GEO 206 Final Exam

A 20-year flood has a _________ chance of occurring each year.

5%

Which of the following climate types is unique in that it is classified more on the basis of precipitation than on temperature?

Arid/Semi-arid (B) climates

We can use proxy data to tell us what the prehistoric climate of Earth may have been like. Why?

Climate leaves an observable imprint on the landscape.

True or false? Midlatitude anticyclones contain fronts, which are contrasting and converging air masses, whereas midlatitude cyclones do not contain fronts.

False

It is important to study prehistoric climate change for three reasons: 1 - to better predict and understand how climate might change in the future, 2 - to better understand how and why climate has changed in the past, and 3 - to stop the climate from changing in the future.

False. Some degree of climate change is natural and, therefore, we cannot stop the climate from changing.

Which of the following statements about groins is true?

Groins increase deposition in one location, but decrease deposition further down shore.

Which of the following statements is true about plate tectonics?

If plates are diverging at one location they must be converging somewhere else.

There is a net radiation surplus in the lower latitudes (that is, the tropics). What does this mean?

In the tropics, incoming radiation exceeds outgoing radiation on an annual basis.

Over the course of the year, a location on the Earth's surface receives an average of 2.2 kilowatt-hours per square meter per day of radiation from the sun. This same location loses, on average, 2.5 kilowatt-hours per square meter per day. Where is this location and how do you know? [Note: Select the best answer.]

It is in the high latitudes; because it has a net energy loss

Which of the following statements about translocations and leaching is true?

Leaching removes cations and minerals out of the soil profile entirely, translocation does not.

Which of the following statements about microthermal (D) climates is false?

Microthermal climates are characterized by two seasons, long, cold winters and hot summers.

The waters of River A meet the waters of River B in the town of Biglerville, and form River C. All of the following could be true, except:

River B is the trunk stream of this stream network.

The Ohio River meets the Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois. Therefore, which of the following is FALSE?

The slope of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers will always be the same.

City A and City B are approximately 15 miles apart, with City B being due east from City A. At 1:00 PM, the temperature in City A is 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature in City B is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. What is the most likely explanation for this?

The urban versus rural effect, with City B being an urban locale.

Immediately poleward of the warm, wet Tropical (A) regions, you most often find Arid/semi-arid B climates. Why?

These areas are under the influence of subtropical high pressure systems.

On the map above that depicts generalized global circulation patterns, the two zones shaded orange represent what?

These areas represent subtropical high pressure (STH) systems.

Which of the following best describes how greenhouse gases warm the Earth?

They absorb and re-radiate heat emitted by the Earth's surface.

What do arêtes, cirques, and horns have in common?

They are erosional landforms in the mountains.

On the map above, the dashed, dark-blue line represents a (simplified) equatorial component of tropical circulation.

This line represents the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

True or false? When earthworms are present in a soil they recycle organic material and aerate and mix the soil, which improves water movement and root growth. In this statement, earthworms are an example of a soil forming factor.

True

Which of the following statements about fronts is TRUE?

Warm fronts are associated with slow moving storms and gentle rainfall over several days, while cold fronts are associated with faster, more intense storms

Is it possible to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere once it is there?

Yes, plants remove carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.

Which of the following characteristics of a location would have the least influence on the type of dune that forms in that location?

a river to the northwest

The so-called Corpse Plant of Indonesia is the largest plant in the world. In order to reproduce, it requires high humidity and warmth, like that of the Indonesian rainforests. Under those conditions, it will emit an offensive odor that attracts pollinating insects. The limiting factors of the Corpse Plant are:

abiotic

The Earth makes a complete orbit around the sun:

about once every 365 days.

In some environments like those near a coast, it may be necessary to choose building materials and paint that resist the constant wear that takes place when particles of sand repeatedly grind against the surface of a building. This is most like the process of:

abrasion.

Unlike headlands, beaches:

are areas of net deposition.

The above image is a portion of the Muskegon River scanned from a 1:24000 USGS topographic map. A point bar is most likely to be found at which location?

at D

Of all the greenhouse gases humans are responsible for emitting, ____________ is the most abundant.

carbon dioxide.

What chemical-weathering process is most associated with the formation of karst topography?

carbonation

Which of the following characteristics are associated with a cyclone? 1 - air ascends in the center 2 - air flow is clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere 3 - air converges at the surface

characteristics 1 and 3

Image source higgy (July 2004) in Flickr made available through Creative Commons license [13 August 2018]In the photograph above, the white arrow is pointing to a feature called a:

cirque.

