GGY 130 overview
The horizon that is commonly called topsoil is the ________ horizon.
A
Light travels at a speed of approximately
300,000 kilometers per second (186,333 miles per second).
Earth's average overall albedo is
31%
Approximately what percent of farmlands are losing soil quicker than it can be formed?
35
The worldwide average salinity of seawater is
35%
The horizon in which leached materials from other horizons is accumulated is the ________ horizon.
B
How is atmospheric nitrogen converted to a usable form in the biosphere?
Bacteria within root nodules of legumes chemically change the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates and ammonia.
Which of the following is correct regarding the color of soil?
Color reflects composition and chemical makeup of a soil.
When water evaporates from a surface, which of the following occurs? 1. The surface is warmed. 2. Energy is released to the surface. 3. Energy is stored within the water. 4. Heat is transferred back and forth between the air and the surface. 5. Energy flows into the ground by conduction.
Energy is stored within the water.
How does evaporation effect land-water heating differences?
Evaporation tends to lower temperatures more over water bodies than over land.
Which of the following statements about polar climates is correct?
Most areas of polar climates experience 24 hours of daylight at some point throughout the year.
Which of the following is true of the Earth's coastlines?
Most of the Earth's coastlines are relatively young and undergoing continuous change.
A(n)________ is a homogenous volume of air defined based on its temperature, and moisture characteristics.
air mass
If material is to move downslope, it must overcome the force of
both friction and inertial resistance
bed load is moved by
both saltation and traction, but not suspension.
This tree-like drainage pattern efficiently moves water and sediment through its system due to minimization of the total length of each branch.
dendritic
In which biome would one most likely find xerophytic species?
deserts
Dry climates are divided into two types according to moisture. These are
deserts and steppe
A mass of air always becomes saturated when it reaches the
dew-point temperature
The term "net radiation" refers to the
difference in the amount of incoming and outgoing radiation.
________ is the flow of kinetic energy between molecules or from one body or substance to another resulting from a temperature difference between them.
heat
The suspended load of a stream consists of particles that are
held aloft in the stream flow
At low latitudes, the only interruption to tropical rainforest climates results from
high elevations with highland climates
Molten rock that pours forth on Earth's surface is called
lava
Out of all the water present in the Earth systems, ________ is stored in the atmosphere.
less than 0.03%
Base level refers to
level below which a stream cannot erode its valley
Where would one likely find the deepest soil development?
level or nearly level grounds
Large woody vines that are rooted in the soil and found in the worlds tropical forests are called
lianas
photosynthesis converts
light energy, carbon dioxide, and water into carbohydrates and oxygen.
A roughly equal mix of sand, silt, and clay is called
loam
Which of the following activities will promote global warming in the 21st century?
locating new fossil fuel deposits
________ is a measure of the average kinetic energy of individual molecules in matter.
temperature
Pangaea is currently dated at
225 million years ago
Which of the following statements about the Earth's energy budget is correct? 1. The latitudinal imbalance in energy is critical because it causes the migration of the sub-solar point. 2. The tropics receive 2.5 times more energy than the poles. 3. The poles are regions of positive net radiation. 4. The South Pole receives more insolation than the North Pole during their respective summers because the South Pole has more ice. 5. Solar energy that is always traveling from the Sun to Earth is called the solar constant.
The tropics receive 2.5 times more energy than the poles.
Which of the following statements about tropical savanna climates is correct?
Their rainy season occurs in summer when the ITCZ is overhead.
Which statement describes humid subtropical climates?
They are either moist all year or have a winter dry period.
Which of the following statements about tropical climates is correct?
They have relatively consistent daylength and insolation.
The scientific study of caves is known as
speleology
These rounded granite outcrops are the result of which weathering process?
spheroidal weathering
The last glacial maximum (LGM) occurred approximately ________ years ago.
20,000
Which of the following is true of high pressure areas?
air descends and diverges
Approximately ________ of total atmospheric methane comes from anthropogenic sources.
2/3s
Comparing the three temperature scales, absolute zero is
0° K
What is the expected number of M 8.0 earthquakes per year?
1
At sea level, the pressure of the atmosphere is about ________ kg/cm2.
1.0
Barrier beaches and islands occur worldwide, lying offshore of nearly ________% of Earth's coastlines.
10
What is the average global sea-level air pressure?
