GLG 121 Exam 2

Looking at the figure above, which of the following are an example of an ocean-continent convergence zone? A. III (Peru-Chile trench \& Andes mountains) B. VI (East African Rift) C. I (Aleutian trench \& islands)

A. III (Peru-Chile trench \& Andes mountains)

The difference in the arrival times of the P and S waves at a seismograph station allows you to determine what about the earthquake? A. Its distance from the seismograph station B. The kind of fault on which the earthquake was generated C. The depth of the earthquake D. How many aftershocks will follow the main earthquake

A. Its distance from the seismograph station

This earthquake-generated hazard can occur when seismic waves shake water-saturated soil or sediment. A. Liquefaction B. Wildfires C. Coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) D. Aftershocks E. Airblast

A. Liquefaction

The lettered groups in the figure above correspond to the three types of seismic waves. Group A is the first to arrive, followed by group B, and then finally group C. The type of seismic wave represented by group C is: A. Surface wave B. S, shear wave C. P, compressive wave

A. Surface wave

Most of the structural damage from earthquakes worldwide is caused by: A. Surface waves B. S waves C. P waves

A. Surface waves

Which of the following is a sedimentary rock that chemically precipitates from solution? A. rock salt (halite) B. conglomerate C. siltstone D. coal E. sandstone

A. rock salt (halite)

The focus of an earthquake is: A. the point on the fault surface where seismic energy is first released B. the region of greatest damage during an earthquake C. the point on the Earth's surface above the focus

A. the point on the fault surface where seismic energy is first released

An example of erosion is: A. the transportation of sediment by a stream. B. the breaking of rocks into smaller pieces through the action of freezing water. C. all of the other answers are correct D. plant roots grow in rock cracks, breaking it into smaller pieces. E. mineral hydrolysis, oxidation, and dissolution breaks a rock into smaller pieces.

A. the transportation of sediment by a stream.

Which of the following is not a type of pyroclastic material? A. Ash B. Tephra C. Pumice D. Bomb E. Fissure

E. Fissure

The percentage of the total volume of a rock or sediment that consists of pore spaces is called: A. Age B. Malleability C. Permeability D. Cohesion E. Porosity

E. Porosity

Artesian conditions require A. all of the other answers are correct B. an unconfined aquifer C. fractured aquitards D. very pure water of exceptional value E. a confined aquifer F. very low dissolved oxygen content

E. a confined aquifer

Debris flows are generally faster than rock falls. True False

False

Seismograms

a recording of ground motions caused by seismic waves

The steepest stable slope than an unconsolidated material (e.g., dry sand, or gravel) can maintain is that material's: A. cohesion B. specific retention C. angle of repose D. shear strength E. shear stress

C. angle of repose

What is the most common metal dissolved in our local drinking water? A. titanium B. arsenic C. calcium D. Iron E. mercury

C. calcium

What does the "stage" of a river mean? A. the volume of water in the river B. how long the river is C. how high the river water is, relative to some fixed height called a datum D. how wide the river is E. the amount of vegetation cover around a river

C. how high the river water is, relative to some fixed height called a datum

Which of the following is not a way to reduce the potential for failure on a very steep slope? A. reduction of the slope angle B. removing water from (dewatering) the slope C. increasing the weight of, or load on, the slope D. placing additional support on the base of the slope

C. increasing the weight of, or load on, the slope

Which point in the figure below represents a magma that, if cooled quickly, would most likely form basalt? A. point b B. point c C. point a

C. point a

The epicenter of an earthquake is: A. the point on the Earth's surface where seismic energy is first released. B. the point on the fault surface where seismic energy is first released. C. the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus. D. the region of greatest damage during an earthquake.

C. the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus.

intraplate earthquakes

-earthquakes that occur away from plate boundaries -(within plate) earthquakes also occur and can be quite severe

common locations for earthquakes, settings where we get the largest and deepest earthquakes

-generally occur in linear belts which correspond to plate boundaries -most, but not all, earthquakes occur at plate boundaries -deep-focus earthquakes are concentrated in subduction zones

common hazards associated with earthquakes

-ground shaking -aftershocks -tsunami -liquefaction and landslides -fire

elastic rebound theory how does it work?

