Landforms ESCI-1020 Final Exam

5. In reality, a landscape behaves as a. a closed system. b. an open system. c. an evolutionary model changing in a sequence of stages that is the same everywhere on Earth. d. a closed system in terms of energy and an open system in terms of matter.

b. an open system.

9. The rate at which rocks weather depends upon a. the climate of an area. b. the type of rock. c. the amount of vegetation in an area. d. All of these. e. the climate of an area and the type of rock only.

d. All of these.

17. Which of the following is notrelated to coral rock formations? a. atolls b. bay barriers and barrier spits c. reefs d. barrier reefs

b. bay barriers and barrier spits

3. Watersheds are defined by a. continental divides. b. drainage divides. c. stream orders. d. fluvial units.

b. drainage divides.

1. Which of the following lists of processes are in the correct sequence as to their occurrence in nature? a. deposition, erosion, transport, weathering b. weathering, erosion, deposition, transport c. weathering, deposition, erosion, transport d. weathering, erosion, transport, deposition

d. weathering, erosion, transport, deposition

10. Sand on a beach moves in a zigzag pattern when waves strike the beach __________, and this movement of material is known as __________. a. at an angle; longshore drift b. at an angle; beach drift c. head on; longshore drift d. head on; beach drift

b. at an angle; beach drift

1. Which of the following is nottrue regarding Earth's oceans? a. Development on Marco Island was prevented due to sensitive mangrove habitat. b. 50% of Earth's population lives in coastal areas. c. 50% of the oceans' coastlines are at risk of loss or disruption. d. Coral bleaching is affecting reefs worldwide.

a. Development on Marco Island was prevented due to sensitive mangrove habitat.

29. Carbonation describes those chemical weathering processes that transform minerals containing calcium, magnesium, and others into carbonates. a. True b. False

a. True

30. The Colorado River, which carved the Grand Canyon, no longer reaches the sea because of water extraction. a. True b. False

a. True

30. The radio telescope in Arecibo is set in a landscape formed by chemical weathering processes. a. True b. False

a. True

16. A cutoff on a meandering stream results in the formation of a. an oxbow lake. b. a levee. c. a point bar. d. a terrace. e. a braided stream.

a. an oxbow lake.

3. Endogenic forces are responsible for __________ and result from __________. a. uplift; weathering b. uplift; heat generated within Earth's interior c. weathering; chemical and physical processes acting at Earth's surface d. weathering; climate factors and agents of transportation

b. uplift; heat generated within Earth's interior

3. A 50 kmph (30 mph.) wind blowing for 24 hours moves how much sand over 1m2 (1yd2) a. 10 kg (22 lbs.) b. 50 kg (110 lbs.) c. 500 kg (1100 lbs.) d. 1000 kg (2200 lbs.) e. 2000 kg (44000 lbs.)

d. 1000 kg (2200 lbs.)

2. The average salinity of sea water may be expressed as a. 3.5 percent, or 35 parts per thousand. b. 35,000 parts per million. c. 35 grams per kilogram. d. All of these are correct. e. None of these are correct as stated.

d. All of these are correct.

15. Which of the following is true of hydrolysis? a. It involves silicate minerals. b. It involves the chemical reaction of water with a mineral. c. It can produce clays. d. All of these are true. e. Only It involves silicate minerals and It involves the chemical reaction of water with a mineral are true.

d. All of these are true.

27. The Amazon River, the world's largest in stream discharge, has built an enormous arcuate delta into the Atlantic. a. True b. False

b. False

28. Physical weathering dominates in warm, wet climates. a. True b. False

b. False

29. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo wreaked havoc in Puerto Rico, yet missed the South Carolina coastline. a. True b. False

b. False

29. Rivers make excellent political boundaries given that they are obvious, clearly defined landform features. a. True b. False

b. False

30. The barrier islands off the Louisiana shore have been growing at fast rates in recent decades. a. True b. False

b. False

19. Marco Island, Florida, is used in the text as an example of a. a natural, protected mangrove environment that was saved by planning using a GIS approach. b. a mangrove ecosystem completely urbanized. c. a coral atoll. d. a nature preserve.

b. a mangrove ecosystem completely urbanized.

