EARTH SCIENCE FINAL :)
Nuclear fission
"Atoms of radioactive elements (such as uranium) split into lighter elements and release energy". This sentence refers to which of the following type of fundamental energy source?
the principle of cross-cutting relations
"If one geologic feature cuts across another (such as an igneous intrusion cutting through a layer of sedimentary rock), the feature that has been cut is older". This stratigraphic principle, used to determine the relative age of rocks, is called
the principle of superposition
"In a sequence of sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layer is at the bottom and the youngest lies at the top". This stratigraphic principle, used to determine the relative age of rocks, is called
Nuclear fusion
"Light atoms of hydrogen combine to form an atom of the heavier element helium and release energy". This sentence refers to which of the following type of fundamental energy source?
the principle of original horizontality
"Most sediments on Earth settle out of a fluid as a result of gravitation. As such, layers of sediment when originally deposited are fairly horizontal". This stratigraphic principle, used to determine the relative age of rocks, is called
GPS satellite measurements
Dr. Eric Calais, a seismologist from Purdue University, is using markers (benchmarks) scattered through Haiti to monitor the ground shifting under the island. This technique for measuring the slow ground motion is possible because of which of the following technological advances?
That human activities were causing ozone depletion That human activities were causing acid rain That second-hand smoking caused cancer That an increase in UV-B radiation was linked to an increase in skin cancer rates
Dr. Fred Singer, an Austrian-born American physicist and emeritus professor of environmental science at the University of Virginia, is among the first and most prominent scientists in the world speaking out against the consensus regarding global warming. He was also a prominent voice against the scientific consensus on which of the following topics? (mark all that applies)
Shear stress
During mountain building, the deformation resulting at any specific location actually depends on the stress developed at that location. Which of the following kinds of stress takes place when one part of a rock body moves sideways past another?
The China Syndrome
Which of the following Hollywood movies, which premiered on March 16, 1979, featured a nuclear meltdown and helped drastically reduce public support for nuclear power in the USA?
A shale gas reserve
Which of the following types of unconventional hydrocarbon reserves consists of a layer of source rock that passed into the gas window (usually temperatures above 160oC), so most of the hydrocarbons it contains occur as small molecules of natural gas?
The P waves
Which of the following waves are the fastest and the first ones to arrive and be recorded at a seismograph?
a reverse fault
A fault that is due to crustal shortening (compression), where the hanging wall block moves UPWARD relative to the footwall, and the fault surface slopes at a HIGH angle (steep slope), is called
a normal fault
A fault that is due to crustal stretching (extension), and where the hanging wall block moves DOWNWARD relative to the footwall is called
a strike-slip fault
A fault that is due to lateral shear, where one plate block moves LATERALLY, sliding sideways past another block, is called
a STRIKE-SLIP fault
A fault where one plate block moves LATERALLY, sliding sideways and grinding past another plate block is called
None
About 18,000 people died as a result of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011. How many more died from radiation resulting from the meltdown of the Fukushima reactors?
The most recent decade has been the warmest on record
According to temperature records collected since the late 1800s, which of the following decades has been the warmest in the United States?
the 2008 Great Recession
After the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill vote in congress, constituents began paying more attention to the issue of climate change and its impact on the economy. According to congressmen James Sensenbrenner, the American people was not too concerned about the issue of climate change until ...
earthquake focus hypocenter
All faults have an originating point where the rock first ruptured and started to slip. This originating point, from where the earthquake energy radiates, is called ... (mark all that applies)
Nevada
Based on what you know about the U.S. geothermal energy potential map, which of the following U.S. states have the highest potential for geothermal energy production?
Colorado
Based on what you know about the U.S. wind power potential map, which of the following U.S. states have the highest potential for wind power production?
The shores of Lake Erie (NE)
Based on what you know about the U.S. wind power potential map, which of the following regions of Ohio have the highest potential for wind power production?
30%
Before the Fukushima disaster, how much of the electricity used in Japan was derived from nuclear power?
