Geol113 (Exam 3)

Increasing wind speed will result in a larger storm surge. A.True B.False

A. True

The eye of the hurricane is an area of relative calm. A.True B.False

A. True

Which of the following can happen to radiation (visible light from the Sun or infrared from the Earth)? (Choose all that apply.) A. absorption B. radioactive decay C. scattering D. reflection E. transmission

A. absorption C. scattering D. reflection E. transmission

Which of the following statements is TRUE about a hurricane as it makes landfall? A.The hurricane is cut off from the warm water and its strength decreases. B.The friction of the coastline decreases the hurricane's strength. C.Interactions with trees, houses and buildings decrease the hurricane's strength. D.All energy is cut off to the hurricane and it immediately stops. E.The hurricane increases in intensity as it causes damage.

A.The hurricane is cut off from the warm water and its strength decreases.

Which type of coastline usually has a broader continental shelf? A.a passive continental margin B.an active continental margin

A.a passive continental margin

Waves ___________. A.refract (bend) so as to impact the shore in a nearly parallel manner B.refract so as to impact the shore nearly perpendicular to the shoreline C.reflect directly backward from the angle at which they approached the shoreline D.are reflected off the shoreline, but never refract

A.refract (bend) so as to impact the shore in a nearly parallel manner

Which of the following is NOT a "greenhouse" gas? (Click all that apply.) A. Nitrous oxide B. Nitrogen C. Methane D. Argon E. Carbon dioxide F. Water vapor G. Oxygen H. Aerosols

B. Nitrogen D. Argon G. Oxygen H. Aerosols

When solar radiation strikes an object, which of the following can happen? (select all that are possible) A. Some of the energy is destroyed. B. Some of the energy is reflected or scattered off the object, having no effect on temperature. C. Some of the energy just passes through the object, having no effect on temperature. D. Some of the energy is absorbed by the object, causing temperature to increase.

B. Some of the energy is reflected or scattered off the object, having no effect on temperature. C. Some of the energy just passes through the object, having no effect on temperature. D. Some of the energy is absorbed by the object, causing temperature to increase.

What are the 4 components of the Earth System? A. the Moon B. the hydrosphere C. the atmosphere D. the geosphere E. the Sun F. the biosphere

B. the hydrosphere C. the atmosphere D. the geosphere F. the biosphere

What percentage of seawater, on average, consists of dissolved ions ("salts")? A.1.5% B.3.5% C.5.5% D.6.5%

B.3.5%

What is storm surge? A.A large amount of rainfall B.A large increase in sea level C.A large amount of wind D.A sudden increase in rainfall E.A sudden increase in wind

B.A large increase in sea level

What conditions are NOT associated with development of a hurricane? A.Weak upper level winds B.A tornado that acts a nucleus for a hurricane to form C.The formation of a tropical storm D.Thick layer of warm water at the ocean surface

B.A tornado that acts a nucleus for a hurricane to form

Which one of the following statements regarding hurricanes is NOT true? (The other three statements are true.) A.Hurricanes form in tropical or subtropical regions during the summer-early autumn. B.As the eye of a hurricane passes from the ocean to the land, the hurricane will probably grow in strength. C.Hurricane size is measured according to the maximum sustained wind speed. D.As a hurricane passes over areas where sea-surface temperatures are higher, it will probably grow in strength.

B.As the eye of a hurricane passes from the ocean to the land, the hurricane will probably grow in strength.

Most people who die during a hurricane die from which of the following? A.Drowning in the floods that come from the heavy rainfall. B.Drowning in the coastal floods due to storm surge. C.Building collapse and flying debris due to hurricane force winds. D.Building collapse due to high waves.

B.Drowning in the coastal floods due to storm surge.

Where is the most intense rain and wind in a hurricane? A.Rain bands B.Eye walls C.Eye D.Just outside the rain bands E.In the northwest corner of the storm

B.Eye walls

What is the difference between a glacial and interglacial period? A.Glacial periods are longer than interglacial periods. B.Glacial periods are colder (30% land covered in ice) than interglacial periods (10% land covered in ice). C.Glacial periods are shorter than interglacial periods. D.Glacial periods are more recent than interglacial periods. E.Glacial periods are more frequent than interglacial periods.

B.Glacial periods are colder (30% land covered in ice) than interglacial periods (10% land covered in ice).

As waves come into shallow water and start to "touch bottom", what happens to the wave? A.It speeds up, the wavelength gets shorter, and the wave height increases. B.It slows down, the wavelength gets shorter, and the wave height increases C.It slows down, the wavelength gets shorter, and the wave height decreases. D.The speed doesn't change, but the wavelength gets shorter and the wave height increases.