1013.2 millibars
A 50-year flood has an annual exceedance probability of
2%
The top of the Earth's atmosphere is approximately
480 km (300 mi) above the Earth's surface.
Half of the total mass of Earth's atmosphere lies below an elevation of ________ meters.
5,500
Radiocarbon dating of organic material may provide a climate record for up to ________ years before present.
50,000
The residence time of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is
50-200 years
Approximately what percentage of the United States' population lives in coastal areas?
53%
Rainforests occupy approximately ________ of the world's land area, but represent about ________ of Earth's species.
7%;50%
Ocean sediment cores provide a climate record for the past ________ years.
70 million
Ice cores provide a climate record for the past ________ years.
800,000
Which of the following best describes tornado development?
A horizontally rotating body of air is tipped vertically by an updraft within a cumulonimbus cloud, forming a mesocyclone, which can generate tornado activity. Submit
Ice storms occur when which of the following conditions prevail?
A layer of warm air is between two layers of cold air.
Which of the following statements about acid deposition is accurate? 1. Natural precipitation has a pH that classifies it as slightly alkaline. 2. The main sources of acid deposition are nuclear power plants, automobile emissions, and steel manufacturing. 3. Precipitation with a pH of 7.0 is acidic and potentially harmful to plants. 4. The area of the Rocky Mountains in the United States is most noted for precipitation with pH values below 5.0. 5. Acid deposition results in declining fish populations, forest damage, and altered soil chemistry.
Acid deposition results in declining fish populations, forest damage, and altered soil chemistry.
The largest area of tropical savanna is found in
Africa
Which of the following statements about lifting mechanisms is correct?
Air parcels cool adiabatically when lifted.
The Appalachians formed as a result of the
Alleghany orogeny
Which of the following best describes air pollution? 1. The release of certain gases, particles, and other substances to the air in quantities that exceed local, state, federal, and international laws. 2. Solely anthropogenic gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans. 3. Solely natural gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans. 4. A distinct class of gases, particles, and other substances that the EPA has deemed worthy of regulating. 5. Both natural and anthropogenic gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans.
Both natural and anthropogenic gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans.
Which of the following is not true of the subarctic climate regions of Canada and Asia?
Broadleaf deciduous trees, such as maple and sweetgum, dominate the area.
As of 2014, which country led the world in CO2 emissions?
China
Which country burns more coal and emits more CO2 than any other country on Earth?
China
Which of the following is correct regarding daylength? 1. Day length is always 12 hours long at the equator. 2. The poles always experience equal hours of day and night. 3. Daylength is uniform at al latitudes throughout the year. 4. The range of daylength is shortest in the polar regions. 5. The equator experiences 6 hours differences in daylength between summer and winter.
Day length is always 12 hours long at the equator.
Which of the following does not accurately describe Earth's distance from the Sun? 1. Earth is farthest away from the Sun in July (aphelion). 2. Earth is closest to the Sun in January (perihelion). 3. It takes light an average of 8 minutes and 20 seconds to travel from the Sun to Earth. 4. Due to Earth's circular orbit, it is always equidistant from the sun throughout the year. 5. The Earth-Sun distance averages 150 million kilometers (93 million miles). Submit
Due to Earth's circular orbit, it is always equidistant from the sun throughout the year.
The horizon in which water moves fine particles downward in a process called eluviation is the ________ horizon.
E
The fact that Earth's interior is sorted into layers indicates that
Earth was once in a molten state, during which materials became sorted based on density.
The uneven distribution of insolation by latitude is primarily a result of
Earth's curvature
The deflection produced by the Coriolis force is caused by
Earth's rotation on its axis.
Which of the following provided support for plate tectonic theory?
Earthquakes and volcanoes are concentrated in narrow linear bands rather than randomly distributed across the planet.
________ is an example of an environmental satellite used in weather forecasting and analysis.
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) Submit
If you wanted to see a relatively safe effusive eruption, which of the following places should you visit?
Hawai'i
Which of the following statements about adiabatic processes is correct? 1. Heat is absorbed during adiabatic warming. 2. Heat is lost during adiabatic cooling. 3. Heat is neither lost nor gained. 4. Air under greater pressure cools adiabatically. 5. Temperature increases as air rises.
Heat is neither lost nor gained.
