Geography Final Exam

The average thickness of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets is more than A. 1,000 m (3,280 ft). B. 2,000 m (6,500 ft). C. 3,000 m (9,800 ft). D. 4,000 m (13,100 ft

B. 2,000 m (6,500 ft).

The bulk of ice on Earth is in A. European and Asian mountain ranges. B. Greenland and Antarctica. C. floating ice shelves and packs. D. North America, specifically Alaska

B. Greenland and Antarctica.

Which of the following is correct regarding the snowline? A. It increases in elevation with increasing latitude. B. It decreases in elevation with increasing latitude. C. It occurs at approximately the same elevation at all latitudes because the environmental lapse rate is approximately the same at all latitudes.

B. It decreases in elevation with increasing latitude.

A general term for a mass of perennial ice, resting on land or floating in the sea attached to a landmass is A. the snowline. B. a glacier. C. a moraine. D. an iceberg

B. a glacier.

The grinding and shaping of rock surfaces by the "sand blasting" action of particles captured in the air is termed A. deposition. B. abrasion. C. deflation. D. saltation

B. abrasion.

A depression created by deflation is known as a A. playa. B. blowout depression. C. bolson. D. structural basin

B. blowout depression.

Which of the following is not an adaptation to living in periglacial regions? A. enclosed water and sewage lines B. buildings placed directly on frozen, hard surfaces C. raised oil pipelines above the frozen ground D. careful maintenance of rail tracks and roadbeds in the summer

B. buildings placed directly on frozen, hard surfaces

The term periglacial refers to A. areas that are on top of a glacier. B. cold climate processes along the margins of glaciers. C. regions that are too warm for ground ice. D. process and effects that existed during the last ice age.

B. cold climate processes along the margins of glaciers.

The removal and lifting of individual loose particles by the wind is termed A. deposition. B. deflation. C. saltation. D. abrasion.

B. deflation.

The presence of till indicates A. deposition by water. B. deposition by a glacier. C. deposition by wind. D. deposition of unknown origin (wind, water, or glacial).

B. deposition by a glacier.

Elongated hills, often in the shape of an inverted spoon, streamlined in the direction of glacial movement are called A. horns. B. drumlins. C. kettles. D. eskers.

B. drumlins.

The term eolian refers to A. stream-related processes. B. erosion, transportation, and deposition by the wind. C. weathering and mass movement in humid regions. D. glacial processes in areas outside the polar regions.

B. erosion, transportation, and deposition by the wind.

Partially compacted snow that is an intermediate between snow and ice is called a(n) A. snowline. B. firn. C. glacier. D. moraine

B. firn.

For purposes of discussing eolian processes, the wind acts like a A. solid. B. fluid. C. plasma. D. gas.

B. fluid.

________ are sharp ridges that form when glaciers erode parallel valleys. A. Arêtes B. Drumlins C. Bergschrunds D. Eskers

A. Arêtes

Which of the following is not correct regarding loess? A. It has low binding strength. B. It consists of fine-grained clays and silts and can form vertical cliffs. C. It is derived from glacial outwash plains or deserts. D. It serves as good agricultural land.

A. It has low binding strength.

Which of the following is not true? A. The cryosphere compromises only a small, but very important component of Earth's freshwater resources. B. Many western states heavily rely on snowmelt for municipal water supplies. C. Decreases in snow cover may create a positive feedback loop as decreased albedo can lead to more warming. D. Seasonal snowpacks increases the Earth's albedo.

A. The cryosphere compromises only a small, but very important

Which of the following is correct regarding loess deposits? A. They are formed of fine-grained clays and silts. B. They are found only in the United States. C. They form only following glacial activity. D. They are principally composed of sands and gravels.

A. They are formed of fine-grained clays and silts.

The various processes that result in the loss of a glacier's mass are known collectively as A. ablation. B. surface melting. C. sublimation. D. deflation.