-rocks on either side of fault lock together, rather than slide easily past each other -rocks bend and store elastic energy like a compressed spring -when fault slips, rock returns to their original shape, releasing the elastic energy so rapidly that it causes an earthquake

S waves and relative speed

-shear waves that pass only through solid rock (not magma) in the interior of the earth -faster than surface, slower than P

P waves and relative speed

-compression waves that travel through the interior of the earth -fastest

epicenter

location on surface above the focus

shield volcano

-Very large, flat, with abundant thin basalt flows -Basalt is less viscous than andesite or rhyolite -Shield like shape - larger area relative to height -Examples: Hawaiian Island chain

normal faults

-block above an inclined fault moves down -occur between long mountain ranges and intervening valleys, or basins (occur at divergent plate boundaries) -displacement on normal faults generates many small-to-moderate size earthquakes and creates surface scarps

reverse faults

-block above an inclined fault moves up -a low-angle reverse fault = thrust fault -occur at convergent plate boundaries

strike slip faults

-blocks on either side of fault move horizontally, left or right -occur at transform plate boundaries

Surface waves and relative speed

-travels along the surface -larger ground displacement than body waves -results in most earthquake damage -slowest

Seismometers

-used to measure magnitudes of earthquakes and locate fault ruptures associated with quakes -measure vertical and horizontal earth vibrations

how many seismographs stations are required to locate the position of the epicenter?

3

If a low permeability layer overlies an aquifer, the aquifer is said to be: A. Confined B. Perched C. Conflicted D. Porous E. Unconfined

A. Confined

In the seismogram above, which seismic station (labeled NEE or GSC) is closer to the earthquake epicenter? A. GSC B. NEE

A. GSC

What is the difference between basalt and gabbro? A. Gabbro is more crystalline than basalt, because, as a plutonic igneous rock, it cooled more slowly. B. Basalt is mafic and gabbro is felsic. C. Basalt is characteristic of oceanic crust and gabbro is characteristic of continental crust. D. The rocks have very different chemical composition. E. Gabbro is igneous while basalt is sedimentary.

A. Gabbro is more crystalline than basalt, because, as a plutonic igneous rock, it cooled more slowly.

House A and House B are identical in terms or their size, features, and price. House A is located on the cut bank side of a meander. House B is located on the point bar side of the same meander. Which house would be the better long-term investment? A. House B B. House A

A. House B

The lettered groups in the figure above correspond to the three types of seismic waves. Group A is the first to arrive, followed by group B, and then finally group C. The type of seismic wave represented by group A is: A. P, compressive wave B. S, shear wave C. Surface wave

A. P, compressive wave

The P and S-waves generated by a particular earthquake will arrive at a seismograph station at different times because of their different speeds. The difference in the arrival times of P and S-waves tells us what about the earthquake that generated them? A. The earthquake's distance from the seismograph station. B. The magnitude of the earthquake. C. The number of aftershocks to expect from the earthquakes.

A. The earthquake's distance from the seismograph station.

Looking at the figure above, which of the following areas are(is) an example of a divergent plate boundary? A. VI (East African Rift) B. III (Peru-Chile trench & Andes mountains) C. I (Aleutian trench & islands)

A. VI (East African Rift)

Karst terrain is characterized by: A. all of the other answers are correct B. subsidence C. underground caves and caverns D. large areas of water-soluble materials, such as halite or limestone E. sinkholes

A. all of the other answers are correct

All other things being the same, urbanization or development in an area that was previously a forested landscape will tend to: A. decrease recharge to the local groundwater system. B. increase recharge to the local groundwater system

A. decrease recharge to the local groundwater system.

The key driving force behind slope failure is: A. gravity B. cohesion C. talus D. friction E. fission

A. gravity

What type of plot is shown above, with time on the horizontal axis and discharge on the vertical axis? A. hydrograph B. longitudinal profile C. flood recurrence diagram D. seismogram

A. hydrograph

Metamorphism of what rock produces marble? A. limestone B. sandstone C. gneiss D. mudstone E. quartzite

A. limestone

The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere today is: A. nitrogen B. argon C. water vapor D. oxygen E. carbon dioxide

A. nitrogen

Which point in the figure below represents a magma that, if cooled quickly, would most likely form rhyolite? A. point c B. point b C. point a

A. point c

The energy released by a moment magnitude 8 earthquake is times greater than the energy released by a magnitude 6 earthquake. A. 100 B. 1,000 C. 1000,000 D. 3.14159 E. 10,000

B. 1,000

Adding a small amount of water to dry soil or sediment may add some cohesion (e.g. damp sand for making sand castles). However, adding appreciable water to soil or sediment on slopes will: A. Stabilize the area by freezing and thawing. B. Destabilize the slope by reducing frictional resistance to sliding. C. Stabilize the soil by increasing pore pressure. D. Destabilize the slope by decreasing the slope angle.

