SCAT SWE Questions

The exposed part of a subsurface rock formation

Rocks Greater then 256mm in diameter (25.6cm)

64mm to 256mm (6.4cm to 25.6 cm)

4mm-64mm  (.4cm to 6.4 cm)

2mm-4mm (.2cm-.4cm)

.06mm to 2mm (.006cm to .2cm)

Silt and Clay less than .06mm

Man made permeable rubble

91%-100%

51%-90%

11%-50%

1%-10%

Less than 1%

Fresh oil or mousse greater than 1cm thick.

Oil or mousse between .1cm thick to less than 1cm thick

Visible oil less than .1cm thick which can be scraped off with the finger nail

Visible oil which cannot be scraped off with the fingernail

Transparent or iridescent sheen or oily film.

Unweathered, liquid oil

Emulsified Oil

discrete accumulation of oil less than 10cm in diameter.

Discrete accumulations of oil greater than 10cm in diameter

Highly weathered oil of nearly solid consistency

Non Cohesive heavily oiled surface sediments characterized as soft, insipient (initial stage) asphalt pavements.

Cohesive heavily oiled surface sediments

Buried Layer of hardend oil

Pore spaces are completely filled with oil to the extent that oil flows out when disturbed. (May also consist of weathered oil such as a buried lens of asphalt oil.)

Pore spaces partially filled with oil to the extent that oil does not flow out when disturbed.

Sediments are visibly oiled with black/brown coats or covered on the clasts (individual sediment particles) but little or no residue in pore spaces. Modifiers are Heavy HOR , Moderate MOR, and Light LOR.

Sediments are lightly oiled with a film or stain on the clasts.

• Steep slope 30 degrees or greater with Narrow width.
• Little to no sediment accumulation.
• Strong Vertical zoning of intertidal communities (crustaceans and stuff).

• Solid man made structures.
• made mostly out of wood, metal or concrete.
• built to protect shore from erosion thus are exposed to natural removal process.
• often no exposed substrate at low tide.
• attached plants and animals are sparse to common.

• variable width and gentle slope.
• surface of platform is irregular tidal pools common.
• maybe backed be steep scarp or low buff.
• rich accumulation of plant life and animals.
• gravel maybe found in pools
• sand to boulder size sediments and base of scarp.

• exposed in wetlands and where river tributaries cut steep banks in marsh.
• Scarp heights are  0.3 to 1m consist usually of heavily rooted peaty soil.
• Fronted by fine to medium grained sand or shell fragments.
• little habitation due to erosion.
• Typically backed by wetland vegetation.

• Flat to moderate slope. 
• relatively hard packed.
• possible heavy accumulation of wrack(floating plant life).
• Utilized by birds and sea turtles for nesting.

• Occurs where sandy  bluffs are undercut by waves, current, or slump.
• Moderate erosion can allow for a front of narrow beaches.
• Log build up from undercut trees from the back.
• low biological utilization from birds and infauna.

• Moderate sloping of variable width with soft sediment.
• low trafficability.
• lower species density and diversity than fine grain sand.

• zones maybe pure sand, gravel, or cobble.
• seasons can cause large changes in sediment distribution patterns because storms may transport sediment offshore.
• exposed beaches tend to have low densities of life.

• Sediment sizes range from pebbles to boulders.
• can be very steep.
• berms made by waves on upper beach.
• Biota restricted to lower parts of beach.
• Sheltered areas can support rich biota.

• Composed of cobble to boulder size rocks, concrete, etc...
• Used as revetment and groins for shoreline protection and breakwaters and jetties around inlets and marinas.
• Biota is more common in lower intertidal zone than upper intertidal zone.

• Broad flat intertidal areas composed mostly of sand, and minor amounts of gravel, shells, and mud.
• presence of sand indicates strong tidal currents.
• mostly associated with other shoreline types on the land side of  the flat. 
• may exist as separate shoals.
• Commonly associated with tidal inlets.

• Rocky substrate that varies widely in permeability.
• concerns are ones that have a semi-permeable veneer of angular rubble over lying the bedrock.
• bedrock is dominate substrate.
• Lower tidal elevations may present higher biota.

• Structures made of concrete, wood, or metal of all types. 
• usually no exposed shore at low tide.
• maybe dense attachments of aquatic life.

• Composed of mud and minor amounts of sand and shell.
• present in calm water habitats sheltered from major wave action and usually backed by marsh areas.
• soft sediment can't support even light foot traffic in most areas.
• Worms, bivalves, and other invertebrate.
• heavily utilized by birds for feeding.

• Low banks with either grasses or trees and roots exposed to the water.
• Flooded occasionally by high water.

• intertidal wetlands that consist of emergent, herbaceous vegetation.
• Width varies widely.
• Sediments of rich organic mud, except on margins of islands or rivers where sand is abundant. 
• exposed areas are located along bays with high fetches, or heavily trafficked waterways.
• Sheltered areas are not exposed to high wave or wake action.
• lots of flora and fauna.

• grassy wetlands composed of emergent herbaceous vegetation.
• occur upstream from brackish vegetation in the upper estuary and along creeks and rivers.
• Those along major channels are exposed to large currents and boat wakes. Smaller channels tend to be sheltered.
• Resident flora and fauna are abundant.

• consist of shrubs and hardwood forest wetlands.
• vegetation is taller on average than 6m.
• Sediment tend to be silty clay with large amounts of organic debris.
• seasonally flood with low areas being permanently flooded.
• abundant flora and fauna.

• Roots and trunks are typically intertidal with the lower leaves flooded at high tides.
• width can vary from one tree to many kilometers.
• heavy wrack accumulation.
• highly productive, and can serve as nursery habitats, and supports a large diversity of plant and animal life.