(All of these are incorrect) The chances are 1 in 4 that a powerful quake will happen
Before the research from geologist Chris Goldfinger, from Oregon State University, only 19 earthquakes in 10,000 years were identified in the northwestern U.S. coast. Based on that, the odds of a quake happening here over the next 50 years were estimated to be, at most, one in seven. But Goldfinger's analysis identified over 20 previously unknown quakes. Based on this information, what is the chance that a megathrust earthquake will happen in the region over the next 50 years?
The production of electricity
Coal is responsible for about 22% of the total US energy output. Nearly all (92%) of the energy from coal is used by which of the following sectors?
Plate boundary earthquakes
Earthquakes do not occur everywhere on the globe. EIGHTY percent of the earthquake energy released on Earth comes from which of the following groups of earthquakes?
Intraplate earthquakes
Earthquakes do not occur everywhere on the globe. Which of the following groups of earthquakes account for only FIVE percent of the earthquake energy released on Earth?
Plates that move FASTER have HIGHER frequency of earthquakes Plates that move SLOWER have LOWER frequency of earthquakes
Earthquakes form as a result of new fault formation or the slippage on an existing fault. Faults form as a result of plate movement. Which of the following options is correct regarding the relationship between plate movement and earthquake frequency? (mark all that applies)
Compression Shear stress Tension
Faults are planar deformation features of natural origin on which sliding occurs. Faults result from which of the following kinds of stress? (mark all that applies)
A fault is the result of BRITTLE deformation of rock, occurring primarily in the COLD and HARD, UPPER portion of the crust
Faults are planar deformation features of natural origin on which sliding occurs. Which of the following sentences is true regarding the character of FAULTS resulting from crustal deformation?
dome
Folds occurs when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. A fold with the shape of an overturned bowl is called
basin
Folds occurs when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. A fold with the shape of an upright bowl is called
synclines
Folds occurs when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. Folds that have a trough-like shape in which the limbs dip toward the hinge are called
anticlines
Folds occurs when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. Folds that have an arch-like shape in which the limbs dip away from the hinge are called
A fold is the result of DUCTILE deformation of rock, occurring primarily in the WARM and SOFT, LOWER portion of the crust
Folds occurs when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. Which of the following sentences is true regarding the character of FOLDS resulting from crustal deformation?
Compression Shear stress
Folds occurs when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces, such as sedimentary strata, are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. Folds result from which of the following kinds of stress? (mark all that applies)
Plastic deformation Ductile deformation
Folds occurs when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces, such as sedimentary strata, are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. Folds result from which of the following types of deformation? (mark all that applies)
wood
For most of the 1800, the major source of energy supply for societal needs was
Lignite coal
Geologists classify coal according to its concentration of carbon. Which of the following types of coal have about 72% of carbon and forms under temperatures below 100oC?
Bituminous coal
Geologists classify coal according to its concentration of carbon. Which of the following types of coal have about 85% of carbon and forms under temperatures between 100oC and 200oC?
Anthracite coal
Geologists classify coal according to its concentration of carbon. Which of the following types of coal have about 93% of carbon and forms under temperatures above 200oC?
Heat from radioactive decay of unstable chemical elements on Earth's interior Heat from collisions during the asteroid bombardment in Earth's early years
Geothermal energy comes from the internal heat of Earth. Which of the following options include the original sources of this internal heat? (mark all that applies)
The production of electricity
Geothermal energy is responsible for about 0.3% of the total US energy output. Most (89%) of this geothermal energy is used by which of the following sectors?
Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HFC-23)
Greenhouse gases absorb the infrared radiation and re-emit them in all directions, including back down towards the planet's surface. But different greenhouse gases differ in their ability to warm the troposphere and Earth's surface. Which of the following gases has the greatest global warming potential?
Over 90% of climate scientists agree with this assertion
How large is the scientific consensus regarding the assertion that "Climate change is occurring and is largely caused by human activities"?
(Incorrect) about 120,000 people died
How many people died at the devastating Haiti earthquake on January 12, 2010, the biggest the region had seen in the last 200 years?
None
How much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are generated from the production of energy from nuclear power plants in Japan?
About 20% of the nation's power demand
How much of the power demand in the USA is fulfilled by nuclear power generation?
