San Diego State University Longshore Current and Longshore Drift Discussion

Introduction to Concept Check Assignments:

You are required to answer all four questions. These questions can address any material covered in the module or in the required reading. These questions will require you to apply critical thinking skills and your knowledge of the subject matter in order to answer them completely and thoroughly. Some questions may only require anywhere from 5-8 sentences to fully answer, while some may require 2-3 paragraphs. The key here is to make sure you answer all parts of the question and discuss all possible details.

Concept Check Assignment #2:

• You are provided four questions. Choose two to answer. Think of each question as approximately 15 points.

• You can answer each question separately, do not merge them all into one single essay.
• There is no length requirement, just be sure to provide enough to answer the question thoroughly. This usually will require anywhere from 1-3 complete paragraphs.
• You are more than welcome to work with your classmates and discuss the questions, just make sure you submit your own work in your own words.
• You should only need the textbook and the module pages to answer these questions. Some questions do specify that you will need to find an external source to dive deeper into the subject. Be sure to pay attention to directions.
  • Yes, the textbook and module pages should be included in a reference list, along with any other references/resources you use. Make sure these are reliable resources, Wikipedia is NOT a reliable source.
    • You may format your reference list/bibliography in either MLA or APA.
    • You will need in-text citations and a reference list
    • Direct quotes should be kept at a minimum and indirect quotes are strongly encouraged. An indirect quote is when you take someone else’s information and summarize it in your own word. Changing one word or a few words around is not “rephrasing”. You must still cite references using in-text citations, even when you use your own words.
    • Click here for a helpful web page for formatting in APA (Links to an external site.)
    • Click here for a helpful web page for formatting in MLA (Links to an external site.)
• No copy-paste, No plagiarism

• Create a document with your answers to the following questions:

• Discuss and compare the forces that are responsible for creating surface circulation in the oceans. Be sure to address in your answer the relationship between Ekman transport and geostrophic flow within a gyre. How does this relationship contribute to western intensification?
• Explain what each variable in Newton’s Law of Gravitational Attraction means. Further, describe how this equation explains the differences between the sun and the moon’s contribution to tide-generating forces.
• Thoroughly define and explain what a longshore current and a longshore drift are. Why are these concepts important to understand when discussing major issues, like beach starvation?
• Describe, in detail, one topic you found interesting from this module. State what this fact/concept is and define/explain it. Further describe why you found it interesting and do a little bit of extra research into it. Find at least one external reference to cite in this question and include it in your reference list.
  • Be sure the in-text citations and reference list are formatted either APA or MLA

Attention/ answer from Required Textbook: Trujillo, A.P & H.V. Thurman. Essentials of Oceanography, 13th edition,
2020. ISBN-13: 978-0134891521, ISBN-10: 013489152X.
– The 13th edition is the only edition that is acceptable.