Exam 3

Mount St. Helens is a _______. A. shield volcano B. Had a major eruption in 1960 C. is a large composite volcano in the Philippines D. composite volcano associated with a subducting oceanic plate

D. composite volcano associated with a subducting oceanic plate

Which of the following statements are correct A. shield volcanoes generally produce explosive eruptions B. composite volcanoes generally produce effusive eruptions C. Mauna Loa is a classic example of composite volcano D. none of the above are correct.

D. none of the above are correct.

The deepest single group of features on the ocean floor is _______. A. areas beneath the ice sheets B. underneath continental areas C. mid-ocean ridges D. oceanic trenches

D. oceanic trenches

Both ice core and ocean sediment core use __________ to reconstruct past climates. A. seismic waves B. counted tree rings C. the magnetosphere D. oxygen isotopes

D. oxygen isotopes

An instrument used to record vibrations in the crust is the _______. A. shake-meter B. barometer C. anemometer D. seismograph

D. seismograph

Igneous rocks are the product of _______. A. heat and pressure causing hardening and physical changes in the rock B. the accumulation of pieces of preexisting rocks C. weathering and erosion processes D. slowly solidifying and crystallizing magma

D. slowly solidifying and crystallizing magma

At divergent plate boundaries, mid-ocean ridges and continental rift valleys are common a. true b. false

a. true

Earthquakes usually occur along plate boundaries a. true b. false

a. true

In the global carbon cycle, carbon absorbed by plants through photosynthesis is much larger than carbon released from land use change and fossil fuel burning. However, there is still a net exchange of carbon from the surface to the atmosphere because carbon stored by photosynthesis is roughly balanced by carbon released by respiration (release of carbon dioxide by plants and soil). (See GIA 8.1) A. True B. False

A. True

The Himalaya Mountains were formed at a A. continental-continental convergent plate boundary B. divergent plate boundary C. subduction zone with many active volcanoes nearby D. mid-ocean ridge or spreading center

A. continental-continental convergent plate boundary

The use of tree rings to reconstruct past climates is known as __________. A. dendrochronology B. radiometric dating C. radiocarbon dating D. oxygen isotope analysis

A. dendrochronology

The science that studies the origin, evolution, form, and spatial distribution of landforms is _______. A. geomorphology B. geodesy C. geology D. global positioning system

A. geomorphology

The second most prevalent greenhouse gas produced by human activity is __________ A. methane B. nitrous oxide C. chlorofluorocarbons D. none of the above

A. methane

Faults that result from compression stress are A. reverse faults, or thrust faults B. folded faults C. strike-slip faults, or transform faults D. normal faults

A. reverse faults, or thrust faults

Which of the following features related to plate boundaries is most likely to cause volcanoes? A. subduction zone B. transform fault C. continental-continental collision

A. subduction zone

Relief refers to ____, while topography refers to ______. A. vertical elevation differences; general term for variations in the shape of Earths surface B. apparent elevation; actual elevation C. ridges; mountains D. actual elevation; apparent elevation

A. vertical elevation differences; general term for variations in the shape of Earths surface

In the global carbon cycle, the net uptake on land in forests in soils is higher than emissions from land-use change and fossil fuel burning. (See GIA 8.1) A. True B. False

B. False

Earth's core is composed of _______. A. a solid iron outer core and a liquid iron inner core B. a liquid iron outer core and a solid iron inner core C. a plastic iron outer core and a liquid iron inner core D. a solid iron outer core and a solid iron inner core

B. a liquid iron outer core and a solid iron inner core

The geologic time scale is _______. A. based only on relative time B. based on both relative and absolute time C. a device to monitor the age of Earth's crust D. based only on absolute time

B. based on both relative and absolute time

_________is the most dominant gas in radiative forcing. A. CFC's B. carbon dioxide C. nitrous oxide D. methane

B. carbon dioxide

All processes that wear away or rearrange landforms are included in the term _______. A. weathering B. denudation C. erosion D. endogenic system

B. denudation

The Geologic Cycle includes _______. A. only endogenic processes B. endogenic and exogenic processes C. only energy from plate tectonics D. only the rock cycle and the tectonic cycle

B. endogenic and exogenic processes

Hawaiian volcanoes are _______. A. normally explosive with high viscosity magma B. generally effusive with low viscosity magma C. formed along an ocean trench at a subduction zone D. composite volcanoes