The bill passed with only a slim majority of votes
In October 2009, at the request of then President Obama, the U.S. Senate began hearings on the "Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act", which would create limits for emissions of carbon dioxide and allow companies to buy and sell emissions credits to each other in a carbon market. What happened to this bill?
About 11% of the world's electricity
In all, there are about 450 nuclear reactors generating electricity around the globe. Together, these reactors produce how much of the total world electric output?
Brittle deformation
Joints are planar deformation features of natural origin which indicate a break in the continuity of either a layer or body of rock that lacks any visible or measurable movement parallel to the surface (plane) of the fracture. Although they can occur singly, they most frequently occur as joint sets and systems. Joints result from which of the following types of deformation?
A tsunami
Megathrust earthquakes produce which of the following oceanographic phenomena?
The reactor used liquid sodium metal for cooling
Most nuclear power plants currently in operation uses water for cooling the reactor core. During the 1950s, the Argonne National Laboratory, in Illinois, developed an experimental reactor that used a different type of cooling agent. Which of the following is true regarding the cooling used at this experimental reactor?
The industrial sector
Natural gas is responsible for about 24% of the total US energy output. The majority (35%) of the energy from natural gas is used by which of the following sectors?
The transportation sector
Oil is responsible for about 37% of the total US energy output. Most (71%) of the energy from oil is used by which of the following sectors?
The greenhouse gas forcing The orbital forcing The dust forcing The ice sheet forcing The sea level forcing
Over the long-term, our planet's climate varies naturally. Temperature records from ice cores show that these cycles of warming and cooling are mostly the result of a combination of which of the following factors? (mark all that applies)
100,000 years
Over the long-term, our planet's climate varies naturally. Temperature records from ice cores show that these cycles of warming and cooling each lasted for about ...
Compressional body waves move back and forth PARALLEL to the direction of wave propagation Compressional body waves move through both solid and liquid materials Compressional body waves are the FASTEST among all seismic waves
Seismic waves are classified on the basis of where and how they move. Which of the following options are correct regarding compressional BODY waves?
Shear body waves move up and down PERPENDICULAR to the direction of wave propagation Shear body waves move through solid materials only
Seismic waves are classified on the basis of where and how they move. Which of the following options are correct regarding shear BODY waves?
P-waves
Seismic waves cause rock to vibrate in different ways. Waves that cause particles of material to move back and forth parallel to the direction in which the wave itself moves are called
R-waves
Seismic waves cause rock to vibrate in different ways. Waves that cause the ground surface to ripple up and down in rolling undulations are called
L-waves
Seismic waves cause rock to vibrate in different ways. Waves that cause the ground surface to shimmy sideways are called
P-waves
Seismic waves that moves through the interior of the planet are called body waves. Which of the following is an example of a compressional body wave?
S-waves
Seismic waves that moves through the interior of the planet are called body waves. Which of the following is an example of a shear body wave?
(All of these are incorrect) A magnitude 7 earthquake is TEN times (10x) stronger than a magnitude 5 earthquake A magnitude 7 earthquake is ONE THOUSAND times (1000x) stronger than a magnitude 5 earthquake
Seismologists use a logarithmic scale to measure the strength of an earthquake. Based on this scale, which of the following statements is correct?
A magnitude 7 earthquake is TEN times (10x) stronger than a magnitude 6 earthquake
Seismologists use a logarithmic scale to measure the strength of an earthquake. Based on this scale, which of the following statements is correct?
Hard rocks deforms brittlely Soft rocks deform plastically
The action or process of changing shape/location/orientation of rocks or rock layers through the application of strain and stress is called deformation. Which of the following is correct regarding the effects of rock composition on the type of deformation? (mark all that applies)
Liquid natural gas
Since the disaster at Fukushima, japan has shut down all its nuclear power facilities. To continue producing the electricity it needs, Japan is using which of the following energy sources?
