Which structure aims to protect shorelines during minor storms and is typically made of concrete?

• A. Breakwater
• B. Seawalls
• C. Bulkheads
• D. Jetties

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how shoreline areas are protected from wave action during storms, with different structures designed for different conditions and locations. Bulkheads are concrete barriers placed right at the landward edge of the shore to hold back soil and resist the force of waves reaching the shore. They’re a common, straightforward solution for protecting inland property and shoreline stability in areas experiencing mild to moderate storm activity, and they’re typically built of concrete, which provides a strong, durable barrier against coastal erosion.

Breakwaters sit offshore to reduce wave energy before it reaches the coast, so they’re not the barrier you’d walk up to at the shoreline. Seawalls also run along the shore and are designed to protect larger extents of shoreline from more energetic wave action, sometimes aiming to preserve beaches as well. Jetties extend into the water to stabilize inlets and channels rather than to shield the shoreline from storms.