17. Oxidation can produce a. limestone. b. hematite. c. salt. d. gypsum.

b. hematite.

10. Small sized sand that is blown in a strong wind will produce ripples that are a. closely spaced. b. widely spaced. c. It is impossible to say what the spacing will be because there is no relationship between ripple spacing, sand size, and wind velocity.

b. widely spaced.

8. Elongated, streamlined ridges aligned parallel to the most effective wind direction are called a. ventifacts. b. yardangs. c. desert pavements. d. alluvial rock structures.

b. yardangs.

16. In order for an atoll to form, what had to happen? a. erosion b. submergence c. tectonic upwarping d. both erosion and submergence e. both erosion and tectonic upwarping

d. both erosion and submergence

4. Which of the following is not exogenic in nature? a. weathering b. erosion c. denudation d. batholith formation e. mass wasting

D. batholith formation

7. Which of the following is nottrue of tides? a. They are produced solely by the gravitational pull of the Sun. b. They are complex daily oscillations in sea level. c. They are influenced by the size, depth, and topography of ocean basins. d. They are influenced by shoreline configuration and latitude.

a. They are produced solely by the gravitational pull of the Sun.

21. Approximately two thirds (66 percent) of the world's population lives in or near a coastal region. a. True b. False

a. True

22. Water can be considered a "universal" solvent. a. True b. False

a. True

23. The composition of the ocean in terms of the ratio of individual mineral salts is remarkably homogenous. a. True b. False

a. True

26. Erosion of the walls of a channel normally occurs on the outsidecurve of a meander. a. True b. False

a. True

26. The coastal environment is also known as the littoral zone. a. True b. False

a. True

27. A significant seismic sea wave occurs an average of every 3.5 years in the Pacific Basin. a. True b. False

a. True

27. Iron oxidation produces red and yellow stains on rocks. a. True b. False

a. True

28. Barrier islands can migrate. a. True b. False

a. True

28. Deforestation in the headwater regions of a river can cause the river to flood more frequently in downstream areas. a. True b. False

a. True

9. The largest material that can be carried by a stream is carried as a. bed load. b. suspended load. c. dissolved load. d. truck load.

a. bed load.

12. The large sheets of rock that break off batholiths, such as Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, develop as a result of a. exfoliation. b. mineral expansion. c. salt crystal growth. d. frost wedging.

a. exfoliation.

20. Natural levees are created during a. floods. b. normal flow conditions. c. low flow conditions. d. None of these-all levees are manmade

a. floods.

5. The formation of desert pavement a. involves both wind and water. b. is produced by abrasion only. c. is not related to deflation. d. involves wind processes only.

a. involves both wind and water.

4. About 2 percent of the oceanic mass comprises the a. mixing zone of blended solutes and temperatures. b. deep cold zone that is near freezing. c. thermocline transition zone. d. bottom-most layers of each ocean basin that are surprisingly warmer than surface layers.

a. mixing zone of blended solutes and temperatures.

11. An earthquake, submarine landslide, or eruption of an undersea volcano is capable of producing a a. tsunami. b. tidal wave. c. slow-moving giant swell. d. wave in the open ocean of great height.

a. tsunami.

7. Abrasion is usually confined to a zone which extends up to __________ above the ground. a. 1 cm (0.39 in.) b. 1 m (3.28 ft.) c. 5 m (16.4 ft.) d. 10 m (32.4 ft.)

b. 1 m (3.28 ft.)

24. As the potential evapotranspiration increases, salinity decreases. a. True b. False

b. False

25. Brine water tends to occur near coastal deltas. a. True b. False

b. False

25. Rivers have played a relatively minor role in the geography of human history. a. True b. False

b. False

26. Soil thickness will decrease when soil production rates are greater than soil erosion rates. a. True b. False

b. False

15. If you wanted to build a structure on a river bank-especially one that flows through unconsolidated sediments-you should build the structure __________ to maximize its lifetime. a. along the cutbank b. above the point bar c. in a delta d. Any of these is equally safe.

b. above the point bar

14. Generally speaking, "beaches" span the zone a. between high and low spring tides. b. from several feet above high tide to several feet below low tide. c. between high and low neap tides. d. from the high tide line during a spring tide to the low tide line during a neap tide.

b. from several feet above high tide to several feet below low tide.

