GEOl 353 Exam

Scientists estimate there is a _____% chance of a M 9+ Cascadia earthquake occurring in the next ______ years and a _____% chance of a M 8+ Cascadia earthquake occurring in the next _____years. The frequency of occurrence for these earthquakes is once every 500 years for a M 9+ earthquake, and once every 250 for a M 8+ earthquake. The last Cascadia earthquake occurred _____years ago.

10-15, 50, 37, 50, 319

A pyroclastic flow can best be described as: A. A flow of hot gas and ash B. A flow of hot gas C. A flow of mud and pyroclastic material D. A flow of hot lava E. A rain of volcanic fragments

A

Based on what you learned from the Smithsonian/U.S. Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report website, how many volcanoes are usually erupting worldwide? A. about 20 B. about 100 C. about 500 D. about 1,000

A

Can hurricanes spawn tornadoes? A. Yes B. No C. Scientists are not sure

A

How would you describe the path of the jet stream shown in the Boston Globe article? (The Boston Globe: Blame jet stream, arctic air for repeat snowstorms). (Links to an external site.) A. More "wavy" than usual, bringing heavy snow storms to New England. B. Less "wavy" than usual, causing storms to miss New England and travel out to sea. C. More "wavy" than usual, and traveling west instead of east. D. More "wavy" than usual, and traveling south instead of north.

A

In general, subduction zone earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest are much larger than any recorded earthquake that has occurred in California. A. True B. False

A

To determine how far away from a seismograph station an earthquake occurred, scientists plot the difference in arrival times between: A. P and S waves B. S and L waves C. P and L waves D. Seismic waves and tsunami waves E. All of the above

A

Where in the U.S. do landslides occur? A. In all 50 states. B. Only in states with steep topography. C. Only in states that get a lot of precipitation. D. Only in mountainous states. E. Only in coastal states.

A

Which of the following best describes how the height of levees is fixed? A. The levee is constructed higher, or a flood wall is built. B. The levee is widened and flattened. C. Digging a trench into the levee and filling it with a watertight wall. D. Building a layer of rock to strengthen the levee and it's foundation.

A

Which of the following is the most widespread and frequent volcanic hazard? A. Tephra (or volcanic ash) B. Lava flows C. Pyroclastic flows D. All of the above

A

Winds in the polar jet stream can travel at speeds greater than 100 mph. A. True B. False

A

A) Name two natural hazards we have discussed this term that can trigger landslides. B) Name at least one more natural hazard that we have not discussed, but that can also trigger landslides.

A) Seismic and volcanic activity B) Floods: often occur in conjunction with or cause landslides.

Which of the following tectonic features are associated with volcanic activity? Choose all that apply. A. Divergent plate boundaries B. Convergent plate boundaries C. Transform plate boundaries D. Hotspots E. None of the above

A, B, D

What types of events cause tsunamis? Choose all that apply. A. Earthquakes B. Landslides C. Forest fires D. Droughts E. Volcanic eruptions F. Meteor impacts G. Hurricanes H. Sea level rise

A, B, E, F

According to this week's video (National Geographic - Top Ten Disasters), what four factors are used to rate the severity of a natural disaster? Choose four factors from the list below: A. Magnitude (size) of the event B. Type of event (flood, earthquake, etc.) C. Deaths caused by the event D. Economic damage caused by the event E. Lasting legacy of the event F. Geographic location of the event

A, C, D, E

Which of the following volcanic gases are hazardous to people, animals, agriculture, and property? Choose all that apply. A. Hydrogen halides (HF, HCl, HBr) B. Water vapor (H2O) C. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) D. Carbon dioxide (CO2) E. Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

A, C, D, E

What parts of the world are impacted by the northern polar jet stream? Choose all that apply. A. North America B. South America C. Europe D. Africa E. Asia F. Australia G. Antarctica

A, C, E

What 3 general regions of the United States are most susceptible to landslides? Choose all that apply. A. The west coast B. The east coast C. The Gulf coast D. The Rocky Mountain region E. The Midwest F. The Appalachian region