(All of these are incorrect) About FIVE M8.0 or higher a year
Small earthquakes are a very common phenomenon. Thousands of earthquakes with magnitudes between five and seven occur each year. Stronger (above magnitude 7.0) earthquakes, however, are rare. Globally, we experience between 10-15 earthquakes with magnitudes between 7.0 and 7.9. How many earthquakes magnitude 8.0 or higher do we experience annually, on average, around the globe?
The residential sector
Solar energy is responsible for about 0.2% of the total US energy output. Most (60%) of this solar energy is used by which of the following sectors?
The intensity of an earthquake is greater near the epicenter We cannot assign a single Mercalli number to any given earthquake The higher the Mercalli intensity number the higher the damage caused by the quake
Some earthquakes shake the ground violently, whereas others can barely be felt. Seismologists have developed different scales to define size and damage in an uniform way, so that they can systematically describe and compare earthquakes. Which of the following options is correct regarding the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale? (mark all that applies)
The higher the magnitude number the higher the damage caused by the quake Each different earthquake is assigned a single magnitude number
Some earthquakes shake the ground violently, whereas others can barely be felt. Seismologists have developed different scales to define size and damage in an uniform way, so that they can systematically describe and compare earthquakes. Which of the following options is correct regarding the Moment Magnitude scale? (mark all that applies)
The Mercalli Intensity scale The Modified Mercalli Intensity scale
Some earthquakes shake the ground violently, whereas others can barely be felt. Seismologists have developed different scales to define size and damage in an uniform way, so that they can systematically describe and compare earthquakes. Which of the following scales does NOT depend on direct measurement with an instrument, but rather on a subjective assessment of damage and the perception of shaking? (mark all that applies)
About 12.5 feet of stored elastic strain
Some sections in the southern portion of the San Andreas fault have been quiet for over 150 years. Since then, the fault has been moving at an average speed of 1 inch per year. Based on this information, how much elastic energy has been built in this section of the fault? (consider 1 foot = 12 inches)
an unconformity
Sometimes, in a rock sequence, one or many layers appear to be missing. This substantial gap in a stratigraphic sequence, which marks the absence of part of the rock record is called
Precession
The Milankovitch cycles describe the collective effects of changes in the Earth's movements on the planet's climate over thousands of years. Taken in unison, variations in these three orbital cycles (eccentricity, obliquity, and precession) creates alterations in the seasonality of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Which of the following Milankovitch cycles has a periodicity of about 26,000 years?
A fleet of back-up generators and fire engines on high ground A 50-foot-high sea wall, to protect the plant A 5-million gallon holding pond, that can be used to cool down the nuclear reactors Water-tight doors, to prevent flooding of key areas
TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company), the owner of the Fukushima-Daiichi power plant, has built the largest nuclear power facility in the world, on the west coast of Japan (the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant). After the meltdown at Fukushima, TEPCO invested heavily in safety upgrades at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. Which of the following options are among these safety upgrades? (mark all that applies)
Plate boundary earthquakes
The 1906 San Francisco earthquake (Mw 7.9) and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake (Mw 7.1) are examples of which of the following groups of earthquakes?
Plate boundary earthquakes
The 1995 Kobe earthquake (Mw 6.9) and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake (Mw 9.0) are examples of which of the following groups of earthquakes?
Continental collision zone earthquakes
The 2005 Pakistan earthquake (Mw 7.6) and the 2015 Nepal earthquake (Mw 7.8) are examples of which of the following groups of earthquakes?
"Carbon dioxide is plant food"
The 2009 congressional hearings on the cap-and-trade bill became a stage where opposing views would get equal time. Scientists and skeptics were invited to testify. One of the speakers was Christopher Monckton, a British consultant, policy adviser, writer and columnist. During his testimony, Lord Monckton talked about how Earth is a "carbon starved" planet, and how we desperately need to seek out new sources of CO2 emissions if we have any hope for survival as a species. Which of the following statements was associated with that testimony?
Portland, OR Seattle, WA
The Cascadia fault is an active fault that can generate powerful megathrust earthquakes. Which of the following major U.S. cities are at risk from quakes along the Cascadia fault? (mark all that applies)
It is nearly 500 times stronger than the 2010 Haiti earthquake (magnitude 6.4)
The Chilean earthquake of February 27, 2010, reached an incredible magnitude of 8.8 in the strength scale. Which of the following options is true regarding this earthquake?
