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy