test 3

What are distinct ways reefs differ from other shoreline features? They depend on living processes to create them, and they can become a future fossil fuel. They are entirely nature made, and they thrive in all environments. They survive in only certain areas, and they depend on nonliving processes to create them. They occur only as fringing reefs

They depend on living processes to create them, and they can become a future fossil fuel.

Oil, gas, and coal provide over 90% of our energy needs in the United States. What makes these resources different from others such as nickel, iron, salt, or gypsum? They form from magmatic processes. They are more scarce than any other resource. They take millions of years to form. They form from previous life forms like plants or microscopic organisms.

They form from previous life forms like plants or microscopic organisms.

There is a correlation between greenhouse gas concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere and the average global atmospheric temperature. True False

True

Valleys carved by glaciers tend to be shaped like the letter ________, whereas valleys carved by water tend to be shaped like the letter ________. V; V U; U V; U U; V

U V

A series of stakes are driven into the ice of a glacier at the glacier's equilibrium line. Ten years later the scientists return to the glacier to examine the stakes. What would an experienced glacial geologist expect to find? the stakes would be in the same location, but covered by new ice and therefore difficult to locate the stakes would be relocated near the top of the glacier in the accumulation zone the stakes will not have changed location the stakes would have moved down-gradient, with the center stakes having moved the farthest

the stakes would have moved down-gradient, with the center stakes having moved the farthest

During a particularly cold winter in Florida, the temperatures remained below freezing for several weeks. To avoid freeze damage to the crops, farmers used well water to continuously spray the crops and maintain a protective coating of ice around the crops. Shortly after this long cold snap, sinkholes began forming throughout the region. Were these events linked? No; watering crops does not cause the formation of sinkholes. Yes; the farmers added too much weight to the surface and induced subsidence. No; sinkholes form in a karst landscape, on which farmers cannot farm. Yes; the farmers removed too much water from the aquifers and induced subsidence.

Yes; the farmers removed too much water from the aquifers and induced subsidence.

As an air mass moves vertically upward from the Earth's surface to higher altitudes, it experiences: a decrease in pressure and increase in temperature a decrease in pressure and temperature no change in pressure or temperature an increase in pressure and temperature

a decrease in pressure and temperature

A glacier will always advance from its source area if the rate of accumulation is greater than the rate of ________. snowfall subsidence ablation erosion

ablation

Currently, almost all the glaciers on Earth are in a state of retreat, which means that the rate of ________ is less than the rate of ________. calving; advance ablation; accumulation accumulation; ablation formation; sublimation

accumulation; ablation

The principal concern with storing nuclear waste is ________. allowing sufficient time for short-lived radioactive atoms to decay making biodegradable waste containers ensuring access to groundwater to keep the waste cool the demand to use them as decorative stone

allowing sufficient time for short-lived radioactive atoms to decay

Sediments deposited directly by glaciers as they melt are characterized by ________. an absence of sorting uniformly fine grain size uniformly coarse grain size graded bedding

an absence of sorting

In order for a well to function properly it must be drilled below the water table and into a(n) ________. geyser aquifer spring confining layer

aquifer

Radiometric dates applied to sedimentary rocks produce ages that ________. are too old (predate sedimentary deposition) represent the time the sediments became lithified are too young (postdate sedimentary deposition) are just as accurate as when the technique is applied to igneous rocks

are too old (predate sedimentary deposition)

Deserts do not need to be in hot regions; they only need to be ________, for example, deserts can form in cold, dry, ________ regions. arid; polar dry; tropical humid; polar humid; subtropical

arid; polar

The majority of caves are formed by the dissolution of bedrock ________. at and just below the water table greater than 10 m below the water table greater than 10 m above the water table above the water table

at and just below the water table

________ are gently sloping areas on coastlines that consist mostly of sand. Beaches Lagoons Barrier islands Reefs

beaches

If glaciers carry a mixture of different clast sizes, why are glacial outwash deposits layered? because glacial outwash is formed from the bottom of the glacier because clasts fall out of the glacier in size progression because the glacier does not deposit the sediments; the river does because gravity pulls out only the smallest particles

because the glacier does not deposit the sediments; the river does

Which greenhouse gases play the most significant role in influencing changes in global atmospheric temperature? carbon dioxide and methane nitrogen dioxide and ozone carbon dioxide and ozone nitrogen dioxide and methane

carbon dioxide and methane

Karst terrain forms in areas that are covered in which type of rock? silicates carbonates mudstones sandstones

carbonates

A desert may form along a coastline because a ________. warm current warms and dries the air cold current cools and dries the air cold current forces hot air inland warm current forces hot air inland

cold current cools and dries the air

On an irregular shoreline, the energy of a wave is ________________. concentrated along the headlands by wave refraction evenly spread over the entire shoreline concentrated along the beaches by wave refraction completely dissipated before reaching the shore

concentrated along the headlands by wave refraction

Saltwater invasion in coastal regions may result from _______________________. creating a cone of depression by over pumping sudden increases in water temperature sudden drops in water pressure groundwater flowing through evaporate deposits

creating a cone of depression by over pumping

Sea level ________ during periods of glaciation and ________ during interglacial periods. increases; decreases decreases; remains constant remains constant; decreases decreases; increases

decreases; increases

Land subsidence is likely when ________. discharge lowers the water table the water table rises groundwater recharge occurs the calcium content of groundwater increases

discharge lowers the water table

Chemical weathering produces economic resources by dissolving the host rock and leaving ore minerals in place. altering plankton deposited and buried on the sea floor into hydrocarbons. concentrating metals in cut banks. oxidizing minerals so that they can be easily recognized.

dissolving the host rock and leaving ore minerals in place.

Uplifted platforms and notches, and exposed reefs are evidence of _______________. the Coriollis Effect atolls submergent coasts emergent coasts

emergent coasts

Fission occurs when nuclear bonds of atoms are broken, releasing massive amounts of ________. protons electrons energy anions

energy

Cirques, horns, and arêtes form from glacial ________, whereas moraines, erratics, and till form from glacial ________. deposition; carving erosion; sublimation erosion; deposition retreat; advance

erosion; deposition

The majority of the major aquifers of the world are able to maintain a stable state because the rate of recharge, or replenishment of the water, is equal to the rate of withdrawal. True False

false

Most energy for human consumption in the industrial world comes from ________. wind water nuclear power fossil fuels

fossil fuels

The ________ represents the global strata from the entire Earth's history. lithologic sequence stratigraphic column geologic column stratigraphic formation

geologic column

You are walking in Central Park in New York City when you encounter a rock whose surface appears to have very fine parallel scratches in it. What are these features? glacial till moraines drumlins glacial striations

glacial striations

Because of wave refraction, erosion along an irregular coastline is ________. the same as it would be along a regular coastline even along the length of the coast greatest along headlands greatest in bays

greatest along headlands

Glaciers that move via basal sliding can often undergo surges in which they move at a much faster rate than normal because they ________. are not slowed down by plastic deformation have a larger volume than other glaciers float on a cushion of air like avalanches have minimal frictional contact with bedrock because of a wet bottom

have minimal frictional contact with bedrock because of a wet bottom

High tide will be ________ when the Sun and Moon are aligned parallel to each other as opposed to normally (when they are not aligned parallel to each other). lower the same higher reversed

higher

How can we connect a change in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to the rise and fall of sea level? lower CO2 = higher temp = less glaciers = higher sea level higher CO2 = lower temp = more glaciers = lower sea level higher CO2 = higher temp = less glaciers = higher sea level lower CO2 = lower temp = more glaciers = higher sea level higher CO2 = higher temp = more glaciers = higher sea level

higher CO2 = higher temp = less glaciers = higher sea level

A(n) ________ spring is an area where hot water naturally seeps from the ground. hot recharge perched artesian

hot

Trees use CO2 from the atmosphere and release O2. Thus, the loss of rain forests would ________ the greenhouse gases, thereby ________ global warming. increase; increasing increase; decreasing decrease; increasing decrease; decreasing

increase; increasing

Two atoms of a single element that differ in number of neutrons are said to represent two distinct ________ of that element. protons isotopes atomic species half-lives

isotopes

Topography dominated by depressions formed by the collapse of caves is termed a ________. karst landscape valley and ridge province pock-marked topography horst and graben landscape

karst landscape

Which sequence shows an increase in coal rank from lowest to highest? lignite, bituminous, anthracite bituminous, anthracite, lignite bituminous, lignite, anthracite anthracite, bituminous, lignite

lignite, bituminous, anthracite

Stratigraphic correlation is conducted by matching ________ and ________. geologic contacts; minerals present marker beds; eras fossils; unconformities lithologic layers; fossils

lithologic layers; fossils

Rates of groundwater flow are ________ than stream flow because the water ________. lower; must make its way through tiny pore spaces lower; contains dissolved ions that slow it down higher; can flow through large caverns higher; does not have any obstacles to overcome

lower; must make its way through tiny pore spaces

Groundwater ________. uniformly decreases porosity because of the deposition of minerals into pores does not affect the porosity of the rock and sediment through which it flows may increase or decrease porosity through dissolution or deposition uniformly increases porosity because of the dissolution of grains

may increase or decrease porosity through dissolution or deposition

Cirques and horns are features associated with ________. continental glaciation mountain glaciation glacial outwash deposits till

mountain glaciation

What would Earth's climate be like if there were no greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? much colder than now much warmer than now the same temperature as the Sun about the same as now

much colder than now

next unit

next unit

The surface below sedimentary rocks that overlie igneous or metamorphic rocks is termed a(n) ________. nonconformity marker bed disconformity angular unconformity

nonconformity

Desert climate associated with a rain-shadow is found ________. in the middle of flat plains on the leeward (back) side of mountain ranges on the windward side of mountain ranges along continental coastlines

on the leeward (back) side of mountain ranges

A wave will disturb the water to a depth equal to ________. the bottom of the seafloor its surface amplitude its wavelength one-half of its wavelength

one-half of its wavelength

A tilted sequence of sedimentary rocks violates which principle? uniformitarianism original horizontality superposition original continuity

original horizontality

The geologic time scale is broken into a series of eras, epochs, and periods based mainly on the fossils found in each section. This is an example of ________ dating. isotopic numerical radiometric relative age

relative age

Coastal landforms are constantly changing because the ________. sand is constantly moving tides are getting stronger sand is moved by developers storms are getting stronger

sand is constantly moving

An increase in the rate of sea floor spreading would cause ______. no change in sea level sea level to rise sea level to fall a tsunami

sea level to rise

The Milankovitch cycles describe the change in ________ because of changes in the ________ of Earth relative to the Sun. eccentricity; orientation solar energy received; orientation greenhouse gases; tilt albedo; precession

solar energy received; orientation

A black, organic-rich shale could likely serve as either of which two necessary types of rocks within oil fields? reservoir rock or seal rock reservoir rock but not source rock source rock or seal rock source rock or reservoir rock

source rock or seal rock

In an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks, younger layers overlie older layers, according to the principle of ________. original continuity uniformitarianism original horizontality superposition

superposition

Coal is formed when heat and pressure alter deposits of ancient ________. dinosaurs plankton terrestrial plants marine organisms

terrestrial plants

The deflection of atmospheric circulation cells due to differences in thermal atmospheric heating and the Earth's rotation is known as _________________________________. temperate cells the Earth's conveyor belt the prevailing westerlies the Coriolis Effect

the Coriolis Effect

If an igneous dike cuts across a sequence of sedimentary beds, ________. their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given the beds must be older the dike must be older the beds and the dike must have formed at the same time

the beds must be older

In an unweathered mineral crystal in an igneous rock, the ratio of the radioactive parent isotope to the stable daughter product is 1:15. Assuming that the half life of the parent isotope is 50 million years, that the crystal contained no daughter atoms at the time the crystal formed, and that crystal never underwent metamorphism, what is the numerical age of the crystal? 200 million years 50 million years 800 billion years 750 million years

200 million years

Barrier islands are constantly moving in the direction of ________. the high tide the longshore drift rip tides the Coriolis effect

the longshore drift

If a sandstone lies on top of a shale, ________. their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given the sandstone must be older, according to the principle of superposition the shale must be older, according to the principle of superposition the shale must be older, according to the principle of inclusions

the shale must be older, according to the principle of superposition

Why is tracking the carbon cycle important? Carbon alone is responsible for the increase in temperatures seen on Earth and thus affects our well-being. Carbon is contained in a large majority of rocks and minerals on the planet and can thus help us decipher Earth's history. Carbon is part of carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas that is partially responsible for the current global warming trend. Carbon is contained in all living things and can be used to determine the evolution of various species on Earth.