A, D, F

Which of the following hazards are closely associated with earthquakes? Choose all that apply. A. Subsidence B. Liquefaction C. Ground displacement D. Flooding E. Tsunamis F. Fires

All

A large subduction zone earthquake in the Pacific Northwest will likely trigger a tsunami with waves ____ feet high and lasting up to ____ hours. A. 5-10 feet high, 8 hours B. 10-50 feet high, 8 hours C. 10-50 feet high, 2 hours D. 5-10 feet high, 2 hours E. We have no way of predicting how high the tsunami waves will be, or how long they will last.

B

Do typical homeowners insurance policies cover geologic hazards like landslides? A. Yes B. No

B

How are mudflows different from landslides? A. Mudflows are composed mostly of solid material (rocks, soil, trees, and debris), they contain more solid material than landslides. B. Mudflows are rivers of liquid and flowing mud, they contain less solid material than landslides. C. Mudflows and landslides are essentially the same thing, there is no physical difference between them. D. Mudflows only occur during winter months, landslides can occur any time of the year. E. Mudflows only occur during summer months, landslides can occur any time of year.

B

Most earthquakes occur: A. In the middle of oceanic and continental plates B. Along the edges of oceanic and continental plates C. In oceans and lakes D. Earthquakes are scattered equally around the globe

B

One way that Oregon and Washington have mitigated against loss of life during large tsunamis is by building vertical evacuation structures in all coastal towns and cities. A. True B. False

B

The best definition for the term volcano is a tall cone-shaped mountain that erupts lava. A. True B. False

B

The polar jet stream is created by: A. Unusually strong tropical storms. B. Convergence of cold air descending from the Arctic and warm air rising from the tropics. C. Convergence of warm air descending from the Arctic and cold air rising from the tropics. D. Warmer global temperatures associated with climate change.

B

What is the effect of wind shears on hurricanes? A. They make hurricanes stronger B. They make hurricanes weaker C. They increase wind speeds D. They increase storm surges E. All of the above

B

What is the most turbulent part of a hurricane? A. Eye B. Eye wall C. Feeder bands D. Outflow clouds E. All of the above

B

Which of the following best describes how the stability of levees is fixed? A. The levee is constructed higher, or a flood wall is built. B. The levee is widened and flattened. C. Digging a trench into the levee and filling it with a watertight wall. D. Building a layer of rock to strengthen the levee and it's foundation.

B

Which of the following is produced by the least explosive types of volcanic eruptions? A. Tephra (or volcanic ash) B. Lava flows C. Pyroclastic flows D. All of the above

B

Which of the following is the most common type of volcanic gas? A. Hydrogen halides (HF, HCl, HBr) B. Water vapor (H2O) C. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) D. Carbon dioxide (CO2) E. Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

B

Which type of seismic waves travel the fastest? A. L waves B. P waves C. S waves D. Surface wave E. All seismic waves travel at the same speed

B

What parts of the U.S. are at the highest risk for earthquakes? Choose all that apply. A. Only California is at significant risk for earthquakes B. Western states, especially Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and California C. Most of Alaska D. Hawaii, especially the big island of Hawaii E. The Great Lakes region F. The region near the borders of Kentucky,Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri G. States that border the Gulf of Mexico, especially Texas, Louisiana, and Florida

B, C, D, F

Based on the information in Question 4, how seriously should the general population take the threat of large earthquakes occurring in Oregon? A. Not seriously B. Somewhat seriously C. Very seriously D. There is no basis for the public to asses the threat of large earthquakes in Oregon

C

How many people are killed by floods each year in the United States? A. Less than 10 people B. About 14 people C. About 140 people D. About 1,400 people E. We don't know how many people are killed by floods

C

How much economic damage is caused by floods each year in the United States? A. About 6 million dollars B. About 60 million dollars C. About 6 billion dollars D. About 60 billion dollars

C

Hurricanes can be up to ________ miles in height. A. 2 B. 4.5 C. 9 D. 20

C

If a large asteroid landed in the Pacific Ocean between the Hawaiian Islands and the west coast of North America, what would be the impact of the tsunami waves? A. They would cover the entire U.S. B. They would cover all of North America. C. They would wash out coastal cities on the west coasts of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, and would cover most of the coastal areas of Hawaii. D. They would wash out coastal cities on the east coasts of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, and would cover most of the coastal areas of the Caribbean Islands. E. They would cover the western half of the U.S. F. They would cover the eastern half of the U.S.

