Geo 118 Exam 2

Which of the following statements is FALSE about the troposphere? Select one: -It contains most of the mass of the atmosphere. -It is the lowest layer of the atmosphere. -Temperature increases with increasing altitude (vertical distance from the ground surface). -Essentially all weather phenomena occur there.

Temperature increases with increasing altitude (vertical distance from the ground surface).

The Portuguese Bend landslide in California was probably caused by: Select one: -weak bentonite clay which underlies rock layers of the area -fill material placed at the head (beginning part) of the slide area -added water from the local population -all of the above

all of the above

Which of the following is a benefit from volcanoes or volcanic eruptions? Select one: -pumice, which is used in a variety of products -economically valuable deposits of metals -heat that can be used to generate electricity -all of the above

all of the above

Quick clay would be an excellent choice upon which to build a major construction project because it has high cohesion, which means there are strong electrical attractions between the microscopic flat clay mineral grains that hold it together. Select one: True False

false

Hot springs and geysers at Yellowstone National Park are a sign that the area is cooling from the last cycle of volcanic activity, and, therefore, no future volcanic activity is expected there. Select one: True False

false

If you are driving in a car and see a tornado, one of the safest strategies is to drive to a highway overpass and seek shelter there to protect yourself from the strong winds. Select one: True False

false

Lahars are volcanic mudflows that are not a serious geologic hazard because they move very slowly. Select one: True False

false

Maximum wind speeds in a hurricane are generally higher than maximum wind speeds in a tornado. Select one: True False

false

Remediation of the subsidence problem in the San Joaquin valley of California involved subsurface injection of pressurized water, which caused the land surface to rebound to its original level before subsidence. Select one: True False

false

Sinkholes most commonly form in the sedimentary rock, sandstone. Select one: True False

false

Rising air caused by the collision of 2 air masses with different temperatures is: Select one: -convergence lifting -frontal lifting -orographic lifting (rain shadow effect) -convective lifting (due to intense heating)

frontal lifting

Which of the following statements is TRUE about subsidence at Long Beach, CA (south of Los Angeles)? Select one: -Gradual subsidence occurred over several decades due to the deep subsurface withdrawal of oil and gas. -Rapid subsidence occurred due to collapse over an abandoned coal mine. -Gradual subsidence occurred over several decades due to withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation purposes. -Rapid subsidence occurred due to collapse over a sinkhole.

Gradual subsidence occurred over several decades due to the deep subsurface withdrawal of oil and gas

Which of the following statements best describes the formation of a caldera? Select one: -gradual sinking of a very large area due to extensive groundwater pumping -Extremely explosive volcanic eruptions empty large underground magma chambers, until eventually the empty chambers collapse. -Subsurface dissolution of rock produces a cave, which collapses. -Gentle lava flow eruptions empty small underground magma chambers, until eventually the empty magma chambers collapse.

Extremely explosive volcanic eruptions empty large underground magma chambers, until eventually the empty chambers collapse.

Which of the following statements is FALSE about hurricanes? Select one: -Hurricanes require very warm, surface seawater and form at very low latitudes. -Most deaths from hurricanes are usually from drowning due to heavy rain and storm surge. -Hurricane formation requires strong winds at high altitudes, i.e., high velocity jet stream. -Hurricanes usually lose intensity as they pass from water to land.

Hurricane formation requires strong winds at high altitudes, i.e., high velocity jet stream.

If you had to live near a volcano (and do not want to die from an eruption), which volcano would you choose? Select one: Mt. Vesuvius, Italy Mt. Saint Helens, Washington, USA Mt. Pelee, Martinique Kilauea, Hawaii, USA

Kilauea, Hawaii, USA

Which of the following statements is TRUE about landslides? Select one: -Landslides are an example of a geologic hazard in which damage can be greatly reduced if appropriate measures are taken in the area of public policy and landslide control. -The reason that Earth has topography is because geologists think Earth is relatively young (thousands of years) and landslides have not had enough time to flatten Earth's landscape. -Geologists are unable to explain the following discrepancy: because Earth is very old (several billions of years), Earth's landscape should be completely flat due to the action of landslides. -Landslides are an example of a geologic process that can be completely eliminated if appropriate measures are taken in the area of public policy and landslide control.

Landslides are an example of a geologic hazard in which damage can be greatly reduced if appropriate measures are taken in the area of public policy and landslide control.

Which of the following statements about the explosive eruption of Mt. Saint Helens on May 18, 1980 is FALSE? Select one: -A lahar (mudflow) was produced. -The size of Mt. Saint Helens increased because of the accumulation of large amounts of volcanic ash and many lava flows from the eruption. -The eruption was immediately preceded by earthquakes that caused a large landslide. -Geologists warned of an impending eruption.

