Earth Science Final Exam

A cutoff on meandering stream results in the formation of A) an oxbow lake B) a levee C) a point bare D) a terrance

A) an oxbow lake

Which of the following will favor stream terrance formation? A) a large increase in sediment load B) Tectonic uplift of the headwaters C) a rise in sea level D) a decrease in rainfall

B) Tectonic uplift of the headwaters

Which of the following is not an example of an erosional coastal landform? A) sea arch B) an uplift wave-cut platform C) an erosional surface created by a massive tsunami D) an uplift foreshore dune

B) an uplift wave-cut platform

The suspended load of a stream consists of particles that are A) rolled and bounced along the streambed B) held aloft in the stream flow C) dragged along the stream bed D) dissolved in solution

B) held aloft in the stream flow

The two driving forces of the fluvial system are ________ and ________.

Gravity; Insolation

The relationship between stage and stream discharge is called ________ curve.

Stage discharge rating

A watershed is an open system. T/F

True

Although Nile River is the second longest river on Earth, it is not the largest river in terms of discharge. T/F

True

Most streams flow into the ocean. T/F

True

River discharge usually increases downstream because of the area being drained increases. T/F

True

Stream discharge is calculated by multiplying the velocity of the streams by its width and depth for a specific cross section of the channel. T/F

True

The Moon's gravitational pull on the Earth is greater than that of the Sun's. T/F

True

Since the Amazon River is the largest river in terms of discharge, it also produces a large delta at its mouth. T/F

False

Some streams do not reach the ocean. Water leaves the basin through evaporation or subsurface gravitational flow. Such basins are called ________ basins.

Internal drainage

An interruption in a stream's longitudinal profile of equilibrium is called ________.

Nickpoint

The largest ocean in the world in terms of area is the ________ and the smallest ocean in terms of area is the ________.

Pacific; Artic

cfs is a unit of stream discharge and stands for cubic feet per second. T/F

True

Watersheds are defined by A) drainage divides B) stream orders C) fluvial units D) none of the above

A) drainage divides

A graph of stream discharge over time for a specific place is called ________. A) hydrograph B) hypsometry C) water table D) none of the above

A) hydrograph

Which of the following occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are in alignment (i.e., in opposition or conjunction)? A) maximum tidal ranges occur B) neap tides occur C) a lower tidal range occurs D) none of the above are true

A) maximum tidal ranges occur

The length of individual channels in a dendritic drainage pattern is ________ and this increases energy ________. A) minimized; efficiency B) minimized; inefficiency C) maximized; efficiency D) maximized; inefficiency

A) minimized; efficiency

About 2% of the oceanic mass comprise the A) mixing zone of blended solutes and temperatures B) deep cold zone that is near freezing C) thermocline transition zone D) bottom-most layers of each ocean basin that are surprisingly warmer than surface layers

A) mixing zone of blended solutes and temperatures

A central peak, such as volcanic mountain, generally produces a ________ drainage pattern. A) radial B) trellis C) parallel D) annular

A) radial

Which of the following does not favor delta formation? A) strong ocean currents B) shallow ocean water along the coast C) a lack of reservoirs upstream D) a large sediment load

A) strong ocean currents

Waves in shallow water that "feel bottom" are ________ and more ________ spaced than the swell they are related to. A) taller; closely B) taller; widely C) smaller; closely D) smaller; widely

A) taller; closely

Which of the following is not true of tides? A) they are produced solely by the gravitational pull of the Sun B) they are complex daily oscillations in sea level C) they are influenced by the size, depth, and topography of ocean basins D) they are influenced by shoreline configuration and latitude

A) they are produced solely by the gravitational pull of the Sun

An earthquake, submarine landslide, or eruption of undersea volcano is capable of producing a A) tsunami B) tidal wave C) slow-moving giant swell D) wave in the open ocean of great height

A) tsunami

Worldwide average salinity is ________. A) 1.5% B) 3.5% C) 5.5% D) 7.5%

B) 3.5%

Of the world's largest rivers, which has the greatest discharge? A) Congo River B) Amazon River C) Yangtze River D) Missouri-Ohio-Mississippi River

B) Amazon River

From inland to the ocean, which sequence of zones is correct? A) nearshore, backshore, coast B) beach, surf zone, coast C) coast, backshore, foreshore, nearshore D) ocean, beach cliffs

C) coast, backshore, foreshore, nearshore

Brine water results from A) the influx of river water into the ocean B) stagnation of water in a floodplain swamp C) high evaporation rates D) heavy rainfall and low temperature