A. ablation.

Glacial polish results from A. abrasion. B. ice plucking. C. ablation. D. regelation

A. abrasion.

The zone of seasonally frozen ground that exists between the subsurface permafrost layer and the ground surface is called the A. active layer. B. talik. C. gelifluction. D. discontinuous region

A. active layer.

Solifluction is most similar to which mass movement process? A. creep B. fall C. mudflow D. slump

A. creep

Which of the following is not an erosional feature formed by an alpine glacier? A. drumlin B. horn C. col D. cirque

A. drumlin

An extensive area of sand and sand dunes is known as a(n) A. erg desert, or sand sea. B. reg desert. C. desert pavement. D. lag desert.

A. erg desert, or sand sea.

The upper portion of a glacier flows ________ the lower portion of the glacier. A. faster B. slower C. at the same speed

A. faster

When several cirque glaciers gauge an individual mountain summit from all sides, a pyramidal peak known as a ________ results. A. horn B. arêtes C. col D. hanging valley

A. horn

An extensive, continuous mass of ice covering a continental scale is known as a(n) A. ice sheet. B. tidewater glacier. C. piedmont glacier. D. tidal glacier.

A. ice sheet.

The type of glacier that dominates Greenland and Antarctica is an A. ice sheet. B. ice shelves. C. ice cap. D. ice field.

A. ice sheet.

The process of calving produces A. icebergs. B. tidewater glacier. C. nunataks. D. moraines.

A. icebergs.

Which side of a dune typically has a slope angle equal to that of the angle of repose for sand? A. leeward B. stoss C. top D. windward

A. leeward

Which of the following is not a general shape upon which scientists classify dunes? A. rectilinear B. linear C. star D. cresentic

A. rectilinear

The smallest features shaped by individual saltating grains are A. ripples. B. sand seas. C. dunes. D. reg deserts.

A. ripples.

Unfrozen ground in a region of discontinuous permafrost is known as A. talik. B. nunatak. C. patterned ground. D. cryotic zone

A. talik.

Glacial ice is A. made of sedimentary rock. B. formed from continual accumulation of snow that recrystallizes under its own weight into an ice mass over a period of many years. C. generally less dense than snow and firn. D. essentially the same as snow.

B. formed from continual accumulation of snow that recrystallizes under its own weight into an ice mass over a period of many years.

Crevasses usually form as a result of A. regelation. B. friction, tension, and compression. ablation. deposition. C. ablation. D. deposition.

B. friction, tension, and compression. ablation.

Vertical and horizontal movement caused by the expansion of freezing water are called A. frost thrusting and frost heaving, respectively. B. frost heaving and frost thrusting, respectively. C. frost heaving. D. frost thrusting.

B. frost heaving and frost thrusting, respectively.

Frozen subsurface water in regions of permafrost is called A. talik. B. ground ice. C. the active layer. D. periglacial water.

B. ground ice.

In terms of areal extent, which of the following sequences is ordered from largest to smallest extent covered? A. ice sheet, alpine glacier, ice field, ice cap B. ice sheet, ice cap, ice field, alpine glacier C. ice sheet, ice field, ice cap, alpine glacier D. alpine glacier, ice field, ice cap, ice sheet

B. ice sheet, ice cap, ice field, alpine glacier

A small hill, knob, or mound of glaciofluvial sorted sand and gravel that forms on the surface of a glacier and is later left on the left surface after the glacier retreats is a(n) A. drumlin. B. kame. C. esker. D. kettle.

B. kame.

The area of sediment deposit by by glaciofluvial action beyond the glacial terminus is known as the A. terminal moraine. B. outwash plain. C. till plain. D. end moraine.

B. outwash plain.

The expansion and contraction of frost action results in the movement of soil particles, stones, and small boulders into distinct shapes know as A. gelifluction. B. patterned ground. C. taliks. D. solifluction.

B. patterned ground.

An asymmetrical hill of exposed bedrock produced by plucking and abrasion is known as a(n) A. bergschrund. B. roche moutonnée. C. esker. D. drumlin.

B. roche moutonnée.

Which of the following terms is not a correct reference to a desert pavement? A. reg desert B. sand seas C. gibber plain D. lag gravels

B. sand seas

Sorted sediment deposited by glaciofluvial action are called A. glacial erratics. B. stratified drift. C. till. D. moraines.