12. The downstream portion of a river a. generally becomes more sluggish. b. generally is of higher velocity, although it is masked by reduced turbulence. c. features greater hydraulic action than do upstream portions. d. has lower discharges than do upstream portions.

b. generally is of higher velocity, although it is masked by reduced turbulence.

11. The suspended load of a stream consists of particles that are a. rolled and bounced along the stream bed. b. held aloft in the stream flow. c. dragged along the stream bed. d. dissolved in solution.

b. held aloft in the stream flow.

7. A squeeze-and-release action works to loosen and lift rocks in a stream channel. This is an example of a. deposition. b. hydraulic action. c. abrasion. d. suspension.

b. hydraulic action.

2. Which of the following grain sizes is most readily moved by the wind? a. large b. intermediate c. small

b. intermediate

18. As regards wetlands, which of the following is correctly matched? a. salt marsh - between the equator and the 30th parallel in both hemispheres b. salt marsh - poleward of the 30th parallel in either hemisphere c. mangrove swamps - poleward of the 30th parallel in either hemisphere d. salt marshes - low productivity due to the salinity

b. salt marsh - poleward of the 30th parallel in either hemisphere

13. Many of the Native American dwellings at Mesa Verde and elsewhere in the western United States. are located under overhangs that form along the contact between permeable and impermeable rock layers. These overhangs (niches) were primarily created by what process? a. exfoliation b. salt-crystal growth c. hydrolysis d. frost wedging e. carbonic acid solution

b. salt-crystal growth

24. A slow persistent mass movement of surface soil is called a. a debris avalanche. b. soil creep. c. a soil slide. d. a rockfall.

b. soil creep.

13. Which of the following is notan example of an erosional coastal landform? a. sea arch b. tombolo c. wave-cut platform d. notched cliff

b. tombolo

4. Which of the following is incorrectly matched? a. rills - small-scale grooves in the land surface b. drainage divides - ridges that control the direction of drainage c. Allegheny and Missouri rivers - form the Monongahela at Pittsburgh d. Delaware River basin - comprised of parts of five states

c. Allegheny and Missouri rivers - form the Monongahela at Pittsburgh

22. Which of the following countries is noted for its spectacular tower karst? a. Russia b. the United States c. China d. France

c. China

4. The often-sited work on eolian processes is The Physics of Blown Sand and Desert Duneswritten by a. William Morris Davis. b. John Wesley Powell. c. Ralph A. Bagnold. d. Edward Abbey.

c. Ralph A. Bagnold.

24. Which of the following is true of New Orleans and the passage of Hurricane Katrina? a. Only one levee was breached. b. The flood protection features failed only after their design-failure limits were reached. c. Sections of New Orleans are below sea level. d. Six investigations found that the protection system was flawless.

c. Sections of New Orleans are below sea level.

8. Which of the following is nottrue of tides? a. The Moon's gravitational pull on Earth is greater than that of the Sun's. b. Inertia produces a bulge on the side of Earth opposite that of the Moon. c. Tidal bulges rotate with Earth; i.e., they move with the landmasses as Earth rotates. d. The tidal bulge located on the side of Earth opposite that of the Moon results from the fact that it is "left in position" while the water on the side facing the Moon is drawn toward the Moon. e. Most places on Earth experience two high tides and two low tides each day.

c. Tidal bulges rotate with Earth; i.e., they move with the landmasses as Earth rotates.

21. When a river reaches a base level, its forward velocity rapidly decelerates as it enters a larger body of standing water and __________ is formed. a. an estuary b. an alluvial terrace c. a delta d. a stream terrace

c. a delta

23. Which of the following occurred on the west face of Nevado Huascaran in Peru in 1962 and again in 1970? a. a massive translational slide b. massive rock falls c. debris avalanches devastated the towns below. d. a massive rotational slump sent water from a reservoir down the canyon to inundate a town. e. the towns at the base were covered by solifluction.

c. debris avalanches devastated the towns below.