B. Destabilize the slope by reducing frictional resistance to sliding.

Which of the following is not a downside to installing dams on streams? A. Accumulation of sediment upstream of the dam B. Increased seasonal flooding downstream of the dam C. Flooding upstream of the dam D. Changes in the natural processes of erosion and deposition downstream, effecting the riverine habitat E. For dams with large reservoirs, the weight of the water may induce earthquakes

B. Increased seasonal flooding downstream of the dam

Magma A has a high viscosity, and magma B has a low viscosity. Which magma is more likely to result in a violent (explosive) eruption, and why? A. Magma B, because the gasses can escape easily B. Magma A, because the gasses cannot escape easily C. Magma B, because the gasses cannot escape easily D. Magma A, because the gasses can escape easily

B. Magma A, because the gasses cannot escape easily

The ease with which fluids pass through a rock is referred to as the rocks: A. Porosity B. Permeability C. Malleability D. Cohesion E. Age

B. Permeability

Which of the following is a high silica igneous rock which cooled quickly? A. Granite B. Rhyolite C. Basalt D. Sandstone E. Andesite

B. Rhyolite

Hawaii is an example of this type feature A. Lava plateau B. Cinder cone C. Shield volcano D. Caldera E. Stratovolcanoe

C. Shield volcano

After several million years, the relative movement of the Pacific and N. American plates will move Los Angeles (on the Pacific plate) closer to the present-day location of: A. Hawaii (Southwest) B. Vancouver (North) C. Ecuador (Southeast) D. Cleveland (East)

B. Vancouver (North)

Granite is a rock that is typical of the: A. ocean crust B. continental crust C. outer core, inner core, crust, mantle D. mantle E. asthenosphere

B. continental crust

The boundaries between watersheds of all sizes are elevated areas called: A. channels B. divides C. runoff D. tributaries E. flood plains

B. divides

What is true about a hypothesis? A. it explains a large set of observations and relationships that have been independently verified by many researchers B. is a tentative explanation consistent with what researchers know about a situation C. it rarely explains scientific phenomena D. it can never be disproved with further evidence

B. is a tentative explanation consistent with what researchers know about a situation

Isotopes of a particular element have different numbers of ______ but the same number of _________ in their nucleus. A. protons & neutrons B. neutrons & protons C. electrons & neutrons D. electrons & prions E. electrons & protons

B. neutrons & protons

Assuming you know the location of the two seismic stations (GSC & NEE) in the seismogram above, how many additional seismic stations do you need to locate the position of the epicenter? A. two B. one C. none, you only need two stations D. three

B. one

The most common rock-forming minerals in Earth's crust are: A. quartz, ferro-magnesium minerals, and sulfides. B. quartz, feldspars, and ferro-magnesium minerals. C. olvine, pyroxene, and carbonates. D. sulfides, oxides, and carbonates. E. quartz, micas, and sulfides.

B. quartz, feldspars, and ferro-magnesium minerals.

Wet melting produces partial melting of rock when water (a so-called volatile) is added to the rock, thereby lowering the melting temperature of some of the minerals in that rock. Which plate tectonic setting produces magma through such wet melting? A. transform boundary B. subduction zone C. passive margin D. continent-continent collision E. mid-ocean ridge

B. subduction zone

The water table is A. hard rock layer within the zone of aeration B. the top of the saturated zone, and the base of the unsaturated zone C. a layer of low-permeability rock D. a perfectly flat surface within the vadose zone

B. the top of the saturated zone, and the base of the unsaturated zone

The Big Island of Hawaii marks the present-day location of a hot spot. The Big Island is __________ the islands to the Northwest. A. the same age as B. younger than C. older than