Carbon is part of carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas that is partially responsible for the current global warming trend.

Which of the following scenarios is most likely to occur if the climate continues on its current trajectory? Large expanses of continental shelf will be exposed above sea level. Continental glaciers will form and expand outward from Canada and Norway. Cities like New York, New Orleans, and Miami will be flooded by ocean water. Glaciers will grow larger, carve more U-shaped valleys, and deposit moraines.

Cities like New York, New Orleans, and Miami will be flooded by ocean water.

________ glaciers during the Pleistocene Ice Age stretched all the way to Illinois, Kansas, and Nebraska. Continental Cirque Valley Alpine (mountain)

Continental

________ are formed when one smaller tributary glacier flows into a larger glacier. Hanging valleys U-shaped valleys Valley glaciers Horns

Hanging valleys

________ create(s) an easy route for oil to follow from the rock to a well. Hydrothermal fluids Placer deposits Pumps Hydrofracturing

Hydrofracturing

In many areas with karst terrain, people use sinkholes as places to dump garbage. What effect might this practice have on the groundwater supply? None; sinkholes are not connected to groundwater sources. It could contaminate the groundwater in any or all aquifers in the area. It could block the groundwater discharge from unconfined aquifers only. It clogs the sinkholes so that water cannot percolate into the groundwater.

It could contaminate the groundwater in any or all aquifers in the area.

________ can be recognized as a series of U-shaped hills that are lined up and represent the ________ of the glacier. Drumlins; retreat Recessional moraines; retreat Varves; advance Terminal moraines; advance

Recessional moraines; retreat

Which of the answers below accurately reflects the following statement? Rock A is older than rock B but is younger than rock C. Rock C is the oldest, followed by rock A, and then rock B. Rock B is the oldest, followed by rock A, and then rock C. Rock C is the oldest, followed by rock B, and then rock A. Rock A is the oldest, followed by rock C, and then rock B.

Rock C is the oldest, followed by rock A, and then rock B.

________ decreases as glaciers form. Sea level Rainfall Sublimation Albedo

Sea level

________ deserts occur due to the drying out of air masses over the equatorial rain forests. Subtropical (30o N/S) Polar Rain-shadow Continental-interior

Subtropical (30o N/S)

If a basalt body cuts across a fault, what are the relative ages of the basalt and the fault? The basalt must be older, according to the principle of original horizontality. The basalt must be older, according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships. The fault must be older, according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships. Their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given.

The fault must be older, according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships.

If a basalt body cuts across a fault, what are the relative ages of the basalt and the fault? Their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given. The fault must be older, according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships. The basalt must be older, according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships. The basalt must be older, according to the principle of original horizontality.

The fault must be older, according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships.

Given what you know about how waves are formed, why are waves larger during storms? There is more water pulled in by the storm. The storm increases the amount of upwelling. The larger wind speeds create more shear. The motion of the water becomes more elliptical.

The larger wind speeds create more shear.

Imagine you are drilling and find water; how would you be able to tell if you have found a perched aquifer? The water table is too low. The water will be saltier. The water table is too high. The water will be contaminated.

The water table is too high.

A hypothesis was made that thick layers of limestone in the geologic record might reflect periods of time in the Earth's history when its climate was warmer due to elevated CO2. Using your background in geology, what is the most logical scientific reason for this idea? there would be more aquatic organisms producing calcite due to increased CO2 availability there would be more limestone produced by the volcanic eruptions that released the CO2 warmer temperatures would cause a decrease in ocean life warmer temperatures would result in deeper ocean basins for limestone to be deposited

there would be more aquatic organisms producing calcite due to increased CO2 availability

Sediments deposited directly by glaciers as they melt are termed ________. outwash varves outwash till

till

The most important layer of the Earth's atmosphere for geologic purposes is the ________________. mesosphere troposphere ionosphere asthenosphere

troposphere

Permeable rock or sediment between the water table and the land surface represents a(n) ________. unsaturated zone unconfined aquifer confined aquifer cave

unsaturated zone

Wind is an influence on ________. waves currents tides tsunamis

waves