25. In 1973, part of the flat ground on which a subdivision was located became saturated and began to flow toward the Saint Lawrence River at speeds of up to 26 kmph (16 mph). The ground that flowed consisted of silts and clays-not large, rocky regolith. What type of mass wasting event was this? a. debris avalanche b. soil creep c. earthflow d. lahar

c. earthflow

1. The science that specifically studies the origin, evolution, form, and spatial distribution of landforms is a. geology. b. geography. c. geomorphology. d. environmental chemistry.

c. geomorphology

3. Brine water results from a. the influx of river water into the ocean. b. stagnation of water in a floodplain swamp. c. high evapotranspiration rates. d. heavy rainfall and low temperatures.

c. high evapotranspiration rates.

5. Steep slopes and some relief generally produce which drainage pattern? a. dendritic b. deranged c. parallel d. annular

c. parallel

15. In order to reestablish eroding beaches, some municipalities deposit sand on the beach using trucks. In the process, known as beach nourishment, the beach front may be steepenedrelative to its original slope. Based on the relationship between beach slope and wave type, you know that this restoration process will result in the generation of __________. a. small breakers that will maintain the beach b. small breakers that will build the beach up even more in a cycle of positive feedback c. plunging breakers that will erode the newly deposited sand d. plunging breakers that will maintain the beach

c. plunging breakers that will erode the newly deposited sand

11. The dramatic domes and arch-shaped features found in granitic mountain masses result from a. solution processes. b. frost-wedging. c. pressure-release jointing, and sheeting. d. spheroidal weathering.

c. pressure-release jointing, and sheeting.

6. Which of the following terms isnota correct reference to a desert pavement? a. gibber plain b. lag gravels c. sand seas d. reg desert

c. sand seas

2. The ultimatebase level is a. a drainage divide. b. a dam. c. sea level. d. All of these.

c. sea level.

22. Over the past 5000 years, the Mississippi River has produced how many distinct deltaic formations? a. only the present formation has existed b. two c. seven d. fifteen

c. seven

14. Hydrolysis involves a. no actual chemical change in minerals. b. water being added to a mineral leading to swelling and stress in rock. c. water reacting with minerals. d. hydraulic action of water between rocks.

c. water reacting with minerals.

12. Which of the following is true of worldwide sea level? a. Over the long term, levels have been very constant. b. Changes in sea level are usually unrelated to tectonic processes. c. Changes seem to occur without any relation to global average temperatures. d. It was about 130 m (430 ft.) lower 18,000 B.P., and about 10 cm lower 100 years or so ago.

d. It was about 130 m (430 ft.) lower 18,000 B.P., and about 10 cm lower 100 years or so ago.

19. Which of the following is incorrectregarding floodplains? a. They are formed by recurrent flooding in the area adjacent to the stream. b. Natural levees on either side of a stream are formed during times when the stream is at flood stage and overflows the bank. c. They are generally low-lying areas. d. They are characterized by rapids and low waterfalls.

d. They are characterized by rapids and low waterfalls.

19. Which of the following is notnecessary for well-developed karst to develop? a. high proportion of calcium carbonate in the rock b. joints in rock of low permeability c. vegetation d. arid conditions

d. arid conditions

20. So-called "sleeper waves" result from a. earthquakes. b. volcanic eruptions. c. submarine landslides. d. constructive, in-phase interference.

d. constructive, in-phase interference.

7. Which portions of a slope overlap substantially? a. waxing slope and waning slope b. waxing slope and free face c. free face and debris slope d. debris slope and waning slope

d. debris slope and waning slope

23. The effect of urbanization on a typical stream hydrograph is to a. create a base flow. b. increase lag time between storm peak and peak stream discharge. c. decrease runoff. d. decrease lag time between storm peak and peak stream discharge.

d. decrease lag time between storm peak and peak stream discharge.

20. Which of the following is incorrectly matched? a. Krs Plateau - Yugoslavia b. developed karst - about 15 percent of Earth's land area c. limestone - at least 80 percent calcium carbonate content d. developed karst - patterns of joints in granite

d. developed karst - patterns of joints in granite

1. For purposes of discussing eolian processes, the wind acts like a a. solid. b. gas. c. plasma. d. fluid.

d. fluid.

5. A general term for the coastal environment is a. shoreline. b. coast. c. coastline. d. littoral zone.

d. littoral zone.

18. An interruption in a stream's graded profile of equilibrium is called a a. gradation. b. longitudinal interruption. c. base level. d. nickpoint.

d. nickpoint.