B.It slows down, the wavelength gets shorter, and the wave height increases

The most prominent force inducing tides on Earth is the ____________. A.Sun's gravitational pull B.Moon's gravitational pull C.electromagnetic attraction between the Earth and the Sun D.gravitational attraction between ocean waters and the continents on Earth

B.Moon's gravitational pull

When air parcels containing water vapor cool down to their dew point in the atmosphere, which of the following best describes what happens? A.The water vapor condenses to form water droplets (dew and fog and clouds) and heat is absorbed from the surrounding air. B.The water vapor condenses to form water droplets (dew and fog and clouds) and heat is released into the surrounding air. C.Neither of the above is correct

B.The water vapor condenses to form water droplets (dew and fog and clouds) and heat is released into the surrounding air.

If one were to ride a hot-air balloon up into the atmosphere, one would experience the concentration of gases ____________. A.becoming denser B.becoming less dense C.remaining the same D.increasing for the first 10 km, then starting to decline

B.becoming less dense

The density of seawater increases with ____________ and ____________. A.increasing temperature; increasing salinity B.decreasing temperature; increasing salinity C.increasing temperature; decreasing salinity D.decreasing temperature; decreasing salinity

B.decreasing temperature; increasing salinity

Rip currents flow ____________. A.directly toward the shoreline B.directly away from the shoreline C.parallel to the shoreline

B.directly away from the shoreline

If you go on vacation in the equatorial tropics, you notice that the air is warm or hot. The air is warm because A.it has been heated up by incoming solar radiation. B.it has been heated up by outgoing earth radiation. C.it has been heated up by reflected solar radiation. D.none of the above

B.it has been heated up by outgoing earth radiation.

Upwelling currents exist along the west coasts of continents at the equator because of ______________. A.variation in tidal behavior between the two hemispheres B.the movement of surface currents away from shore C.sea-level variation between the world's oceans D.the upwelling of denser, more saline cold bottomwaters

B.the movement of surface currents away from shore

If one were to ride a hot-air balloon up into the troposphere and then the stratosphere, one would experience A.the temperature decreasing (getting colder) with altitude in both the troposphere and stratosphere (although at different rates). B.the temperature decreasing in the troposphere but increasing again in the stratosphere. C.the temperature increasing with altitude (as one gets closer to the Sun) in both the troposphere and stratosphere (although at different rates). D.the temperature increasing in the troposphere but decreasing in the stratosphere.

B.the temperature decreasing in the troposphere but increasing again in the stratosphere.

The state of the atmosphere (temperature, pressure, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, wind, etc.) at a given time and place is called A.climate B.weather C.elemental state D.none of the above

B.weather

Approximately what percentage of Earth's surface is covered with water? A.30% B.50% C.70% D.85%

C.70%

How do scientists measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for dates prior to the 1955? A.Direct measurements at Mauna Loa B.Written records C.From air bubbles in glacial ice from cores D.From air bubbles in volcanic rocks E.From measurements of carbon dioxide trapped in sediment from the ocean floor

C.From air bubbles in glacial ice from cores

Why do scientists think that the current global warming situation is NOT caused by natural forces? A.Models of the Sun show that radiation hasn't varied throughout human history. B.Volcanoes have not been known to cause global climate change, only local changes. C.Mathematical models show that possible natural forces aren't significant enough. D.Humans are the only sources capable of changing the climate. E.They don't know. They just assume that humans are the cause.

C.Mathematical models show that possible natural forces aren't significant enough.

You are diving for treasure lost when a ship wrecked several hundred years ago. You want to find the most treasure you can. Where do you dive? A.in the direction the longshore currents come from B.just below the depth of the wave base on calm days C.below the depth of the wave base on rougher-weather days D.into a submarine canyon

C.below the depth of the wave base on rougher-weather days

The shallowest portions of ocean found along the margins of continents are the ____________. A.abyssal plains B.continental rises C.continental shelves D.continental slopes

C.continental shelves

Most of the igneous rocks within oceanic abyssal plains are ____________. A.exposed at the surface of the sea floor B.covered by sand and gravel introduced by rivers at deltas C.covered by clay and the skeletal remains of microplankton D.covered by limestones made up of the fragments of large invertebrate shells

C.covered by clay and the skeletal remains of microplankton

When the sea level rises, the ocean may invade a river valley, producing a nearshore body of water of mixed and variable salinity termed a(n) ____________. A.atoll B.lagoon C.estuary D.jetty

C.estuary

Along beaches, groins have ____________. A.solved the problem of beach drift B.increased erosion rates immediately upcurrent from the groin C.increased erosion rates immediately downcurrent from the groin D.increased depositional rates immediately downcurrent from the groin