It is the fifth largest earthquake ever recorded
The Chilean earthquake of February 27, 2010, reached an incredible magnitude of 8.8 in the strength scale. Which of the following options is true regarding this earthquake?
Obliquity
The Milankovitch cycles describe the collective effects of changes in the Earth's movements on the planet's climate over thousands of years. Taken in unison, variations in these three orbital cycles (eccentricity, obliquity, and precession) creates alterations in the seasonality of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Which of the following Milankovitch cycles has a periodicity of about 41,000 years?
The South American plate The Nazca plate
The February, 2010 Chilean earthquake resulted from the slippage of a fault located at the boundary between which of the following tectonic plates? (mark all that applies)
the Oregon Petition
The Global Warming Petition Project is a petition urging the United States government to reject the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 and any similar policies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. This petition, which had 31,478 degreed signatories, including 9,029 with PhDs, is also known as ...
Eccentricity
The Milankovitch cycles describe the collective effects of changes in the Earth's movements on the planet's climate over thousands of years. Taken in unison, variations in these three orbital cycles (eccentricity, obliquity, and precession) creates alterations in the seasonality of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Which of the following Milankovitch cycles has a periodicity of about 100,000 years?
Eccentricity refers to the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun
The Milankovitch cycles describe the collective effects of changes in the Earth's movements on the planet's climate over thousands of years. Taken in unison, variations in these three orbital cycles (eccentricity, obliquity, and precession) creates alterations in the seasonality of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Which of the following options is correct regarding the Milankovitch cycle called ECCENTRICITY?
Obliquity refers to the angle of variation (or tilt) of the Earth's axis
The Milankovitch cycles describe the collective effects of changes in the Earth's movements on the planet's climate over thousands of years. Taken in unison, variations in these three orbital cycles (eccentricity, obliquity, and precession) creates alterations in the seasonality of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Which of the following options is correct regarding the Milankovitch cycle called OBLIQUITY?
Precession refers to the wobble of the Earth's axis
The Milankovitch cycles describe the collective effects of changes in the Earth's movements on the planet's climate over thousands of years. Taken in unison, variations in these three orbital cycles (eccentricity, obliquity, and precession) creates alterations in the seasonality of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Which of the following options is correct regarding the Milankovitch cycle called PRECESSION?
A slow change in shape causes ductile deformation A sudden change in shape causes brittle deformation
The action or process of changing shape/location/orientation of rocks or rock layers through the application of strain and stress is called deformation. Which of the following is correct regarding the effects of deformation rate on the type of deformation? (mark all that applies)
Under low pressures near Earth's surface, rock behaves more brittlely Under great pressures deep in the Earth, rock behaves more plastically
The action or process of changing shape/location/orientation of rocks or rock layers through the application of strain and stress is called deformation. Which of the following is correct regarding the effects of pressure on the type of deformation? (mark all that applies)
Colder rocks tend to deform brittlely Warmer rocks tend to deform plastically
The action or process of changing shape/location/orientation of rocks or rock layers through the application of strain and stress is called deformation. Which of the following is correct regarding the effects of temperature on the type of deformation? (mark all that applies)
Bob Inglis
The activist group Americans for Prosperity has been a leader in promoting the strategy of pressing lawmakers to defend their policies or be voted out of office. This strategy has dramatically transformed the way lawmakers approach global warming on Capital Hill, and many have lost their seat in Congress. Which of the following Republican lawmaker featured in the video was defeated in its party primary for the 4th congressional district in South Carolina in 2010, after he favored legislation to curb the effects of CO2 in the atmosphere?
Methane (CH4) Nitrous oxide (N2O) Water vapor (H2O) Carbon dioxide (CO2) Ozone (O3)
The atmosphere is the most unstable and rapidly changing part of the climate system. Some atmospheric gases have little to no interaction with either the incoming solar radiation or the infrared radiation emitted by the Earth, while others (the so-called greenhouse gases) strongly interacts with these forms of radiation. Which of the following atmospheric gases are considered greenhouse gases? (mark all that applies)
Sedimentary rocks
The earliest oil fields were discovered either by blind luck or by searching for surface seeps. But in the 20th century, when most known seeps had been drilled and blind luck became too risky, oil companies realized that finding new oil fields would require systematic exploration. Today, geologists begin their exploration by looking for a region containing which of the following types of rocks?