B. younger than

Approximately how fast is a tsunami? A. 1 cm/hr B. 1 km/hr C. 100's of km/hr D. 10's of km/s E. Speed of light (2.6 x 10^10 km/hr)

C. 100's of km/hr

P-waves: A. are the same as surface waves B. Do not travel through liquids C. Are faster than both S and surface waves D. Are slower than S waves but faster than surface waves

C. Are faster than both S and surface waves

Say I tell you that I'm going to drive the 250 miles from Oxford, Ohio to Chicago, Illinois, and ask "How long will the drive take me?" What missing information do you need to answer that question? A. The color of my car B. Earth's rotation rate C. My anticipated driving speed D. The topography along the route

C. My anticipated driving speed

Where are the deepest and largest earthquakes generated? A. At mid-ocean ridges B. Near passive margins C. Near subduction zones D. Along transform boundaries

C. Near subduction zones

The lettered groups in the figure above correspond to the three types of seismic waves. Group A is the first to arrive, followed by group B, and then finally group C. The type of seismic wave represented by group B is: A. P, compressive wave B. Surface wave C. S, shear wave

C. S, shear wave

Say there's an earthquake of magnitude 6 near Los Angeles, followed by an aftershock of magnitude 4. How much more energy is released by the initial (mag. 6) quake relative to the aftershock (mag. 4)? A. 4x more B. 100x more C. 32x more D. 1,000x more E. 1,000,000x more

D. 1,000x more

The speed of tectonic plate motion is approximately: A. 1-10 meters per year B. 1-10 furlongs per century C. 1-10 kilometers per year D. 1-10 centimeters per year E. 1-10 millimeters per year

D. 1-10 centimeters per year

Say a river-side town just experienced a 100-year flood. In the context of recurrence interval analysis, this means that: A. Another flood of that size cannot occur in following year. B. Another equally large flood will occur in 100 years. C. A flood of that size has a probability of 1-in-50 (or 2%) of occurring in the next year. D. A flood of that size has a probability of 1-in-100 (or 1%) of occurring in the next year. E. A flood of that size has a probability of 1 (or 100%) of occurring in the next year.

D. A flood of that size has a probability of 1-in-100 (or 1%) of occurring in the next year.

Which of the following is an intermediate-composition igneous rock which cooled quickly? A. Basalt B. Granite C. Sandstone D. Andesite E. Rhyolite

D. Andesite

Rocks that are formed by the crystallization of new minerals in the solid state (i.e. without melting) due to heat and/or pressure are: A. Igneous B. Transcendental C. Molten D. Metamorphic E. Sedimentary

D. Metamorphic

Which scale reflects an earthquake's impact (e.g., shaking, damage) on a particular location? A. Kelvin B. Fujita C. Pentatonic D. Modified Mercalli E. Celsius

D. Modified Mercalli

The most common type of fault at divergent plate boundaries is: A. Transform B. Reverse C. Electrical D. Normal E. Ductile

D. Normal

What type of fault is the San Andreas? A. Normal B. Reverse C. Thrust D. Strike Slip

D. Strike Slip

What happens to the age & depth of the seafloor moving away from a mid-ocean ridge? (FYI, depth is the distance between the seafloor and the sea surface.) A. Neither the age nor the seafloor depth change as you move away from the ridge. B. The seafloor gets older and more shallow as you move away from the ridge. C. The seafloor gets younger and more shallow as you move away from the ridge. D. The seafloor gets older and deeper as you move away from the ridge. E. The seafloor gets younger and deeper as you move away from the ridge.

D. The seafloor gets older and deeper as you move away from the ridge.

How do people contribute to landslide problems? A. Excavation may locally steepen slopes, interrupting normal drainage patterns and introducing higher driving stress B. Buildings add weight to slopes, increasing driving forces for the slope to fail. C. Septic systems, swimming pools, or leaking water pipes add fluid to the slope. D. all of the other answers are correct E. Clearing vegetation with deep roots decreases the slope's resisting forces.