9. A sea stack (i.e., an isolated pillar of rock located offshore) is the erosional remnant of a a. volcanic neck. b. spit. c. tombolo. d. rocky headland.

d. rocky headland.

8. Which of the following is true of joints? a. Joints are small, localized fault planes along which movement occurs. b. Joints enable more water to move through the ground. c. Joints enhance the rate of weathering. d. All of these are true. e. Only Joints enable more water to move through the ground and Joints enhance the rate of weathering are true.

e. Only Joints enable more water to move through the ground and Joints enhance the rate of weathering are true.

18. Concrete that is buried below the ground will usually weather faster than that above ground. This is because a. carbonic acid solution attacks the concrete. b. water is more abundant in the soil. c. exfoliation is more likely to occur below ground level. d. All of these are true. e. carbonic acid solution attacks the concrete and water is more abundant in the soil are true.

e. carbonic acid solution attacks

2. Which of the following is incorrectly matched? a. volcanic eruptions - endogenic b. tectonic uplift - endogenic c. heavy rainfall - exogenic d. weathering and erosion - exogenic e. denudation - endogenic

e. denudation - endogenic

13. If the capacity of a stream is exceeded, __________ will occur. a. downcutting b. erosion of valley walls c. aggradation d. both downcutting and erosion of valley walls

c. aggradation

14. The construction of a dam across a river is likely to cause __________ upstream and __________ downstream. a. erosion; aggradation b. erosion; erosion c. aggradation; erosion d. aggradation; aggradation

c. aggradation; erosion

6. Which of the following channel characteristics adjusts in response to changes in energy of flow and sediment load in the channel? a. channel slope b. channel width and depth c. both channel slope and channel width and depth d. None of these-river channel form is controlled exclusively by the type of rock or sediment through which the river flows

c. both channel slope and channel width and depth

21. The material from which stalactites and other cave formations develop is derived from a. halite that was dissolved from the overlying rock as groundwater flowed through it and then precipitated when the water evaporated. b. various types of gases in the cave, which sublimate to form a solid. c. calcite that was dissolved from the overlying rock as groundwater flowed through it and then precipitated when the water evaporated. d. calcite that sublimates from air trapped within the cave when temperatures fall below a certain level-about -10°C. e. phosphates that were carried into the cave by groundwater and then precipitated as the groundwater evaporated.

c. calcite that was dissolved from the overlying rock as groundwater flowed through it and then precipitated when the water evaporated.

6. From inland to the ocean, which sequence of zones is correct? a. nearshore, backshore, coast b. beach, surf zone, coast c. coast, backshore, foreshore, nearshore d. ocean, beach, cliffs

c. coast, backshore, foreshore, nearshore

10. Other than the rock itself, the most important chemical substance needed for the majority of weathering processes is a. oxygen. b. nitrogen. c. water. d. carbon dioxide.

c. water.

9. Pebbles can be moved by __________ in a process known as __________. a. deflation; saltation b. deflation; surface creep c. saltating particles; deflation d. saltating particles; surface creep

d. saltating particles; surface creep

8. Stream transport involves all of the following except a. saltation. b. bed load. c. traction. d. sheet flow.

d. sheet flow.

17. Which is typical of a rejuvenated system? a. entrenched meanders b. oxbow lakes c. increased downcutting d. terraces e. entrenched meanders, increased downcutting, and terraces only

e. entrenched meanders, increased downcutting, and terraces only

6. Because the climate of a region slowly changes and tectonic adjustments slowly occur, the landscape a. is constantly at a threshold condition. b. is continuously adjusting to new conditions that develop. c. is usually in a state of dynamic equilibrium. d. All of these e. is continuously adjusting to new conditions that develop and is usually in a state of dynamic equilibrium only

e. is continuously adjusting to new conditions that develop and is usually in a state of dynamic equilibrium only

16. The yellow-red stains that occur on some rock surfaces are the result of __________ which is a form of __________ weathering. a. hydration; physical b. hydration; chemical c. solution; chemical d. oxidation; physical e. oxidation; chemical

e. oxidation; chemical

10. Bed load is moved by a. saltation. b. traction. c. suspension. d. All of these. e. saltation and traction only.

e. saltation and traction only.