Hydrology exam 3 practice quizzes

firn

20-30% air; 70-80% SWE

snow after settling

60% air; 40% SWE

freshly fallen snow (powder day)

98% air; 5% SWE

The accumulation zone on a glacier ends at the _______ line that marks the elevation above which the winter snow and ice remained intact throughout the summer melting season, but below which melting occurs.

Equilibrium

If the snowpack in a location is measured to be 10 m deep and has a density of 40% at the time of melt (snow density of 400g/1000cm3 as compared to water's density of 1000g/1000cm3), how much water equivalent would you expect once it has all melted? a. 4 m b.4 cm c.40 m d. 40 cm

a. 4 m

Which of the following are true about snow as water resource? Select all that apply. a. "Snow Pillows" are used to weigh the snowpack and convert that weight to a water equivalent b. Mountain snowpack provides a majority (50-80%) of the West's water supply in the U.S. c. The Columbia River and Colorado Rivers are both examples of snowmelt-fed rivers. d."Snow Courses" are an example of automated snow measurement system e.The U.S. Geological Survey directs the Cooperative Snow Survey Program.

a. "Snow Pillows" are used to weigh the snowpack and convert that weight to a water equivalent b. Mountain snowpack provides a majority (50-80%) of the West's water supply in the U.S. c. The Columbia River and Colorado Rivers are both examples of snowmelt-fed rivers.

Which correctly reports the average salinity of the world's oceans? Select all that are correct? a. 35‰ b. 3.5% c. 35 g/kg d. 35%

a. 35‰ b. 3.5% c. 35 g/kg

What formed Lake Missoula? a. An ice dam from the Purcell lobe of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet b. Pluvial conditions contributed significant rainfall to fill the lake c. A large landslide blocked the Columbia River forming the lake. d. No answer text provided.

a. An ice dam from the Purcell lobe of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet

Which latitude(s) would have brackish water? Select all that are correct. a. The equator 0° b. The Tropics (~23.5° N & S) c. High latitudes >60° N & S

a. The equator 0° c. High latitudes >60° N & S

Which of the following correctly describes the climate period we are currently in? a. We are in an interglacial period of an ice age b. We are in the glacial period of an ice age c. We are in a hot house (greenhouse) period

a. We are in an interglacial period of an ice age

Which of the following is true about ocean acidification? Select all that apply? a. a more acidic ocean will negatively affect organisms with carbonate shells and structures such as shellfish and coral b. it is caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans c. it is predicted that the ocean's pH could fall below 7.0 this century d. agricultural runoff and water pollution is causing much of the ocean acidification problem.

a. a more acidic ocean will negatively affect organisms with carbonate shells and structures such as shellfish and coral b. it is caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans

The term ____________ applies to water that is less than 35‰ (parts per thousand) salts such as the Gulf of Bothnia between Sweden and Finland that has heavy freshwater runoff and a salinity of about 10‰. a. brackish b. freshwater c. brine

a. brackish

Which of the following would cause sea level rise? Select all that are correct. a. ice sheets melting b. sea ice melting c. mountain/alpine glaciers melting d. warm water expansion

a. ice sheets melting c. mountain/alpine glaciers melting d. warm water expansion

What is unique about the Quelccaya Ice Cap? Select all that are correct. a. it is in the tropics b. it is expanding in area c. it is getting thicker d. it is underlain by a volcano

a. it is in the tropics

Which of the following is NOT evidence of the flooding that occurred from Lake Missoula? a. witness accounts b. giant (10 ft) ripple marks made of gravels c. Dry Falls--the largest waterfall in the world, though it is presently dry d. Huge braided channel tracks called scablands

a. witness accounts

Which of the following is true about the conditions during the last glacial maximum period of the Pleistocene about 12,000-30,000 years ago? a.Sea levels were much lower than they are today b. Sea levels were much higher than they are today c.Sea levels were much lower than they are today d. The American West and Southwest was even drier than today with a Sahara-type desert covering the region.

a.Sea levels were much lower than they are today c.Sea levels were much lower than they are today

cirque glacier

alpine/ mountain glacier

piedmont glacier

alpine/ mountain glacier

tidewater glacier

alpine/ mountain glacier

valley glacier

alpine/ mountain glacier

Which of the following would likely be the densest ocean water that is likely to sink and help propel the global thermohaline circulation in the ocean? a. cold brackish b. cold brine c. warm brine d. warm brackish

b. cold brine

Which of the following would increase ocean salinity? a. ocean precipitation b. freezing of sea ice c. groundwater runoff from land d. mountain glacier melt and runoff

b. freezing of sea ice

Which is NOT a likely change in the snowmelt hydrograph due to global warming? a. shorter snowmelt period b. later snowmelt peak c. lower snowmelt peak

b. later snowmelt peak

What trends are we seeing in low- and middle-elevation glacial ice across the globe? Select all that apply. a.positive net mass balance b.negative net mass balance c.ice gain/accumulation caused by precipitation changes d.ice loss/ablation caused by temperature changes

b.negative net mass balance d.ice loss/ablation caused by temperature changes

Which was NOT one of the four original "beneficial uses" defined by the Doctrine of Prior Appropriation (though now it is considered one). a.municipal/domestic use b.recreation c.mining d.agriculture/irrigation e.industry

b.recreation

Eutrophication leads to _______________ that can kill ocean species and create dead zones. a. excess nutrients b. acidification c. hypoxia d. warming

c. hypoxia

Water that is used incorporated into or used to produce food and goods is also known as ___________ water. a.ground b.visible c.virtual d.invisible

c. virtual

Which of the following might indicate that a glacier is experiencing a positive mass balance? a. the ELA moves up (higher) in elevation b.the glacier retreats c.the ELA moves down (lower) in elevation d.the glacier thins e.the glacier thickens f.the glacier advances

c.the ELA moves down (lower) in elevation e.the glacier thickens f.the glacier advances

Which of the following is NOT a direct use of water? a.water used to water the lawn b.water used to flush the toilet c.water used to make electricity d.water used for drinking and cooking

c.water used to make electricity

Would Denver's trans-basin water diversions be considered consumptive or non-consumptive?

consumptive

ice cap

continental glacier

ice field

continental glacier

ice sheet

continental glacier

Which is NOT considered a strategy to supply more water to growing populations? a. recycling/reuse b. expanded storage & transport c. conservation d. all of these are strategies e. desalination

d. all of these are strategies

Ships take on _______________ water, which often unintentionally transports species that can become invasive in the locations they are discharged. a. shipping b. invasive c. carbo d. ballast

d. ballast

Which is incorrectly matched? a.Prior Appropriations Doctrine....beneficial use b.Prior Appropriations Doctrine....seniority system c.Riparian Doctrine....reasonable use d.Riparian Doctrine....priority system

d.Riparian Doctrine....priority system

Ocean acidification is primarily due to acid rain caused by NOx emissions and SO4 emissions from industry.

false

True or False? The model data shown in class indicates that Colorado's precipitation is going to decrease significantly in the future.

false

glacial ice

less than 20% air; more than 80% SWE

In the United States, which use withdraws the most water?

thermoelectric power generation

Ice Ages (glacial ages) include periods of cold temperatures when glaciers advance as well as periods of warmer temperature when glaciers retreat.

true

Instream use would be considered a non-consumptive use of water.

true

The conversion from snow to glacial ice can take as long as 1000 years or as short as several years.

true

True or False? The model data shown in class indicates that Colorado's temperature is going to increase in the future.

true