C) high evaporation rates

Brackish water would be most likely to occur A) in the subtropics B) in the tropical lagoon C) in a deltaic swamp D) in the Red Sea

C) in a deltaic swamp

Which of the following is true of the longitudinal profile of most rivers? A) it always changes at a constant rate from the headwater region to the sea B) it is convex in shape C) it is concave in shape D) it is gentle upstream and steep downstream

C) it is concave in shape

Which of the following units is a correct unit for stream discharge? A) light-year B) half-life C) m^3/s D) kg/m^3

C) m^3/s

Steep slopes and some relief generally produce which drainage pattern? A) dendritic B) deranged C) parallel D) annular

C) parallel

Drainage density refers to A) the thickness of the water in the stream B) the number of channels in an area C) ratio of the total length of channels to the area of the basin D) the arrangement of channels in a given area

C) ratio of the total length of channels to the area of the basin

Which of the following is incorrectly matched? A) rising tides - flood tides B) ebb tides - falling tides C) spring tides - high tides only D) spring tides - maximum tidal range

C) spring tides - high tides only

________ separate drainage basins and send flows to the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantics, Hudson Bay, or the Arctic Ocean.

Continental divides

As a stream velocity decreases, which of the following sizes of sediments will be deposited last? A) gravel B) sand C) silt D) clay

D) clay

The effect of urbanization on a typical stream hydrograph is to A) create a base flow B) increase lag time between storm peak and peak stream discharge C) decrease runoff D) decrease lag time between storm peak and peak stream discharge

D) decrease lag time between storm peak and peak stream discharge

Which of the following stream channel types is likely to develop on gently sloping surfaces composed of rocks or sediments with approximately the same resistance to erosion? A) radial B) annular C) deranged D) dendritic

D) dendritic

The glacial shield regions of Canada have disrupted surface drainage patterns that are called ________ patterns. A) erratic B) parallel C) annular D) deranged

D) deranged

Near the shore, waves of transition begin to "feel bottom" and, as a result, the orbits of the water molecules in the wave become more ________. The process eventually causes ________ to form. A) circular; swells B) circular; breakers C) elliptical; swells D) elliptical; breakers

D) elliptical; breakers

Rectangular drainage patterns form primarily as a result of ________. A) differential resistance to erosion B) domal uplift C) flow through anticlinal and synical topography D) flow through faulted landscape

D) flow through faulted landscape

A general term for the coastal environment is A) shoreline B) coast C) coastline D) littoral zone

D) littoral zone

Which of the following is true of the deep ocean zone? A) the water in this zone does not freeze because of the intense pressure exerted by the weight of overlying water. B) the water in this zone does not freeze because of its salinity C) temperature remains approximately 4 degrees C within most of this layer D) only A and B are true

D) only A and B are true

Stream transport involves all of the following except A) saltation B) suspension C) traction D) sheet flow

D) sheet flow

Which drainage pattern is produced by folded topography? A) radial B) dendritic C) deranged D) trellis

D) trellis

Some streams may originate in a humid region and subsequently flow through an arid region. Thus, the discharge may decrease with distance, because of high potential evapotranspiration. Such streams are called ________ streams.

Exotic

Although many elements are dissolved in seawater; no gases are dissolved in it. T/F

False

As the evaporation rate increases, salinity decreases. T/F

False

Brine water tends to occur near coastal deltas. T/F

False

The concentration of dissolved solids in the seawater is called ________. A) Density B) Salinity C) Discharge D) Sediment

B) Salinity

The height of a tsunami grows as it approaches a coastline primarily because A) it's energy level increases B) it's wavelength shortens C) the height of the surf is added to the height of the tsunami D) none of the above are true

B) it's wavelength shortens

The valley and ridge province is characterized by which drainage pattern? A) dendritic B) trellis C) deranged D) annular

B) trellis

Braided streams are characterized by A) sediment deposition in the channel resulting in the formation of sand and gravel bars and numerous small channels B) a heavy load in relation to discharge C) server erosion of the channel bed D) A and B only

D) A and B only

Which of the following is not an example of a depositions coastal landform? A) wave-built terrance B) barrier split C) bay barrier D) wave-cut platform

D) wave-cut platform

As the discharge of a stream increases, which of the following also happens? A) stream channel narrow, become shallower, and lose velocity B) the rate of flow decreases C) channel width increases but channel depth decreases D) width, depth and velocity all increase

D) width, depth and velocity all increase