GEOL Test 3 Key - Final Exam Review

Extremely arid lands or deserts cover ______ percent of the world's total land surface; and, receive less than ______cm of precipitation/year. a. 4; 3 b. 7; 12 c. 11; 50 d. 30; 25

30; 25

Given that a region has an average annual air temperature of 13°C, what would the subsurface temperature be at a depth of 2 km? Assume the geothermal gradient is the same as the world average geothermal gradient, which is approximately 30°C per kilometer. a. 60°C b. 73°C c. 80°C d. 93°C

73°C

Organic matter in soil is found principally in the a. A horizon b. B horizon c. C horizon d. R layer

A horizon

What limitation(s) do wind and solar energy share? a. Both are dispersed energy sources b. Both entail a storage problem c. Both vary in intensity regionally d. all of the above

All of the above: a. Both are dispersed energy sources b. Both entail a storage problem c. Both vary in intensity regionally

Plutonium is a. Chemically toxic to humans b. Radioactive c. Fissionable d. All of the choices are correct.

All of the above: a. Chemically toxic to humans b. Radioactive c. Fissionable.

A breeder reactor a. Reprocesses spent fuel rods to extract plutonium b. Would be pollution-free, but the technology does not yet exist c. Converts more-common isotopes, such as uranium-238, to fissionable fuel during normal operation d. All of the choices are correct.

All of the above: a. Reprocesses spent fuel rods to extract plutonium b. Would be pollution-free, but the technology does not yet exist c. Converts more-common isotopes, such as uranium-238, to fissionable fuel during normal operation.

Enhanced oil recovery methods include a. deliberate fracturing to increase reservoir porosity b. heating the oil to decrease its viscosity c. use of gas under pressure to force out more oil d. all of the above

All of the above: a. deliberate fracturing to increase reservoir porosity b. heating the oil to decrease its viscosity c. use of gas under pressure to force out more oil

Oil, natural gas, and coal are examples of a. fossil fuels b. hydrocarbon fuel c. nonrenewable resources d. all of the above are correct

All of the above: a. fossil fuels b. hydrocarbon fuel c. nonrenewable resources

Reserves, by definition, must be a. identified ore deposits b. exploitable with current technology c. economically profitable to mine at present d. all of the above

All of the above: a. identified ore deposits b. exploitable with current technology c. economically profitable to mine at present

Crop productivity losses due to soil erosion have, in many places been compensated by a. increased use of fertilizer b. use of more energy-intensive farming practices c. development of new high-yield plant varieties d. all of the above

All of the above: a. increased use of fertilizer c. development of new high-yield plant varieties b.use of more energy-intensive farming practices

Among the issues requiring policy definition and/or implementation in the nuclear power industry is a. permanent waste disposal sites b. inaccessible versus retrievable permanent disposal c. nuclear waste transport d. all of these choices

All of the above: a. permanent waste disposal sites b. inaccessible versus retrievable permanent disposal c. nuclear waste transport

Which solution listed below has been considered, at one time or another, for the handling of high- level nuclear waste? a. put it into a convergent plate boundary and let subduction take its course b. put it in containers on the Arctic ice sheet and let the radioactive heat melt through the ice down to the bedrock contact 2 miles below. c. send it into outer space d. placing it in salt mines or domes (like Hutchinson) e. all of the above

All of the above: a. put it into a convergent plate boundary and let subduction take its course b. put it in containers on the Arctic ice sheet and let the radioactive heat melt through the ice down to the bedrock contact 2 miles below. c. send it into outer space d. placing it in salt mines or domes (like Hutchinson)

The sulfur associated with coal occurs as a. sulfur in the organic matter itself b. pyrite (iron sulfide) in the coal c. pyrite in shales associated with the coal d. all of the above

All of the above: a. sulfur in the organic matter itself b. pyrite (iron sulfide) in the coal c. pyrite in shales associated with the coal

The composition of a soil is controlled by a. the composition of bedrock on which it forms b. the extent of chemical weathering c. climate d. all of the above

All of the above: a. the composition of bedrock on which it forms b. the extent of chemical weathering c.climate

When soil is eroded from farmland a. the nutrient-rich topsoil is most severely affected b. sediment pollution of streams may increase c. crop yields and crop nutritional quality may be reduced d. all of the above

All of the above: a. the nutrient-rich topsoil is most severely affected b. sediment pollution of streams may increase c. crop yields and crop nutritional quality may be reduced

Hydropower plants a. Are no longer used in the United States because they are inefficient b. Consume large amounts of water c. Pollute water, which is why they are undesirable d. Are used exclusively for generating electricity.

Are used exclusively for generating electricity.

Which of the following energy sources is not renewable? a. Solar energy b. Wind energy c. Nuclear fission power d. Hydropower

Nuclear fission power

Primary oil recovery a. Refers to extraction of oil principally under its own pressure b. Typically leads to extraction of about 80 percent of the oil in the reservoir c. is no longer practiced because it is inefficient d. all of the above

Refers to extraction of oil principally under its own pressure

Nuclear fusion reactors would a. Be very inexpensive to build, once the technology is perfected b. Involve far fewer radiation hazards than fission reactors c. Require extremely rare elements as fuel, which is why none are currently in use d. Produce more nuclear fuel for future use as they operate.

Require extremely rare elements as fuel, which is why none are currently in use.

Traditional geothermal power generation a. Involves using hot magma to run generating equipment b. Relies on the heat released at the surface by the cooling earth c. Uses water or steam heated by hot rocks near the surface d. Requires geysers and hot springs.