Which of the following rivers is characterized by internal drainage?
Humbdolt River
Which of the following was produced by oceanic-oceanic convergence?
Indonesia
Which of the following describes the pressure gradient force?
It drives air from areas of higher to lower barometric pressure.
Which of the following is not true about the Milky Way Galaxy in which we live? 1. It is one of millions of galaxies in the universe. 2. It is a spiral-shaped galaxy. 3. A supermassive black hole sits in the galactic center. 4. It is the largest galaxy in the universe. 5. It contains approximately 300 billion stars.
It is the largest galaxy in the universe.
Which of the following is not true of carbon dioxide?
It occurs in large amounts in the atmosphere relative to other gases.
The 1997 legally binding international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is known as the
Kyoto Protocol
Which of the following is true?
Lightning results from the buildup of electrical-energy polarity within clouds.
Which statement describes midlatitude cyclones?
Midlatitude cyclones are also called wave cyclones. Submit
The ________ scale would use Roman numerals to qualitatively describe an earthquake based actual effects experienced at the exact time and location of the quake.
Modified Mercalli Intensity
Which of the following is true? 1. The Northern and Southern hemispheres are dominated equally by continentality. 2. The Northern and Southern hemispheres are dominated equally by maritime influences. 3. Northern Hemisphere temperatures are more strongly dominated by continentality than are Southern Hemisphere temperatures. 4. Continentality does not follow any hemispheric patterns. 5. Southern Hemisphere temperatures are more strongly dominated by continentality than are Northern Hemisphere temperatures.
Northern Hemisphere temperatures are more strongly dominated by continentality than are Southern Hemisphere temperatures.
Which of the following soil horizon designations is the correct sequence from the surface to the bedrock?
O, A, E, B, C, R
According to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, which of the following is virtually certain to occur?
Ocean acidification will increase as the atmosphere accumulates more CO2.
Following the urban heat island profile from rural areas to a typical downtown urban area, which of the following is true? 1. Commercial and urban residential areas have the highest late afternoon temperatures. 2. Highest late afternoon temperatures occur in suburban residential areas. 3. Large urban parks do not mitigate against the urban heat island. 4. The temperature variations between urban and rural environments are negligible. 5. On average, urban areas are 1 to 3°C higher than nearby rural areas.
On average, urban areas are 1 to 3°C higher than nearby rural areas.
Why does temperature increase with altitude in the stratosphere?
Ozone converts UV radiation from the sun into heat energy.
Why is the thawing of permafrost in the Arctic of special concern?
Permafrost thawing releases massive amounts of methane into the atmosphere, which could further amplify warming.
Which of the following most accurately describes the current status of volcano forecasting?
Reliable indications usually precede volcanic eruptions.
Which of the following regions would have the greatest range of temperatures? 1. Honolulu, Hawaii 2. New Orleans, Louisiana 3. Seattle, Washington 4. Siberia, Russia 5. Orlando, Florida
Siberia, Russia
Which of the following best describes the composition of healthy soil?
Soil is composed of about 45% mineral matter, 5% organic matter, and 50% pore space containing air and water.
Scientists attribute the recent rise in atmospheric concentrations of nitrous oxide (N2O) primarily to
agricultural activity
Which of the following is incorrect regarding tundra climates?
Spruce, fir and larch trees survive in this climate zone.
Which of the following is not true about the troposphere?
Temperatures increase with altitude in the troposphere because the higher in altitude, the closer to the sun.
Which is true of the December solstice?
The Antarctic Circle is completely within the circle of illumination.
Which of the following is true of chlorofluorocarbons?
The CFC molecules react with ultraviolet light to release chlorine which then destroys ozone.
Which of the following is true? 1. The Sun emits shortwave radiation, whereas Earth emits longwave radiation 2. While the wavelengths emitted by the Sun and Earth are mostly the same, Earth tends to emit more shortwave radiation than the Sun. 3. The radiation emitted by the Sun and Earth are roughly the same wavelength. 4. Because the Sun is so far away, it is impossible to measure the wavelengths of its radiation. 5. The Sun emits longwave radiation, whereas Earth emits shortwave radiation.
The Sun emits shortwave radiation, whereas Earth emits longwave radiation
Which of the following about the Sun is false? 1. The Sun and Solar System are part of the Milky Way Galaxy. 2. The principal outputs of the Sun consists of solar wind and radiant energy. 3. The Sun produces energy through fusion. 4. The Sun is the largest star in the Milky Way Galaxy. 5. The Sun has average temperature, size, and color when compared to other Stars in our galaxy.
The Sun is the largest star in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Which of the following is correct?
The age of the sea floor increases with increasing distance from a mid-ocean ridge.
Which of the following is correct regarding the geologic time scale?
The bulk of Earth's history has occurred during the Precambrian eon.
Imagine two hypothetical cities, both located at 12° N latitude. However, one is located near sea level, while the other at an elevation of 4,000 m (13,123 ft) above sea level. Which of the following is likely true? 1. Annual temperatures for the city at the lower elevation are lower than those at the city at the higher elevation. 2. The city at the higher elevation has extremely cold winters (similar to those at high latitudes). 3. The city at the higher elevation has average monthly and yearly temperatures lower than the city near sea level. 4. The climates of the two cities are quite similar. 5. The average annual temperatures for the city at the higher elevation are higher than the city at sea level.
The city at the higher elevation has average monthly and yearly temperatures lower than the city near sea level.
Why might one find tundra, glacier, and polar conditions at low latitudes?
The cooling effect of altitude can produce these features.
Which of the following is incorrect regarding ice-sheet climates?
The only month with an average temperature above freezing corresponds to the summer solstice (June in the Northern Hemisphere, December in the Southern Hemisphere).
Which of the following statements about Earth's movements is correct? 1. The Earth revolves once every 24 hours. 2. The orbital path of Earth is elliptical. 3. Earth returns to the same point in space once every year. 4. The distance between Earth and the Sun is 150 million kilometers or 93 million miles throughout the year. 5. As Earth moves around the Sun, Earth's northern polar axis is oriented so that it continually points to the Sun.
The orbital path of Earth is elliptical.
Which of the following lists the correct, generalized sequence of climates from the equator to the poles?
Tropical → Dry → Mesothermal → Microthermal → Polar
Within the United States, which area has the highest earthquake hazards?
West Coast
As the discharge of a stream increases, which of the following also happens?
Width, depth, and/or velocity increase.
Which of the following sequences is arranged in order from shorter wavelength to longer wavelength? 1. X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared 2. gamma rays, microwaves, visible, X-rays 3. infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays 4. visible, gamma rays, radio waves, infrared 5. radio waves, visible, heat, X-rays
X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared
A major difference between a barrier island and a barrier spit is
a barrier spit is connected to the mainland, whereas a barrier island is not.
Oxygen (O2) is
a by-product of photosynthesis.
________ is amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 g of water at 15°C by 1 degree Celsius.
a calorie
Orogenesis refers to
a general term for a mountain-building episode that thickens continental crust.
Cooling of a surface overnight that chills the air layer directly above that surface may form
a radiation fog
The Hawai'ian Islands were formed as a result of
a rising plume of magma from the mantle.
On a weather map of air pressure, what can you infer from a closer spacing of isobars?
a steep pressure gradient creating a faster flow of air
Folded layers of rock can form a wavelike pattern of troughs and crests. The layers near the trough (i.e., downward fold) form
a syncline
Since 1880, global land-ocean temperatures have shown
a warming trend
The Zagros mountains of Iran is an example of
a zone of compression and folding
How much of the world's rainforests have been cleared?
about 50%
What fluvial process erodes the streambed by grinding it with sediment and rock fragments?
abrasion
The ozonosphere is critical to life because it
absorbs most ultraviolet wavelengths
When water evaporates, it ________ heat energy and ________ the surrounding air.
absorbs; cools
A fog that develops when warm, moist air blows over a cold current (such as the California Current) is an example of ________ fog.
advection
If the load exceeds a stream's capacity, sediment accumulates in the bed in a process called
aggradation
The reflective quality of a surface is known as its
albedo
The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses
all possible wavelengths of electromagnetic energy.