Which of the following is not an adaptation of plants to conserve water?

colorful, flowering buds

In the diagram above of a midlatitude cyclone, the area labeled "A" is a zone of:

cool, dry air.

In a typical arid environment, the landscape initially has many sizes of particles, silt, sand, and pebbles. Over time, the most prevalent sand movements, suspension and creep, can transform the landscape so that:

desert pavement remains.

Which of the following best explains how the joined plates of Pangaea were able to slowly drift apart over time?

differences in density between the mantle and the crust

One of the primary differences between glacial till and glacial outwash is that glacial till is deposited:

directly by glacial ice.

Around Mount Saint Helens in Washington, several streams originate near the peak of the mountain, and then flow down its flanks, outward, toward the base of the mountain. This statement describes:

drainage pattern.

Because some of the world's largest deserts are found worldwide around 30 degrees North and South latitude, you know that high pressure systems are associated with:

dry air.

Over the course of the year, a location on the Earth's surface receives more radiation from the sun than it releases to the atmosphere. This location has a(n) _______________ and is probably located at a _________________.

energy surplus; low latitude

A stream with increased erosive power, such as one flowing across a steep gradient, is more likely to _____________ than a stream that is graded.

erode vertically

Which of the following has provided direct evidence for the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea?

fossils

Erosion on the outside of a meander bend is ________________ erosion on the inside of meander bend.

greater than

When water changes phase from a liquid to a gas:

heat is absorbed.

During India's winter an area of __________ pressure develops over the subcontinent and an area of __________ pressure develops over the surrounding water bodies.

high; low

Animal decomposition, plant respiration, and a burning forest are examples of:

how carbon dioxide is released.

By examining the texture of the sediment (only) that composes a landform of glacial origin, a geomorphologist can determine:

how the sediment was deposited, by ice or water.

If carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases warm the Earth's atmosphere by absorbing radiation released by the Earth, it is reasonable to conclude that:

if there are more greenhouse gases, more heat will be absorbed.

The thickest, most developed soil would most likely form in the least amount of time under which of the following conditions?

in a well-vegetated flat region with a humid climate

It is not uncommon for newspaper stories to report that a person, car, or home, has fallen into a sinkhole. From your knowledge of physical geography, you know that this is most likely to occur:

in humid climates with limestone bedrock.

A(n) _____________ is the rapid movement of unconsolidated sediment down slope, under the force of gravity. When this movement occurs suddenly on a mountainside, it is commonly known called a(n) _____________.

landslide; avalanche

Which of the following is the name for the specific (regional) soil-forming process that occurs in tropical locations and results in weathered, iron-rich soils with a reddish color?

laterization

Which of the following factors would be the most significant reason for differences in net radiation and temperature between Tempe, Arizona, and Anchorage, Alaska?

latitude

The direction of ice flow of glaciers that have been absent from the landscape for a long time can still be determined by looking at various features on a landscape. Which of the following would be least helpful in determining the direction of glacial ice-flow?

location of erratics

Rockfall, creep, flows, landslides, and avalanches are all specific types of:

mass wasting.

Ascending air in the center of a low:

may be replaced by air diverging from the center of a high.

Which type of weathering leads to some of the problems we experience in Michigan, such as potholes and broken sidewalks?

mechanical weathering

Generally speaking, average temperatures of locations near a large water body are:

more moderate than continental locales.

Given the following conditions, name the type of mass wasting process that is most likely to occur there. A steep hill slope located in a mediterranean climate that receives high precipitation amounts in the winter followed by a hot, relatively dry summer.

mudflow

Canberra, Australia is located at 35 degrees South latitude. The noon sun is directly overhead Canberra, Australia:

never.

Which of the following constant gases accounts for the largest percentage of the air we breathe?

nitrogen

What are two key characteristics of humid continental (D) climates (including the climate of Michigan)?

no dry season and seasonal variability

Country A and Country B are located on earth and share a border. For much of the year the Intertropical Convergence Zone is over Country A. In July and August, Country B, which typically has a dry climate, receives increased rainfall. Country B is most likely located __________ of Country A.

north

You buy a house on the floodplain of a small river. When you take out a National Flood Insurance policy for your property, FEMA informs you that the last flood to damage your home occurred in 2000. That flooding event was a 25-year flood. You know that this size of flood:

occurs on average once every 25 years, and may or may not occur again this year.

After an extended period of heavy rains, a river begins to downcut into its current floodplain. In places where this happens, what features are most likelyto form on the landscape as a result?

paired terraces

If you see a groin or a breakwater while walking along a sandy coast, you know that:

people are trying to create a wide or wider beach.