B. generally effusive with low viscosity magma

Chemical weathering is greatest under conditions of _______. A. low average annual rainfall and temperatures B. high average annual rainfall and high temperatures C. lower rainfall and higher temperature D. higher rainfall and lower rainfall

B. high average annual rainfall and high temperatures

Uniformitarianism is the theory that can be stated as _______. A. catastrophic events happen in a uniform manner B. the present is the key to the past C. Earth's history has been uniform and unchanging D. massive catastrophic events are primarily responsible for the current shape of Earth's surface

B. the present is the key to the past

Which of the following is true about atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations? A. It is very hard to say anything about atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations over geologic time because measurements only began last century. B. Atmospheric CO2 concentrations are the lowest they have been for over 250 years. C. Over the past 800,000 years, CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere have never been higher than they are today, and they continue to increase due to anthropogenic emissions. D. CO2 is only dangerous when a pressurized gas cylinder explodes.

C. Over the past 800,000 years, CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere have never been higher than they are today, and they continue to increase due to anthropogenic emissions.

The Hawaiian Islands have been formed by________. A. magma rising from the spreading center at a divergent plate boundary B. the Hawaiian Islands are all sedimentary rocks C. an upward-erupting plume of molten material from the mantle D. subduction of the Pacific plate

C. an upward-erupting plume of molten material from the mantle

Climate change science is likely controversial because________ A. there is a good chance that global warming is not happening, or if it is it is just part of Earth's natural cycle. B. scientists are deliberately deceiving the public so alternative energy companies get rich C. corporate interests are at stake, particularly the fossil fuel industry, if climate change solutions are imposed. Therefore, these corporations lead misinformation campaigns and successfully deceive much of the public. D. fossil fuel companies want to inform the public that their product is safe, because unlike scientists, they are not so concerned about profits.

C. corporate interests are at stake, particularly the fossil fuel industry, if climate change solutions are imposed. Therefore, these corporations lead misinformation campaigns and successfully deceive much of the public.

Which of the following pairs of concepts or terms is matched correctly? A. asthenosphere: lower mantle B. core: olivine and iron/magnesium silicates C. extrusive igneous: basaltic crust D. upper mantle: Earth's magnetic field

C. extrusive igneous: basaltic crust

The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report concludes that __________ have been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-twentieth century. A. changes in the Sun's intensity B. volcanism C. humans D. corporate interests and corrupt politics

C. humans

When rock is disintegrated without alteration to mineral identity, it has undergone _______. A. oxidation B. carbonation C. physical weathering D. chemical weathering

C. physical weathering

Faults that result from shear stress are A. reverse faults, or thrust faults B. folded faults C. strike-slip faults, or transform faults D. normal faults

C. strike-slip faults, or transform faults

The graph that plots atmospheric carbon dioxide at an observatory on Mauna Loa, HI since 1958 is called b the younger dryas A. The Joe Shmo curve B. the little ice age C. the keeling curve

C. the keeling curve

Which of these dates is correct? (see Fig 9.1) A. 10 million years - approximate time of the first flowering plants B. 11,500 years - approximate age of the oldest birds and mammals C. The Permian Period occurred 100 million years ago before dinosaur life evolved. D. 4.6 billion years—approximate age of Earth

D. 4.6 billion years—approximate age of Earth

The dynamic equilibrium model refers to _______. A. more resistant caprock protects strata below B. the balance between weathering and erosion C. The fact that natural processes do not affect the shape of landscapes. D. The balance between tectonic uplift and rates of weathering and erosion

D. The balance between tectonic uplift and rates of weathering and erosion

After a geomorphic threshold is crossed, the landscape _______. A. does not change B. gets aggravated and gives up C. remains unstable D. adjusts to a new equilibrium

D. adjusts to a new equilibrium

How does vegetation influence weathering? A. vegetation protects surface soil from raindrops that would otherwise create erosion B. plant roots enter crevices in the rock and break up rock mechanically C. roots of vegetation help to stabilize the soil D. all of the above

D. all of the above

Which of the following pairs of concepts or terms is matched correctly? A. sedimentary rocks - weathering and erosion B. igneous rocks - cooled and hardened magma C. metamorphic rocks - intense heat and pressure D. all of the above

D. all of the above