Uses water or steam heated by hot rocks near the surface.

The highest grade of coal, in terms of heat value per unit weight, is a. peat b. anthracite c. lignite d. bituminous

anthrecite

Lateritic soils a. are rich in nutrients b. are kept soft and workable by the action of sun and rain c. are the common soils of tropical rain forests d. all of the above

are the common soils of tropical rain forests

All MAFIC minerals chemically weather into the following soil components EXCEPT a. quartz b. iron oxide c. clays d. caliche

caliche

Which one of the following conditions did not contribute to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s and other sites of desertification? a. overgrazing by livestock b. removal of native vegetation c. drought d. change in direction of the prevailing wind

change in direction of the prevailing wind

The first of the fossil fuels to be widely used was a. coal b. oil c. natural gas d. tar sand

coal

Soil erosion from farmland can be reduced by all of the following methods EXCEPT a. contour plowing b. terracing of fields c. complete clearing of fields after harvest d. use of windbreaks

complete clearing of fields after harvest

What process describes the deterioration of productive soil by poor agricultural practices to the point where the soil can no longer support plants and animals? a. aridification b. hydrolysis c. land wastage d. desertification e. high intensity agriculture

desertification

All of the following are possible consequences of desertification except a. erosion b. drought c. loss of soil fertility d. loss of soil structural quality

drought

ncreasing temperatures of earth's surface and lower atmosphere provide strong evidence that global warming is happening right now. This evidence includes all of the following except: a. average earth temperature from land areas and global shipping lanes indicate that average Earth temperature increased about 0.8 oC (average of 0.74 oCelsius) during the 20th century. b. half of the increase in Earth's average temperature from the 20th century increased during its last 30 years. c. nine of the ten years during the first decade of the 21st century were in the top 10 warmest years of a 160 year long record. d. Earth's present average temperature is the warmest it has been since 1400, which is as far back as we can go with certainty by direct and indirect evidence. e. during the recent increase in Earth's temperatures the most extreme warming occurred during the day near the equator.

during the recent increase in Earth's temperatures the most extreme warming occurred during the day near the equator.

Society can reduce greenhouse gas emissions without major changes to our sources and consumption of energy.

false

T or F? Buying a hybrid car and replacing a few lightbulbs with compact fluorescents will be enough to reverse global warming.-

false

T or F? If humans applied all of the correct behaviors to lower carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, we would no longer have atmospheric CO2 .

false

T or F? In Kansas soil erosion is not a significant problem. Soil loss is only 55 tons/year.

false

T or F? Mechanical weathering tends to involve a net loss of elements from rock or soil.

false

The process by which large nuclei are split into smaller ones is a. fission b. fusion c. breeding d. cracking

fission

A motor fuel consisting of a mixture of alcohol and gasoline a. is likely to harm engine valves b. is a widely available use of biomass energy in the United States c. is called dual-fuel d. None of these choices are true

is a widely available use of biomass energy in the United States

The process by which soluble minerals are dissolved and removed from soil is termed a. soil creep b. organic c. leaching d. erosion

leaching

The sun generates its tremendous energy output by a. Nuclear fusion b. Nuclear fission c. Combustion d. Geothermal energy.

nuclear fusion

How much of a radioisotope will remain after three of its half-lives have passed? a. one half b. one quarter c. one eighth d. one sixteenth

one eighth

The moderately leached soil rich in aluminum and iron compounds that is characteristic of the eastern United States is a type of soil. a. marble b. pedocal c. laterite d. pedalfer

pedalfer

Soils are formed in situ by mechanical and chemical weathering. The term 'erosion' is correct when applied to soil degradation, desertification and management. The difference between weathering and erosion is that erosion implies a. sediment decomposition b. sediment volume increase c. sediment transport d. sediment lithification

sediment transport

Most oil and natural gas are found in a. igneous rocks b. metamorphic rocks c. sedimentary rocks d. volcanic rocks

sedimentary rocks

Most oil and natural gas are found in a. igneous rocks b. metamorphic rocks c. sedimentary rocks d. volcanic rocks

sedimentary rocks.

Geologically recent atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide have risen primarily because of a. the use of chlorofluorocarbons b. the explosive eruptions of large volcanoes c. rising global temperatures d. the burning of carbon-rich fuels

the burning of carbon-rich fuels

Oil shale and tar sand share each of the following environmental problems EXCEPT a. the production of quantities of ash when the fuel is burned b. the need for a great deal of water in processing c. the need to mine the rock to extract the fuel d. the production of large volumes of waste rock from processing

the production of quantities of ash when the fuel is burned

Coal is formed from a. the remains of land plants b. graphite under high pressure c. the remains of marine microorganisms d. heavy oils like asphalt

the remains of land plants

The A soil horizon is also known as a. the zone of leaching b. the zone of accumulation c. bedrock d. topsoil

topsoil

T or F? A Chernobyl-style reactor accident is unlikely with commercial U.S. reactors, because of differences in reactor design and containment structures.

true

T or F? The United Nations has calculated a tipping point of 1.5 oC. Above this, temperatures will produce severe global warming effects on human and environmental health.

true

Power generation using the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion method a. uses the temperature difference between shallow and deep ocean water to run turbines that generate electricity b. Uses the temperature difference between daytime and nighttime in tropical oceans to generate electricity. c. Uses the energy of tsunami generated in polar regions and moving toward tropical regions to generate electricity d. Converts the heat from black smokers on the sea floor into useable energy.

uses the temperature difference between shallow and deep ocean water to run turbines that generate electricity.