Which biome occurs at high elevations above the tree line, even at lower latitudes?
alpine tundra
An instrument used to measure air pressure is
an aneroid barometer
Soils with volcanic parent material belong to which soil order?
andisols
A(n) ________ is an instrument used to measure wind speed.
anemometer
The maximum incline at which sediments on a slope can remain at rest before pulled downward by gravity is known as the
angle of repose
Which of the following matches is incorrect relative to air circulation?
anticyclone - clockwise circulation in the Southern Hemisphere
Which of the following human activities can contribute to mass movement?
any human disturbance of a slope, including road cuts, surface mining, and development
Climate reconstructions indicate that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels
are at the highest levels now of any time during the past 650,000 years.
Felsic igneous rocks, such as granite and rhyolite,
are high in silicate minerals
Earth's magnetic poles
are migrating approximately 60 km (37 mi.) per year.
derechos
are straight-line winds associated with thunderstorms. Submit
Calcification is likely to occur in
areas with arid and semiarid deserts and grasslands
Salt-crystal growth (salt weathering) is prevalent in which climate type?
arid
Which of the following is not necessary for well-developed karst to develop?
arid conditions
Which soil order occupies the most land area worldwide?
aridisols
The plastic layer in the mantle from about 70 to 250 km (43 to 155 mi.) in depth is known as the
asthenosphere
What type of soil organisms "fix" nitrogen so that plants can use it?
bacteria
Material deposited in a long ridge extending out from a coast is called a
barrier spit
Since 1970, global temperatures have
been rising at a rate of 0.17 C° (0.3 F° ) per decade.
Limestone formed from the shells of marine organisms is an example of ________ sedimentary rock.
biochemical
A study of the spatial distribution of the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the environmental factors that control that distribution would be an example of a topic studied in
biogeography
The net dry weight of all organic material in an ecosystem is known as
biomass
The San Andreas system in California is an example of
both a strike-slip and transform fault.
In which of the following areas would one tend to find the highest net primary productivity?
brazil
When the height of a wave exceeds its vertical stability, the wave is called a
breaker
Which of the following would one likely not find in the Arctic and alpine tundra biome?
broadleaf deciduous trees
Which of the following best describes the vegetation of the tropical rain forest biome?
broadleaf evergreen
The process of isostatic adjustment is most closely associated with which of the following?
buoyancy
Large, basin-shaped depressions that form when summit materials on a volcanic mountain collapse inward after an eruption or loss of magma are known as
calderas
What term describes an area that stores carbon?
carbon sink
Which of the following weathering processes is most likely to produce karst topography?
carbonation
acidic soils
cause more rapid weathering and leaching of nutrients.
O3 in the lower troposphere
causes lung irritation, asthma, and susceptibility to respiratory illness in humans.
The process whereby streams deepen their channel is known as
channel incision
An atoll is approximately ________ in shape because it forms ________.
circular; around submerged volcanic islands
What general climatic trend is caused by anthropogenic warming?
climate region boundaries shifting poleward
The polar high pressure system is best characterized as
cold and dry with weak anticyclonic high pressure.
Which of the following is incorrectly matched? 1. cold front - clear cold air and high clouds as the front approaches 2. drizzly precipitation - a warm front 3. abruptly lifted warmer air - cold front 4. squall line - turbulent, changing wind patterns slightly ahead of a cold front 5. hard rain and possible lightning - cold front
cold front - clear cold air and high clouds as the front approaches
Explosive eruptions tend to build up
composite volcanoes
The condensation process requires
condensation nuclei and saturated air
When the environmental lapse rate is between the dry and moist adiabatic lapse rates, conditions are described as
conditionally unstable
What is the process that transfers heat by molecular contact?
conduction
The thermal equator
connects all points of highest mean temperature.
The Himalayas formed as a result of the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. This is an example of ________ collision.
continental-plate-continental plate
The subtropical high pressure system in the Atlantic and associated cool and warm currents
contribute west African deserts (dry, stable climate).
Air rising as a result of being stimulated by local surface heating is an example of ________ lifting.
convectional
The intertropical convergence zone is characterized by
convergence and uplift of warm surface air.
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation is associated with the following except 1. drier conditions over the western Pacific and wetter conditions in the eastern Pacific. 2. higher pressure than normal over the western Pacific and lower pressure over the eastern Pacific. 3. slowing of upwelling along the South American Coast. 4. a weakening to reversal of the trade winds. 5. cooler than normal ocean along the west coast of South America.
cooler than normal ocean along the west coast of South America.