C

In all cases, tsunamis waves are caused by: A. Earthquakes B. High tides C. Sudden displacement of water D. Storms E. Volcanic eruptions

C

In deep water, tsunamis move at _____________. When they reach shallow water in coastal areas, the tsunami _____________ and ____________ in height. A. slow speeds, speeds up, increases B. slow speeds, speeds up, decreases C. fast speeds, slows down, increases D. fast speeds, slows down, decreases

C

In general, the most destructive earthquake waves are __________ . A. P waves B. S waves C. Surface waves D. Q waves E. All of these waves are equally destructive

C

Sudden melting of glaciers on volcanoes can generate which of the following hazards? A. Pyroclastic flows B. Earthquakes C. Lahars D. Lava flows E. Volcanic gases

C

The largest landslide in the world is over ________ thick and more than ________ in area. A. 50 feet, 100 square miles B. 100 feet, 200 square miles C. 1,000 feet, 400 square miles D. 2,000 feet, 500 square miles

C

What is the minimum number of seismograph stations a scientist must have data from in order to locate the epicenter of an earthquake? A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4 E. It depends on where the earthquake occurs

C

What is the most dangerous result of a hurricane once it reaches land? A. High winds B. Heavy rain C. Storm surge D. Lightning strikes E. Zombie attacks

C

What part of the atmosphere do winds in the polar jet stream travel? A. The upper layers of the atmosphere, where they have little influence on weather. B. The middle layers of the atmosphere, where they can sometimes influence weather. C. The lower layers of the atmosphere, where they have a strong influence on weather. D. Winds in the jet stream travel in all of these layers.

C

What percentage of single-family homes in Portland were built before the first seismic codes, which means they are probably not bolted to their foundations and will be uninhabitable after a large Cascadiaearthquake? A. 10% B. 30% C. 70% D. 90%

C

When is the polar jet stream strongest? A. In summer months when the temperature difference between warm and cold air in the Northern Hemisphere is at its highest. B. In summer months when the temperature difference between warm and cold air in the Northern Hemisphere is at its lowest. C. In winter months when the temperature difference between warm and cold air in the Northern Hemisphere is at its highest. D. In winter months when the temperature difference between warm and cold air in the Northern Hemisphere is at its lowest.

C

Which of the disasters covered in the video was the most economic costly disaster in human history? A. Hurricane Katrina B. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake C. The 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami D. The Black Death (or bubonic plague) in Europe E. The ice age megaflood

C

Which of the following best describes debris flows: A. A landslide that consists of a single unit that moves downslope as a coherent mass. B. Abrupt movements of rocks or boulders that become detached from steep slopes or cliffs. C. Rapid mass movement of loose soil, rock, organic matter, and water that flows as a slurry downslope. D. Imperceptibly slow, steady, downward movement of soil or rock.

C

Which of the following best describes how seepage from levees is fixed? A. The levee is constructed higher, or a flood wall is built. B. The levee is widened and flattened. C. Digging a trench into the levee and filling it with a watertight wall. D. Building a layer of rock to strengthen the levee and it's foundation.

C

Which of the following best describes how the layers of sand along the coast of Oregon and Washington were deposited? A. Earthquakes B. Hurricanes C. Tsunamis D. Floods E. Landslides

C

Which of the following measures an earthquake's intensity based on the observed effects on people and structures? A. The Richter scale B. The moment magnitude scale C. The Mercalli scale D. The Centigrade scale

C

Are natural hazards rare events or common events worldwide?