D. all of the other answers are correct

What is the mathematical relationship between discharge, area, and velocity of a river? A. area= velocity/discharge B. discharge = (area * velocity)/70 C. area = discharge + velocity D. discharge = area * velocity E. discharge = area + velocity

D. discharge = area * velocity

The figure above is a longitudinal profile plot for a stream. The quantities on the horizontal and vertical axes for such a plot, are, respectively: A. time & discharge B. elevation & annual rainfall C. time & stage D. distance along the stream & elevation E. distance along the stream & stage

D. distance along the stream & elevation

What is the theory for how earthquakes work, in which rocks are strained and then suddenly break? A. epicenter B. creepy faults C. plate tectonics D. elastic rebound E. seismology

D. elastic rebound

Conditions that may result in a debris flow are: A. a slope that is well covered by B. vegetation C. arid conditions D. heavy rain or snowmelt over steep slopes E. coherent rock on a shallow slope

D. heavy rain or snowmelt over steep slopes

Decompression melting produces partial melting of rock as that rock experiences a decrease in pressure (i.e., decompression). This occurs as the rock is being brought closer to Earth's surface, lowering the pressure and thereby lowering the melting temperature of some of the minerals in the rock. Which plate tectonic setting produces magma through such decompression melting? A. continent-continent collision B. transform boundary C. passive margin D. mid-ocean ridges E. subduction zone

D. mid-ocean ridges

The set of processes by which groundwater is replenished is termed A. saturation B. discharge C. transpiration D. recharge

D. recharge

A river's base level is: A. the amount of water flowing in a river at any given time B. the location in a river where water is continuously present and the main current flows C. an area where surface runoff from rain flows together towards lower areas D. the elevation where a river cannot flow further or erode deeper E. where tributaries merge into a watershed's main river

D. the elevation where a river cannot flow further or erode deeper

Say earthquake A is of magnitude 9, while earthquake B is of magnitude 5. How much more energy was released by earthquake A than earthquake B? A. 2x B. 10x C. 100x D. 1,000x E. 1,000,000x

E. 1,000,000x

Looking at the figure below, which is younger, fault H or rock layer G, and which relative time principle tells you that? A. Layer G & superposition B. Fault H & superposition C. Layer G & inclusions D. Layer G & cross-cutting E. Fault H & cross-cutting

E. Fault H & cross-cutting

What type of volcano is Mount St. Helens and what caused its 1980 eruption? A. It is a cinder cone that exploded when trapped gasses were slowly released. B. It is a shield volcano that exploded when trapped gasses were suddenly released. C. It is a shield volcano that exploded when trapped gasses were slowly released. D. It is a cinder cone that exploded when trapped gasses were suddenly released. E. It is a stratovolcano that exploded when trapped gasses were suddenly released.

E. It is a stratovolcano that exploded when trapped gasses were suddenly released.

Which region in the continental U.S. has the highest hazard associated with volcanoes and why? A. Southern California because of the transform plate boundary there. B. The Pacific northwest because of the divergent plate boundary there. C. Southern California because of the convergent plate boundary there. D. The Pacific northwest because of the transform plate boundary there. E. The Pacific northwest because of the convergent plate boundary there.

E. The Pacific northwest because of the convergent plate boundary there.

What is the formula for population growth rate? A. death rate/birth rate B. birth rate x death rate C. birth rate + 70 D. birth rate + death rate E. birth rate - death rate

E. birth rate - death rate

The definition of a mineral includes all of the following except: A. ordered arrangement of atoms B. solid C. naturally occurring D. inorganic E. organic

E. organic

The amount of time matter is contained in a specific reservoir is called _____ time. A. open B. sink C. hammer D. flux E. residence

E. residence

Sandstone generally has a higher porosity than unconsolidated (unlithified) sand. True False

False

The polarity of Earth's magnetic field has remained constant over Earth's full history. True False

False

Earthquakes or heavy rains may trigger landslides. True False

True

Naturally occurring concentrations of some toxic elements, such as arsenic, may exceed both recommended safe levels and wastewater standards for industry. True False

True

Repeated cycles of freezing and thawing can be important in causing soil creep. True False

True

P to S wave arrival difference to find the distance to the epicenter

interval of time between the first arrivals of P waves and S waves is a function of distance to the epicenter -Draw circle with radius length from S-P time interval -Do this for three seismographs -Epicenter is located at intersection of the three circles -Arrival times give you the circle radii, their intersection gives you the location -Process sometimes called triangulation

focus

location where movement begins on fault