Promote public and private funding for research, development and demonstration of new technologies Create a market for emissions pricing and trade (cap-and-trade) Regulate emissions through technology requirements, building codes, and emissions standards Provide subsidies such as tax incentives and rebates
The effects of climate change are already being felt and will continue over the coming decades. There are two major ways to reduce the long-term risks of climate change: mitigation and adaptation. Adoption of MITIGATION measures may be promoted through which of the following policy instruments? (mark all that applies)
Capture and store greenhouse gases produced by conventional energy technologies Change land use and land management practices to store carbon in plants, trees, and soils Convert terrestrial biomass into energy while capturing and storing the produced carbon Replace conventional energy technologies with low-emissions or zero-emissions technologies Increase ocean carbon storage through biological or chemical means Use captured carbon in products such as polymers and cement
The effects of climate change are already being felt and will continue over the coming decades. There are two major ways to reduce the long-term risks of climate change: mitigation and adaptation. Which of the following options describe the MITIGATION pathways to avoid or reduce these risks? (mark all that applies)
A negative radiative forcing means Earth receives LESS incoming energy from sunlight than it radiates to space A negative radiative forcing means a net LOSS of energy A negative radiative forcing will cause COOLING of the planet
The effects of various climate forcings combine to produce the net radiative forcing, which is the difference between insolation (sunlight) absorbed by the Earth and energy radiated (lost) back to space. Which of the following options are correct regarding the effects of a NEGATIVE radiative forcing on Earth's climate? (mark all that applies)
A positive radiative forcing means a net GAIN of energy A positive radiative forcing means Earth receives MORE incoming energy from sunlight than it radiates to space A positive radiative forcing will cause WARMING of the planet
The effects of various climate forcings combine to produce the net radiative forcing, which is the difference between insolation (sunlight) absorbed by the Earth and energy radiated (lost) back to space. Which of the following options are correct regarding the effects of a POSITIVE radiative forcing on Earth's climate? (mark all that applies)
Shippingport, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh)
The first commercial atomic power plant in the USA opened in which of the following locations?
1957
The first commercial atomic power plant in the USA opened in which of the following years?
Paducah, Kentucky
The fuel used in nuclear reactors is enriched uranium. The process of enriching uranium produces undesirable leftovers called depleted uranium. The largest stockpile of depleted uranium in the USA is found in which of the following locations?
About 5.75 feet of stored elastic strain
The last earthquake on the Haitian fault occurred about 250 years ago. Since then, the fault has been moving at an average speed of 7 millimeters per year (0.27 inch per year). Based on this information, how much elastic energy was built, by the time the earthquake happened? (consider 1 foot = 12 inches)
(All of these are incorrect) the 1969 Santa Rosa earthquake the 1984 Santa Clara earthquake
The last lethal quake on the San Andreas fault system, which killed over 60 people and caused 20 billion dollars in damage, was
Landslides Sediment liquefaction Tsunamis
The majority of earthquake-related deaths and injuries happen when people are hit by debris or are crushed beneath falling walls or roofs. Which of the following natural hazards can also be triggered by earthquakes? (mark all that applies)
It uses particles from outer space called muons
The melted uranium fuel inside the reactor at the Fukushima plant is still inaccessible because of the extreme high levels of radiation. A team of scientists and engineers from the Los Alamos National Laboratory is using a new technique to "see" inside the reactor and map the melted nuclear cores. Which of the following options is true regarding this new technique?
about 92% of total energy usage
The percentage of energy usage in the U.S. that comes from NONRENEWABLE resources is
uniformitarianism
The principles that govern the operation of natural processes shaping Earth today have remained unchanged through time". This statement corresponds to one of the fundamental principles of Geology. This principle, also referred to as "the present is the key to the past", is called
Reverse and thrust faults
The type of fault often relates to the type of stress that occurs at a plate boundary. At CONVERGENT boundaries, plates collide and compress on one another, forming which of the following fault types?