Common

According to the World Meteorological Organization, every dollar that is invested in disaster preparedness can prevent ________ in economic losses related to disasters. A. one dollar B. two dollars C. five dollars D. seven dollars E. twenty dollars

D

Based on what you learned from the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Map, approximately how many earthquakes occur in the U.S. every week? less than 50 A. 50 to 100 B. 100 to 500 C. 500 to 1000 D. 1,000 to 2,000

D

Earthquake shaking is measured using the following scales: A. The Richter scale B. The moment magnitude scale C. The Mercalli scale D. All of the above

D

Earthquakes can occur along which of the following types of faults? A. Normal faults B. Reverse faults C. Stike-slip faults D. All of the above E. None of the above

D

How high were the tsunami waves created by ancient landslides in Hawaii? A. About 50 feet (about 15 meters). B. About 100 feet (about 30 meters). C. About 500 feet (about 150 meters). D. About 1,000 feet (about 300 meters). E. We have no way of knowing how high these tsunami waves were.

D

How long could the shaking last during a large Cascadia earthquake? A. A few seconds B. Up to a minute C. Up to two minutes D. Up to five minutes E. We have no way of predicting how long the shaking during subduction zone earthquakes could last.

D

How old are the oldest levee systems in California? (And also throughout the rest of the country.) A. About 25 years old B. About 50 years old C. About 75 years old D. More than 100 years old

D

Of the hundreds of storm systems generated in tropical regions every year, how many typically develop into hurricanes? A. All of them B. About 90% (80 to 100) C. About 70% (60 to 80) D. Less than 50% (40 to 50) E. None of them

D

Once tsunami waves wash inland in populated areas, what do they consist of? A. Water only. B. Water and sediments (mud, soil, etc). C. Water, sediments, and natural debris (trees and other vegetation). D. Water, sediments, natural debris, and manmade debris (houses, cars, boats, etc).

D

Rising temperatures in the arctic make the jet stream _________ "wavy," increasing the likelihood of ________severe storms. A. less; less B. less; more C. more; less D. more; more E. Rising temperatures in the arctic do not impact the jet stream.

D

Storm surges can be up to ______ high and can extend up to ________ along coastlines. A. 10 feet, 50 miles B. 20 feet, 50 miles C. 10 feet, 100 miles D. 20 feet, 100 miles

D

What direction do winds in the polar jet stream travel? A. Toward the north B. Toward the south C. Toward the west D. Toward the east

D

What parts of the world experience natural hazards? A. Only areas located along active tectonic plate boundaries. B. Only areas located where severe weather is likely to occur. C. Only areas located near coastlines. D. All parts of the world experience natural hazards.

D

What type of plate boundaries generate the most tsunamis? A. Transform plate boundaries B. Divergent plate boundaries C. Convergent plate boundaries - continental collisions D. Convergent plate boundaries - subduction zones E. All types of plate boundaries generate tsunamis equally

D

Which of the following are the main parts of a hurricane? A. Eye B. Feeder bands C. Eye wall D. All of the above

D

Which of the following best describes creep (pertaining to landslides, not people): A. A landslide that consists of a single unit that moves downslope as a coherent mass. B. Abrupt movements of rocks or boulders that become detached from steep slopes or cliffs. C. Rapid mass movement of loose soil, rock, organic matter, and water that flows as a slurry downslope. D. Imperceptibly slow, steady, downward movement of soil or rock.

D

Which of the following best describes how erosion of levees is fixed? A. The levee is constructed higher, or a flood wall is built. B. The levee is widened and flattened. C. Digging a trench into the levee and filling it with a watertight wall. D. Building a layer of rock to strengthen the levee and its foundation.