The size of Mt. Saint Helens increased because of the accumulation of large amounts of volcanic ash and many lava flows from the eruption.

What is the difference between weather and climate? Select one: -Weather represents the daily fluctuations in air temperature, wind speed, and precipitation; climate represents the long-term average of daily weather conditions. -Both weather and climate represent the daily fluctuations in air temperature, wind speed, and precipitation. -Both weather and climate represent the long-term average of daily fluctuations in air temperature, wind speed, and precipitation. -Climate represents the daily fluctuations in air temperature, wind speed, and precipitation; weather represents the long-term average of daily climate conditions.

Weather represents the daily fluctuations in air temperature, wind speed, and precipitation; climate represents the long-term average of daily weather conditions.

As an air mass in a weather system rises above the land surface, Select one: temperature of the air mass decreases the ability of the air mass to hold water vapor decreases pressure of the air mass decreases all of the above

all of the above

A stratovolcano consists of ___________________; an example of a stratovolcano is ________________. Select one: -multiple lava flows . . . Mt. Saint Helens in northwest USA -alternating layers of volcanic ash and lava . . . Mt. Saint Helens in -northwest USA -multiple lava flows . . . Kilauea in Hawaii -alternating layers of volcanic ash and lava . . . Kilauea in Hawaii

alternating layers of volcanic ash and lava . . . Mt. Saint Helens in northwest USA

Which of the following descriptions applies to Mt. Vesuvius, Italy? Select one: -emissions from a volcano produced a suffocating cloud of CO2 gas, which killedover a thousand people -an explosive volcanic eruption produced a tsunami, which killed thousands of people -an ash-flow volcanic eruption (nuee ardente) killed thousands of people in less than a minute -an ash-fall volcanic eruption buried and preserved the ancient city of Pompeii -a shield volcano that erupts mainly lava flows and fountains

an ash-fall volcanic eruption buried and preserved the ancient city of Pompeii

Which of the following descriptions applies to Mt. Pelee, Martinique (Caribbean island)? Select one: -emissions from a volcano produced a suffocating cloud of CO2 gas, which killedover a thousand people -an explosive volcanic eruption produced a tsunami, which killed thousands of people -an ash-flow volcanic eruption (nuee ardente) killed thousands of people in less than a minute -an ash-fall volcanic eruption buried and preserved the ancient city of Pompeii -a shield volcano that erupts mainly lava flows and fountains

an ash-flow volcanic eruption (nuee ardente) killed thousands of people in less than a minute

The Vaiont landslide in Italy involved: Select one: A. gradual, continuous, downslope movement over a 30 year time period that resulted in damage to many homes B. a housing development that was built on weak sedimentary rock with layering parallel to the slope and a cliff at the front edge where ocean waves eroded into the cliff C. an enormous debris slide that created a giant wave which killed thousands of people in a few minutes D. both A + B

an enormous debris slide that created a giant wave which killed thousands of people in a few minutes

Most of Earth's active volcanoes are located: Select one: -around the margin of the Atlantic Ocean -at the Hawaiian islands -around the margin of the Pacific Ocean -around the margin of the Mediterranean Sea

around the margin of the Pacific Ocean

Which of the following should DECREASE the risk of a landslide? Select one: -construction of a concrete retaining wall (with drainage pipes -running through the slope and wall) at the base of a slope -building a new housing development on a slope -use of septic tanks -earthquake activity

construction of a concrete retaining wall (with drainage pipes -running through the slope and wall) at the base of a slope

Removing earth material from the upper (top) part of a landslide area would Select one: -increase the resisting force -decrease the driving force -decrease the resisting force -increase the driving force

decrease the driving force

Which of the following descriptions applies to Lake Nyos, Cameroon (central Africa)? Select one: -emissions from a volcano produced a suffocating cloud of CO2 gas, which killedover a thousand people -an explosive volcanic eruption produced a tsunami, which killed thousands of people -an ash-flow volcanic eruption (nuee ardente) killed thousands of people in less than a minute -an ash-fall volcanic eruption buried and preserved the ancient city of Pompeii -a shield volcano that erupts mainly lava flows and fountains

emissions from a volcano produced a suffocating cloud of CO2 gas, which killedover a thousand people