Propane (C3H8)
The viscosity and volatility of hydrocarbons depend on the size of its molecules. Which of the following hydrocarbons possess the HIGHEST volatility (i.e., vaporizes at relatively low temperatures)?
Propane (C3H8)
The viscosity and volatility of hydrocarbons depend on the size of its molecules. Which of the following hydrocarbons possess the LOWEST viscosity?
Asphalt (C40H82)
The viscosity and volatility of hydrocarbons depend on the size of its molecules. Which of the following hydrocarbons possess the LOWEST volatility (i.e., requires high temperatures to vaporize)?
About ONE or TWO M8.0 or higher a year
Thousands of earthquakes with magnitudes between five and seven occur each year. Stronger (above magnitude 7.0) earthquakes, however, are rare. Globally, we experience between 10-15 earthquakes with magnitudes between 7.0 and 7.9. How many earthquakes magnitude 8.0 or higher do we experience annually, on average, around the globe?
radioactive water that could leak into the ocean
Today, more than 6 years after the Fukushima disaster, the most urgent problem at the nuclear power plant is
About 65%
U.S. domestic production of crude oil peaked around 1970 at about 9.5 million barrels per day and had declined to 5.1 million barrels per day by 2006. Oil consumption, on the other hand, has grow significantly, and demand for oil will stay strong over the next 20 years. To make up for the difference between consumption and production, the U.S. needs to import oil from a number of countries. What percentage of the oil used in the U.S. is imported?
a nonconformity
Unconformities are surfaces that represent periods of erosion or non-deposition, like missing pages of the geologic history book. If the unconformity occurs between a sequence of younger SEDIMENTARY layers deposited on top of IGNEOUS or METAMORPHIC rocks, it is called
a disconformity
Unconformities are surfaces that represent periods of erosion or non-deposition, like missing pages of the geologic history book. If the unconformity separates two sequences of PARALLEL (flat, undeformed) rock layers, one above and one below the unconformity, it is called
An Inconvenient Truth
What is the name of the Oscar-winning documentary about the environment, released in 2006, that features former presidential candidate Al Gore?
The Heartland Institute
What is the name of the public policy think tank that promotes free-market environmentalism and organizes the International Conference on Climate Change, an annual gathering of climate change skeptics in Chicago?
The Cooler Heads Coalition
What is the name of the team of skilled policy advocates and lobbyists - chaired by Myron Ebell and financed by the Competitive Enterprise Institute - that is driving the remarkable turnaround in public perception, which has changed the U.S. political landscape and the views of policy makers regarding climate change?
It is a THRUST fault
What type of fault caused the February 2010 Chilean earthquake?
It is a THRUST fault
What type of fault is the Cascadia fault, an active fault that can generate powerful earthquakes?
It is a STRIKE-SLIP fault
What type of fault is the Haitian fault that caused the January 2010 earthquake?
It is a STRIKE-SLIP fault
What type of fault is the San Andreas fault in California?
It was an earthquake simulation to estimate the costs and damage of a large quake
What was "The Great Southern California Shake Out" that took place in 2008?
M7.9
What was the magnitude of the Fukushima Earthquake?
The American Tradition Institute
Which of the following activist organizations has become famous for filing law suits (based on the Freedom of Information Act) demanding access to the entire document and email record of prominent climate scientists, including Michael Mann, James Hansen, and Katharine Hayhoe?
Ocean scientists have recorded increasing ocean acidity over time Ocean scientists have recorded increasing ocean temperatures over time Ocean scientists have recorded higher frequency and intensity of coral reef die-offs
Which of the following are accepted evidence from ocean scientists that our climate is changing? (mark all that applies)
Polar scientists have observed ice shelves break up into a churning sea of icebergs in a matter of days Polar scientists have observed an increase in the melting of sea ice in the Arctic Polar scientists have observed an increase in the amount of open water in the Arctic during summer
Which of the following are accepted evidence from polar scientists that our climate is changing? (mark all that applies)
China
Which of the following countries currently consumes about 50% of the world's coal reserves?