When you eat a carrot or an apple, the carbohydrates that they contain are a product of:

photosynthesis

Oxygen is released during:

photosynthesis.

Plants produce carbohydrates and oxygen during the process of:

photosynthesis.

What pedogenic regime occurs in dry (arid and semiarid) climates where evaporation is much greater than precipitation?

salinization

Once particles are put in motion by wind, they may create a chain reaction by influencing the movement of other particles. This is characteristic of:

saltation and creep.

Where there are rocky headlands, the energy of waves can create:

sea stacks.

Nitrogen fertilizer is applied to a cornfield. When it rains, the excess nitrogen in the soil is carried through the soil profile by the rain water, into the groundwater below, and is eventually found in the local water supply. This is an example of:

soil depletion.

In reference to the progression of coastline development, what is the correct order of the statements below? 1 - a coast features rocky headlands and intervening bays 2 - a coast is relatively straight with areas of wide, sandy beaches 3 - wave energy is focused on the rocky headlands and dissipates in the bays

statement 1 occurs first and statement 2 occurs last

On a two lane highway, cars travel past one another in opposite directions. This motion is most comparable to a:

strike-slip fault.

Homes made from adobe (sand, clay, and water) bricks are an example of which soil function?

supports the anthropogenic ecosystem through its use as an engineering medium

When a stream's discharge exceeds base flow:

surface runoff or precipitation has increased.

According to your lesson, which of the following is NOT a geographical factor that directly contributes to the global distribution of deserts?

temperature

Which of the following formed as a result of plate collision?

the Appalachian Mountains

Which of the following formed as a result of a plate subduction?

the Cascade Mountains

If we, in Michigan, experienced continual daylight every day of the year (that is, no darkness or night), which of the following must be true?

the Earth must have stopped spinning on its axis.

Michigan experiences cold winters and warm summers, with sufficient precipitation falling year round. This statement best describes:

the climate of Michigan

All mass wasting events are affected by:

the force of gravity.

The energy for a thunderstorm is provided by:

the latent heat of condensation released when warm air rising in the atmosphere cools and condenses.

When describing air masses, what do the words Polar (P), Arctic (A), and Tropical (T) directly refer to?

the latitudinal position over which the air mass formed

San Diego, California is located at a low elevation around 32 degrees North latitude. Las Vegas, Nevada is located at a higher elevation, 350 miles northeast of San Diego. San Diego is known for its pleasant summer temperatures, while Las Vegas is known for its brutally hot summers. Given the following choices, which is the only possible explanation for this?

the maritime versus continental effect

Earth's tilt is largely responsible for the seasonal variation experienced in northern latitudes, whereas the timing and duration of each season is a result of:

the revolution of the Earth around the sun.

The summer, wet monsoon in India is the direct result of: [Note: Select the best answer.]

the unequal heating of the Indian landmass and surrounding water bodies.

Last Thursday, Stanley, Idaho had the coldest day of any location in the United States. The temperature there was -26 degrees and there was not a cloud in the sky. This statement best describes:

the weather in Stanley, Idaho

On Wednesday, a cold front passed over southeastern Michigan bringing cool temperatures and 1 to 2 inches of rainfall. This statement best describes:

the weather in southeastern Michigan

Image Source: M. Luehmann [2018] In the image above, the feature located between the bedrock and mainland and shaded yellow is called a:

tombolo.

Biogeography includes the study of both the biotic and abiotic components of a forest. Which of the following includes an example of both a biotic and an abiotic component of an ecosystem?

toucans and rocks

Calcium carbonate in the E horizon dissolves in rainwater, and re-precipitates in the B horizon. This is an example of:

translocation.

As the afternoon sun warms a south facing slope in the Northern Hemisphere, a tree loses much of the moisture it gained from the rain that fell earlier in the day, as the water passes through its leaves into the atmosphere. This process is called:

transpiration

Which of the following climate types has weather patterns most affected by seasonal shifts of the ITCZ?

tropical (A) climates

In the diagram above of a midlatitude cyclone, the area labeled "B" is a zone of:

warm, moist air.

The most abundant and variable greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is:

water vapor.

The physical process that can break down sediment in place so that it is then free to be moved or transported by other geomorphic agents and mass wasting is:

weathering.

The primary difference between glaciofluvial sediments and till is glaciofluvial sediments are:

well sorted and stratified by particle size, till is poorly sorted.

The primary winds in Michigan are the:

westerlies.