D

Which of the following is an example of a natural hazard that occurs slowly? A. Volcanic eruptions B. Earthquakes C. Floods D. Droughts E. Landslides

D

Which of the following is most likely to be a natural disaster? A. A highly explosive volcanic eruption on an uninhabited island B. A large earthquake in the middle of the Sahara desert C. An avalanche in central Greenland D. A flood on the Ganges River in Bangladesh E. A large tsunami along the coastline of Antarctica

D

Hurricanes can be up to ________ miles in diameter. A. 50 B. 100 C. 250 D. 500 E. 1,000

E

What evidence indicates that a large subduction zone earthquake occurred in the Pacific Northwest about 300 years ago? A. "Ghost forests" along the Pacific Northwest coast, these trees died about 300 years ago. B. Japanese records of a tsunami that occurred 316 years ago, but was not associated with an earthquake in Japan. C. Oral traditions from Native Americans living in coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest about 300 years ago. D. Subsidence of several feet along the coast of the Pacific Northwest, geologic evidence suggests this subsidence occurred about 300 years ago. E. All of the above.

E

What types of weather events are associated with a "wavy" polar jet stream? A. Tropical storms along the east coast, for example Hurricane Sandy. B. Severe snowstorms along the east coast. C. Droughts in the Midwest. D. Unusually cold winters in Europe E. All of the above. F. None of these events are associated with the jet stream.

E

When the polar jet stream gets "wavy" and moves slower, what happens to the weather patterns associated with it? A. Storms tend to stall out and stay in one place for longer. B. Storms tend to move more quickly through the region. C. Storms become more intense. D. Storms become less intense. E. Both A and C are correct. F. Both B and D are correct.

E

Which of the following are hazards that exist after flood waters recede? A. Pesticides and fuel B. Untreated sewage C. Dangerous mold blooms D. Waterborne diseases like typhoid, hepatitis A, and cholera E. All of the above

E

Which of the following can trigger landslides on volcanoes? A. Intrusion of magma into the volcano B. Explosive eruptions of the volcano C. Large earthquakes directly beneath or nearby the volcano D. Heavy rainfall that saturates the slopes of the volcano E. All of the above

E

Which of the following describes "slow earthquakes"? A. Earthquakes that occur over a period of several weeks, rather than several seconds or minutes. B. Earthquakes that cannot be felt, even though they release the same amount of energy as a "normal" magnitude 6-7 earthquake. C. Earthquakes that occur about every 14-15 months in the Pacific Northwest. D. Earthquakes that might act as a warning for a much larger Cascadia earthquake. E. All of the above.

E

Which of the following is the most common cause of landslides? A. Earthquakes B. Volcanic eruptions C. Tsunamis D. Meteor impacts E. Slope saturation by water

E

What is a levee? A. Structures that dam rivers (they are built perpendicular to the direction of river flow). B. Natural river banks that are elevated from the river bed. C. Structures built specifically to generate hydroelectric power along rivers. D. Manmade river banks that are elevated from the river bed. E. Answers A and C. F. Answers B and D.

F

Which of the following is not a natural hazard? A. Tsunamis B. Wildfires C. Changes in Earth's magnetic field D. Dust storms E. Strong winds F. All of these are natural hazards

F

What is the difference between natural phenomena (or natural events), natural hazards, and natural disasters? Answer in your own words, using a sentence or two to explain each term and giving an example of each term in your explanation.

Natural phenomena are mere physical events that can be separated into atmospheric, geologic, and hydrologic categories. Natural hazards are when the phenomenon has the potential to inflict damage on humans or human civilization. Natural disasters, however, are considered a subset of both hazards, and in turn phenomena. An event is considered a disaster when they have a "major" impact on humans or human civilization. Natural disasters are separated from hazards by the magnitude of damage they cause to a human community.

How many giant landslides have occurred in Hawaii during the past 4 million years? Could they occur again in the future?

at least 15, yes

Because of the Coriolis Effect, hurricanes rotate_______ in the Northern Hemisphere and_______ in the Southern Hemisphere.

counterclockwise, clockwise

The most common cause of tsunamis is _________________.

earthquakes