A factor of safety value less than one means a slope is stable and will resist development of landslides. Select one: True False

false

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) account for ~99% of the gases in our atmosphere. Select one: True False

false

Gradual subsidence of the ground surface is an entirely human-induced process caused by the weight of large buildings, which causes sediment grains to become more compacted. Select one: True False

false

A potentially effective way to stabilize a slope that is susceptible to landsliding is to: Select one: -grow vegetation on a previously unvegetated slope -add water to the slope so that pore spaces are filled -regrade the slope to a steeper angle -all of the above

grow vegetation on a previously unvegetated slope

Based on the general circulation of air in the atmosphere, what feature is NOT normally expected at the equator? Select one: -frequent rainstorms -intense heating due to direct sunlight -rising air -high-pressure air systems

high-pressure air systems

Which of the following descriptions applies to Bangladesh? Select one: -major hurricane that affected central America and caused a large number of deaths due to intense rainfall, which was heaviest in mountainous areas -major hurricane that affected south Florida and Louisiana; it caused a very large amount of damage but relatively few deaths because so many people evacuated beforehand -major hurricane that affected south Florida and Louisiana; it caused a large number of deaths and a very large amount of damage -catastrophic flooding of this city occurred when its levees collapsed after a major hurricane -location of most (>50%) of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the world; the reason for the high deaths is due to extreme poverty and large number of people living near sea level

location of most (>50%) of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the world; the reason for the high deaths is due to extreme poverty and large number of people living near sea level

Which of the following descriptions applies to Hurricane Katrina? Select one: -major hurricane that affected central America and caused a large number of deaths due to intense rainfall, which was heaviest in mountainous areas -major hurricane that affected south Florida and Louisiana; it caused a very large amount of damage but relatively few deaths because so many people evacuated beforehand -major hurricane that affected south Florida and Louisiana; it caused a large number of deaths and a very large amount of damage -catastrophic flooding of this city occurred when its levees collapsed after a major hurricane -location of most (>50%) of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the world; the reason for the high deaths is due to extreme poverty and large number of people living near sea level

major hurricane that affected south Florida and Louisiana; it caused a large number of deaths and a very large amount of damage

Which of the following descriptions applies to Hurricane Andrew? Assume the following: major hurricane = Category 3 or higher; minor hurricane= Category 1 or 2; large number of deaths = >1,000; relatively few deaths = <100; very large amount of damage = >$10billion; and relatively little damage = <$1 billion. Select one: -major hurricane that affected central America and caused a large number of deaths due to intense rainfall, which was heaviest in mountainous areas -major hurricane that affected south Florida and Louisiana; it caused a very large amount of damage but relatively few deaths because so many people evacuated beforehand -major hurricane that affected south Florida and Louisiana; it caused a large number of deaths and a very large amount of damage -catastrophic flooding of this city occurred when its levees collapsed after a major hurricane -location of most (>50%) of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the world; the reason for the high deaths is due to extreme poverty and large number of people living near sea level

major hurricane that affected south Florida and Louisiana; it caused a very large amount of damage but relatively few deaths because so many people evacuated beforehand

Which of the following is NOT a possible way to reduce losses from volcanic eruptions? Select one: -put debris in the crater of the volcano to prevent it from erupting -develop volcanic hazard maps and avoid development in hazardous areas -spray water on lava flows to cool them and cause them to solidify -monitor precursors and issue warnings when necessary

put debris in the crater of the volcano to prevent it from erupting

Which of the following statements is FALSE about the atmosphere? Select one: -heat is released as water vapor (gas) changes to liquid water -high pressure systems generally have clear skies -relative humidity generally decreases as air rises -relative humidity represents the amount of water vapor in air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the same air can hold

relative humidity generally decreases as air rises

Which of the following does NOT have a role in determining how violent a volcanic eruption will be? Select one: -nature of the rock that is melted, e.g., rock from the mantle vs. crust -chemical composition of the magma (molten rock) -temperature of the air above the volcano -amount of gas in the magma

temperature of the air above the volcano

A consequence of subsidence in coastal areas can be an increase in coastal flooding. Select one: True False

true

In the US Midwest, thunderstorms are usually produced by the collision of a cold air mass into a warm, moist air mass. Select one: True False

true

In the diagram below, house A (steeper slope) is located in an area more susceptible to landslides than house B. Select one: True False

true

Most of Earth's major deserts occur at ~30° latitude, where descending air causes heating and increased evaporation. Select one: True False

true

The Coriolis effect, which causes moving objects to be deflected from a straight line, is due to the fact that because of Earth's spin, objects at the equator are moving faster than objects at high latitudes. Select one: True False

true

The natural disaster at Joplin, Missouri in 2011 involved a powerful tornado that was the deadliest single tornado in US history. (You can assume that 2011 is the correct date of the natural disaster at Joplin, Missouri.) Select one: True False

true

The state of Florida has many sinkholes. Select one: True False

true

Most weather systems in the USA (contiguous 48 states) move from: Select one: -south to north -east to west -north to south -west to east

west to east

In a region susceptible to sinkhole formation, the most likely times for collapse will be: Select one: -when underground water levels are low -just before full moons -during periods of heavy rain -when underground water levels are high

when underground water levels are low