C.increased erosion rates immediately downcurrent from the groin

Incoming solar radiation reaches the earth as visible (mostly yellow) light. After being absorbed by the Earth's surface, this energy is re-radiated at what wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum of radiation? A.visible (mostly red) light B.ultraviolet C.infrared D.none of the above

C.infrared

Presently, Earth's atmosphere is dominated by which two gases? A.hydrogen and oxygen B.carbon dioxide and methane C.nitrogen and oxygen D.nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide

C.nitrogen and oxygen

Longshore currents flow ____________. A.directly toward the shoreline B.directly away from the shoreline C.parallel to the shoreline

C.parallel to the shoreline

The greatest loss of life during a natural disaster in the United States occurred during ________. A.Hurricane Katrina B.a tornado in the Midwest C.the 1900 Galveston hurricane D.a 1959 blizzard in the Midwest

C.the 1900 Galveston hurricane

If there was less of an atmosphere above Earth (the atmosphere wasn't as thick), then __________________. A.the air we breathe would be more dense and there would be more air pressure B.the air we breathe would be less dense and there would be more air pressure C.the air we breathe would be less dense and there would be less air pressure D.None of the above are correct.

C.the air we breathe would be less dense and there would be less air pressure

Summer days in Delaware are likely to be hotter than winter days because in summer A.the Earth's orbit puts the Earth closer to the Sun. B.the number of sunspots increase. C.the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. D.the Sun gives off more energy.

C.the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun.

The atmosphere can be divided into several distinct layers. Beginning with the layer in which we live, they are, in order: A.stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere B.troposphere, stratosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere C.troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere D.stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere

C.troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

What is the difference between an active continental margin and a passive continental margin? A.An active margin receives large amounts of sediment whereas a passive margin is sediment starved. B.A passive margin is passively carried along by plate tectonics in a transform system, like the San Andreas whereas an active margin is a trench. C.An active margin has earthquakes whereas a passive margin has quiet erupting (aka passive) volcanos. D.A passive margin is the site of an ancient continental rift, left behind when seafloor spreading moved offshore, whereas an active margin is an active plate boundary.

D.A passive margin is the site of an ancient continental rift, left behind when seafloor spreading moved offshore, whereas an active margin is an active plate boundary.

Gyres ____________. A.rotate clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere B.rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere C.are caused by the Coriolis effect D.Both a and c are correct. E.Both b and c are correct.

D.Both a and c are correct.

Which of the following is NOT a "greenhouse" gas: A.Nitrous oxide B.Carbon dioxide C.Methane D.Oxygen

D.Oxygen

How have global temperatures changed over the last 800,000 years? A.They have been constant. B.They have been increasing. C.They have been decreasing. D.They have increased and decreased many times. E.There is no way to know how global temperatures have changed with our current knowledge.

D.They have increased and decreased many times.

What does the Saffir-Simpson Scale use to classify hurricanes? A.Temperature of the seawater B.Rain amount C.Duration of Rain D.Wind speed E.Central core temperature of the hurricane

D.Wind speed

A bathymetric map depicts ____________. A.surface salinity B.surface temperature C.temperature at the sea floor D.depth of the sea floor below sea level

D.depth of the sea floor below sea level

The deepest segments of the ocean floor are found ____________. A.along mid-ocean ridges B.in the geographic centers of abyssal plains C.in trenches associated with passive margins D.in trenches associated with subduction zones

D.in trenches associated with subduction zones

The water temperature at the abyssal plain is ____________. A.warm (25-33°C) B.near room temperature (25°C) C.cold to your skin (10°C-15°C) D.near freezing (1°C-2°C)

D.near freezing (1°C-2°C)

Hot air tends to A.rise in the atmosphere and warm up until it hits the stratosphere. B.sink in the atmosphere and cool down. C.sink in the atmosphere, warming up as it approaches the Earth's surface. D.rise in the atmosphere until it cools down.

D.rise in the atmosphere until it cools down.

The Coriolis effect causes fluids or objects moving in the air or water to appear to be deflected because of the ____________. A.ceaseless bombardment of Earth by solar radiation B.slow migration of Earth's magnetic field, due to convection in the outer core C.effects of plate tectonics on oceans and airmasses D.rotation of the Earth

D.rotation of the Earth

Ozone filters out most of the ________ radiation in sunlight. A.infrared B.gamma C.microwave D.ultraviolet

D.ultraviolet

Any storm that contains sustained hurricane-force winds is automatically called a hurricane (or typhoon or cyclone). True False

False

Seawalls are generally built to protect a valuable structure such as a hotel or road from wave and flood damage, but they generally increase beach erosion. True False

True

The cyclonic winds in a hurricane in the northern hemisphere rotate in a ___________ direction.

counterclockwise