China
Which of the following countries currently consumes the largest share (about 20%) of the global energy?
China
Which of the following countries is the largest PRODUCER of coal, mining just over half of the world's total coal production?
Coal
Which of the following energy resources from Earth is formed from accumulated organic matter from old wetlands and swamps that were quickly buried in an oxygen-poor environment?
Oil Natural gas
Which of the following energy resources from Earth is formed from long-dead algae and other photosynthetic marine organisms (plankton) that accumulated at the bottom of ancient shallow seas and lake beds? (mark all that applies)
Nuclear fusion
Which of the following fundamental energy sources produces the energy emitted by the Sun?
The cap-and-trade approach
Which of the following is a market-based system of regulations and financial incentives designed to eventually reduce the emissions of carbon into the atmosphere?
Geothermal energy
Which of the following is the fundamental energy whose source is the heat produced during the formation of the planet itself, and has been stored in the interior of Earth since its beginning?
Aftershocks are SMALLER quakes that follow an initial LARGE quake
Which of the following is true regarding AFTERSHOCKS?
The SHORTER the time difference between the arrival of P and S waves, the CLOSER the epicenter is The LONGER the time difference between the arrival of P and S waves, the FARTHER the epicenter is
Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between the difference in the arrival of P and S waves and the distance to the earthquake epicenter? (mark all that applies)
By releasing heat that is used to generate steam that rotates the blades in a turbine to produce electricity
Which of the following is true regarding the way geothermal energy is used to produce electricity?
Intraplate earthquakes account for only 5% of the earthquake energy released in a given year Intraplate earthquakes generally have shallow focus Intraplate earthquakes occur in the interior of tectonic plates
Which of the following options are correct regarding intraplate earthquakes? (mark all that applies)
P-waves can travel through SOLID and LIQUID materials P-waves travel SLOWLY in molten rock than in solid rock of the same composition Seismic waves travel at DIFFERENT velocities in different rock types
Which of the following options are correct regarding the ability of a seismic wave to travel through a certain material, as well as the velocity at which it travels within this material? (mark all that applies)
Wood burning to produce heat and electricity Converting animal manure and human sewage to biogas in biodigestors Burning food, yard, and wood waste to produce heat and electricity Converting food and yard waste to biogas in landfills Agricultural crops (such as corn and sugar cane) to produce biofuels
Which of the following options contain examples of biomass used for energy production? (mark all that applies)
Anthracite coal results from deep burial of peat layers Anthracite coal forms at temperatures above 200°C
Which of the following options is correct regarding anthracite coal? (mark all that applies)
The hacking of emails of scientists' internal conversations about global temperature data
Which of the following options is correct regarding the episode known as "climategate", which began in November 2009?
The industrial sector
Which of the following sectors use the highest percentage of the 42.15 Quads of useful energy supplied in the U.S.?
A wall of frozen soil around the plant
Which of the following solutions is being used by TEPCO engineers to prevent groundwater from reaching the Fukushima nuclear plant?
Geothermal energy Wind power Hydropower Biofuel (such as ethanol)
Which of the following sources are considered RENEWABLE energy alternatives to fossil fuels? (mark all that applies)
Nuclear energy
Which of the following sources is currently the fourth largest, supplying about 8.5% of the energy consumed in the United States?
Oil
Which of the following sources is currently the largest, supplying the majority (about 40%) of the energy consumed in the United States?
Natural gas
Which of the following sources is currently the second largest, supplying about 24% of the energy consumed in the United States?
Coal
Which of the following sources is currently the third largest, supplying about 20% of the energy consumed in the United States?
A shale oil reserve
Which of the following types of unconventional hydrocarbon reserves consists of a layer of source rock in which kerogen was transformed into oil at high enough temperatures, but the oil did not migrate, i.e., it is held within the pores of the source rock?
The production of electricity
Wind power is responsible for about 2% of the total US energy output. All (100%) of this wind energy is used by which of the following sectors?