Which term describes a rise in sea level caused by unusual low air pressure that can cause coastal flooding?

Which term describes a rise in sea level caused by unusual low air pressure that can cause coastal flooding?

• A. Storm surge
• B. Subsistence
• C. Surface stores
• D. Throughflow

Answer: (A)

Storm surge happens when a storm lowers air pressure and drives strong onshore winds toward the coast. The lower pressure allows the sea surface to rise slightly, and the winds push and shove that water toward land, piling it up and creating a surge that can flood coastal areas. The other terms refer to different hydrological processes: subsidence is sinking land, surface stores are water held on the land surface, and throughflow is lateral movement of water through soil. So the rise in sea level tied to a storm’s low pressure and onshore winds is best described as a storm surge.

Storm surge happens when a storm lowers air pressure and drives strong onshore winds toward the coast. The lower pressure allows the sea surface to rise slightly, and the winds push and shove that water toward land, piling it up and creating a surge that can flood coastal areas. The other terms refer to different hydrological processes: subsidence is sinking land, surface stores are water held on the land surface, and throughflow is lateral movement of water through soil. So the rise in sea level tied to a storm’s low pressure and onshore winds is best described as a storm surge.