During summer, cities located near the coast are ________ than those in the interior at the same latitude, while in the winter they are ________.
cooler; warmer
Which of the following was caused by accelerated chemical weathering as the result of increased air pollution and acid rain?
corrosion of the Grand Buddha at Leshan, China
The nucleus of old crystalline rock in each of the principal continental masses is called a
craton
Which of the following is not a location in which volcanoes typically occur?
cratons
Vertically developed puffy and globular clouds are classed as
cumuliform
Clouds that have vertical development and produce thunderstorms are called
cumulonimbus
________ clouds are associated with tornado development.
cumulonimbus
Which of the following is used to measure streamflow?
current meter
Nitrogen (N2) is
cycled through the environment via the activity of bacteria. Submit
A ________ is a mixture of water and loosely consolidated sediment, such as gravels, boulders, and coarse rock fragments, moving downslope.
debris flow
If the amount of water vapor in the air remained constant, but the air temperature increased throughout the day, the relative humidity would
decrease
When a cold front approaches, air pressure will initially ________ due to the displacement and uplift of ________ air.
decrease; warm
Which of the following is not a key indicator of present climate change?
decreasing atmospheric water-vapor
When a river reaches a base level, its forward velocity rapidly decelerates as it enters a larger body of standing water and a (n) ________ is formed.
delta
The maritime tropical Pacific (mT) and maritime tropical Gulf and Atlantic (mT) air masses are
different from one another because the Pacific air mass usually has lower specific humidity than the Gulf/Atlantic air mass.
A stream's volume of flow per unit of time is its
discharge
What is a piece of crust added to the edge of a continental shield or platform?
displaced terrane
Channels running through a delta divide into smaller courses that do not reconnect to the main channel. These are known as
distributaries
At all times during the year, the circle of illumination
divides between day and night
Severe thunderstorms can produce strong downdrafts that cause exceptionally strong winds near the ground. This turbulence is known as
downbursts
In most river basins in humid regions, discharge is highest
downstream
Watersheds are defined by
drainage divides
________ climates occupy the most extensive area of land on Earth.
dry
The study of the interrelationships between organisms and their environment is called
ecology
Areas in which the land is typically rising in relation to sea level are called
emergent coastlines
A(n) ________ species is one that natively lives in only one geographic area on Earth.
endemic
The area at the surface directly above the subsurface location where seismic waves are initiated is termed the
epicenter
Which of the following primary pressure areas are produced by thermal factors, rather than dynamic factors?
equitorial low and polar high
Which of the following lists, in proper sequential order, the steps leading to the formation of clastic sedimentary rock?
erosion, transportation, deposition, lithification
Which of the following related to phase changes of water is incorrectly matched? 1. condensation - energy released 2. evaporation - energy released 3. sublimation - energy absorbed 4. melting - energy absorbed 5. deposition - energy released
evaporation - energy released
The Clean Air Act
has resulted in the significant reduction in various atmospheric pollutants.
In polar and alpine regions, thawing and saturation of the upper layer of soil, resulting in a slow downslope movement called
solifluction
mediterranean dry-summer climates
experience dry conditions in summer due to the subtropical high overhead.
Which part of a hurricane consists of dry, subsiding air?
eye
Natural levees are created during
floods
Rectangular drainage patterns form primarily as a result of
flow through a faulted and jointed landscape.
Processes that are related expressly to streams and rivers are termed
fluvial
Strain, the amount of deformation undergone by an object, is expressed in rocks by
folding or faulting
The fact that water expands as much as 9% of its volume as it freezes is the basis of
frost wedging
________ are high latitude soils containing permafrost and large amounts of organic matter.
gelisols
The subfield of geography and geology concerned with the study of the origins, evolutions, form, and spatial distribution of the Earth's landforms is
geomorphology
Upper tropospheric winds that flow parallel to isobars are called
geostrophic winds
In terms of pedogenic regimes, the process that results in an accumulation of humus overlaying a thick, water saturated layer of clay in cold, wet climates with poor drainage conditions is
gleization
What is indicated by a high cation-exchange capacity?
good soil fertility
The insolation received at Earth's surface is
greatest over low-latitude deserts with their cloudless skies
These features, here from Lake Michigan, disrupt sediment movement along a coast.
groins
The Sun's declination refers to
latitude of the subsolar point
Chemical weathering is greatest under conditions of
higher rainfall and temperatures
Laterization is likely to occur in
humid and warm climates
Together, these three natural elements make up 99% of the Earth's biomass.
hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and carbon (C)
The movement of water throughout the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere is known as the
hydrologic cycle
What type of rock forms from the solidification of molten material?
igneous
As temperature increases, the amount of energy available for evaporation
increases
The temperature of Earth's interior
increases with depth so the hottest temperatures are found within Earth's core.