B. stratified drift.

Eroded debris dropped at the glacier's farthest extent is called ________ moraine. A. ground B. terminal C. medial D. lateral

B. terminal

The term used to describe rocks that are pitted, fluted, or polished from eolian erosion is A. deflation hollows. B. ventifacts. C. pumice. D. desert pavement

B. ventifacts.

Which of the following is incorrect about glacial movement? A. Glaciers move in streamlike patterns, merging as tributaries into large rivers of ice. B. Glacial movement produces distinct landforms. C. Glaciers are mostly stationary, only moving several centimeters over tens of years. D. Glaciers move under the pressure of their own weight and the pull of gravity.

C. Glaciers are mostly stationary, only moving several centimeters over tens of years.

Which of the following is correct regarding permafrost? A. It tends to occur at lower elevations in the midlatitudes than in the high latitudes. B. The surface layer of permafrost never thaws, even in the warm season. C. It develops where soil or rock temperatures are below freezing for at least two years. D. It primarily occurs in areas covered with glaciers.

C. It develops where soil or rock temperatures are below freezing for at least two years.

Why is glacial ice analogous to a metamorphic rock? A. It has a definite chemical composition. B. It has a crystalline structure. C. It forms as a result of recrystallization caused by pressure. D. It is solid.

C. It forms as a result of recrystallization caused by pressure.

Which of the following statements is incorrect? A. Periglacial environments occur at high latitudes and high elevations. B. Permafrost develops in areas where soil, sediment, or rock temperatures remain below 0°C (32°F) for at least two years. C. There are no permafrosts regions in Alaska due to its maritime subarctic climate. D. Periglacial regions occupy about 30% of the Earth's land surface

C. There are no permafrosts regions in Alaska due to its maritime subarctic climate.

A glaciated valley is ________ shaped; a stream cut valley is ________ shaped. A. V-; U- B. V-; V- C. U-; V- D. U-; U-

C. U-; V-

All of the following are related to glacial erosion except A. erratics. B. abrasion. C. ablation. D. plucking.

C. ablation.

Alpine glaciers include all of the following except A. a valley glacier. B. a piedmont glacier. C. an ice cap. D. a cirque glacier.

C. an ice cap.

A glacier's mass balance is determined by A. accumulation. B. ablation. C. both accumulation and ablation. D. neither accumulation nor ablation.

C. both accumulation and ablation.

The zone where accumulation balances ablation is known as the A. crevasses. B. medial moraine. C. equilibrium line. D. snowline.

C. equilibrium line.

A long, narrow, sinuous ridge of stratified sand and gravel located in a till plain is known as a(n) A. drumlin. B. kame. C. esker. D. kettle.

C. esker.

The accumulation zone of a glacier ends at the ________, which marks the elevation above which the winter snow and ice remained intact throughout the summer. A. snow line B. ice field C. firn line D. terminal moraine

C. firn line

A long, narrow glacially-eroded inlets in which the sea extends inland are known as A. cirques. B. paternoster. C. fjords. D. tarns.

C. fjords.

Relative to dune movement and form, a dune's slipface forms on which side? A. freedune side B. windward side C. leeward side D. none of the above—it is not associated with a particular side

C. leeward side

The transformation of snow into glacial ice in Antarctica takes ________ than in midlatitude alpine glaciers because ________. A. longer; the long summer days in Antarctica (up to 24-hours) results in more sunlight impeding the glacier development process B. less time; more snow fall in the polar regions each year slows the glacier formation process C. longer; the dryness of the Antarctic climate and minimal snowfall as compared to wetter climates with constant snowfall D. less time; there is more melting and refreezing in the midlatitudes and, therefore, it takes much longer there

C. longer; the dryness of the Antarctic climate and minimal snowfall as compared to wetter climates with constant snowfall

If two glaciers with lengthy ridges of till along each side of the glacier merge, a ________ moraine may form. A. ground B. terminal C. medial D. lateral

C. medial

A class of landforms formed by the accumulation of glacial till are known as A. alluvium. B. outwash. C. moraines. D. drift.

C. moraines.

Several valley glaciers coalescing at the base of a mountain range form a(n) A. ice cap. B. cirque glacier. C. piedmont glacier. D. tidewater glacier.

C. piedmont glacier.

Pebbles can be moved by ________ in a process known as ________. A. deflation; saltation B. deflation; surface creep C. saltating particles; surface creep D. saltating particles; deflation

C. saltating particles; surface creep

A deposition of till that forms behind a terminal moraine as the glacier retreats and is generally spread widely across the ground surface is called a(n) A. outwash plain. B. drumlin swarm. C. till plain. D. lateral moraine.

C. till plain.

Sediments deposited by glacial ice are ________; material deposited by glacial meltwater are ________. A. sorted; sorted B. sorted; unsorted C. unsorted; sorted D. unsorted; unsorted

C. unsorted; sorted

Approximately, what percentage of the Earth's freshwater is frozen? Approximately, what percentage of the Earth's freshwater is frozen? A. 10% B. 25% C. 50% D. 75%

D. 75%

Which of the following is not generally correct regarding the basal layer of a glacier? A. It contains more debris than other parts of the glacier. B. It can extend tens of meters above the ground surface. C. It tends to flow more slowly than the overlying parts of the glacier. D. Crevasses form in this region of the glacier.

D. Crevasses form in this region of the glacier.

Which of the following is correct regarding valley glaciers? A. They occur in an unconfined environment—like an open plain. B. The snowfield sources for these glaciers are usually found right at the snowline. C. They remain stationary and do not move. D. They may range in length from 100 m (325 ft.) to 100 km (62 mi.).

D. They may range in length from 100 m (325 ft.) to 100 km (62 mi.).

A glacier confined in a bowl-shaped recess is known as a(n) A. valley glacier. B. piedmont glacier. C. tidewater glacier. D. cirque glacier.

D. cirque glacier.

The general term for all glacial deposits is A. alluvium. B. erg. C. talus. D. glacial drift

D. glacial drift

The ability of the wind to move materials A. exceeds that of other transporting agents, such as water and ice. B. is greater than that of water because of the higher density of air compared to water. C. increases with decreased wind speed. D. is small compared to other transporting agents, such as water and ice.

D. is small compared to other transporting agents, such as water and ice.

a steep-sided glaciofluvial landform that occur as the result of blocks of ice calving from the retreating glacier and subsequent accumulation of till around the melting ice block is known as a(n) A. drumlin. B. kame. C. esker. D. kettle.

D. kettle.

The lengthy ridges of till along each side of an alpine glacier are ________ moraines. A. ground B. terminal C. medial D. lateral

D. lateral

Desert pavement refers to A. sand-covered surfaces. B. specially constructed roadbeds in dry and hot regions. C. deposits of silt and clay. D. surfaces of concentrated pebbles and gravels.

D. surfaces of concentrated pebbles and gravels.

During a glacier surge, a glacier may move at a speed of A. 1 cm per day. B. a few kilometers per hour. C. 1 meter per hour. D. tens of meters per day.

D. tens of meters per day.

A snowline refers to A. an isoline demarcating the extent of snow or ice on a weather map. B. the latitude demarcating the extent of glacial ice during the last glacial maximum. C. the latitude or elevation at which winter snow accumulates each year. D. the lowest line (latitude or elevation) where winter snow accumulation persists throughout the summer.

D. the lowest line (latitude or elevation) where winter snow accumulation persists throughout the summer.

Periglacial environments are likely to occur in which of the following climate types? A. humid continental B. mesothermal C. desert D. tundra

D. tundra

Glacial surges may be associated with A. water pressure under the glacier. B. soft bed below the glacier. C. lubrication from meltwater. D. water pressure, soft bed, or lubrication.

D. water pressure, soft bed, or lubrication.

Elongated, streamlined ridges aligned parallel to the most effective wind direction are called A.desert pavements. B. alluvial rock structures. C. ventifacts. D. yardangs.

D. yardangs.