Which of the following is not a reason for the energy surplus between the tropics? 1. indirect solar radiation 2. high insolation 3. little seasonal variations 4. small diurnal and annual insolation differences 5. consistent daylength
indirect solar radiation
The dominant wavelength emitted by Earth is
infrared
Which of the following taxonomic groups has the highest number of known species?
insects
Solar radiation that is intercept by Earth is called
insolation
The single most important control on temperature is
insolation
Which of the following is correctly matched? 1. terrestrial radiation - shortwave radiation - thermal infrared radiation 2. insolation - shortwave radiation - UV, visible, and near-infrared 3. insolation - longwave radiation - thermal infrared radiation 4. terrestrial radiation - shortwave radiation - UV, visible, and near-infrared 5. both insolation and terrestrial radiation - shortwave radiation - UV, visible, and near-infrared
insolation - shortwave radiation - UV, visible, and near-infrared
Sea-breezes
involve onshore (toward the land) air flows that develop in the afternoon.
The wind-chill temperature index
is a factor of actual air temperature and wind speed.
The analogy of a greenhouse
is a useful, but inaccurate model since atmospheric gases do not trap, but absorb heat.
mean sea level
is based on average tidal levels recorded hourly at a given site over a period of many years.
Earth's orbit around the Sun
is elliptical
Lines on a temperature map connecting points of equal temperature is called an
isotherm
Which of the following is correct of the longitudinal profile of most rivers?
it is concave in shape
The high temperatures in the thermosphere occur because
it is in direct contact with high energy solar radiation. Submit
The height of a tsunami grows as it approaches a coastline primarily because
its wavelength shortens
What are the centers of high speed geostrophic winds?
jet streams
A ________ is a type of debris flow associated with volcanic activity.
lahar
When a cold cP air mass passes over the warmer Great Lakes, it absorbs heat energy and moisture and becomes humidified. This is known as the
lake effect
The heat energy involved in the change of state, or phase, in water is
latent heat
Which is incorrectly matched? 1. mT-warm, humid, variable stability depending on the source region 2. cA-very cold, very dry, stable 3. cP-cold, dense air 4. mP-warm, moist, stable conditions 5. AA-antarctic.
mP-warm, moist, stable conditions
The majority of the Earth's volume is within the
mantle
Marine west coast climates are dominated by what air masses?
maritime polar (mP)
When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in alignment (i.e., in opposition or conjunction)
maximum tidal ranges occur
Temperature is
measure of the average kinetic energy of individual molecules in matter.
The primary factors contributing to present sea-level rise are
melting of land ice and thermal expansion of seawater.
Which of the following is not responsible for changes in sea level?
melting sea ice
More than half of the world's population resides within the
mesothermal climates
A rock transformed from any other rock through extreme heat and or pressure is referred to as
metamorphic
This biome occupies large portions of the eastern United States, central Europe, and Asia.
midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
The western Great Plains of North America are characterized by a ________ climate.
midlatitude cold steppe
Of all the natural biomes, this one is most modified by human activity.
midlatitude grassland
What natural mechanism is accepted as the cause for patterns of long-term climatic fluctuations over tens of thousands of years?
milankovitch cycles
________ are among the Earth's most agriculturally significant soils.
mollisols
In a given section of channel, the greatest flow velocities are usually
near the surface, near the center
Which of the following lists the correct sequence of gases, from most to least, in terms of percentage within the homosphere?
nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, trace gases
The practice of leaving crop residue on the field between plantings to help prevent soil erosion is known as
no-till agriculture
The presence of talus slopes indicates the occurrence of
rockfall
Increasing ocean acidification has been attributed to
ocean absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The Andes of South America formed as a result of the Nazca plate subducting beneath the South American plate. This is an example of ________ collision.
oceanic plate-continental plate
What human activity has been linked to increased earthquake activity in the United States?
oil and gas injection wells
The Southern Hemisphere's summer solstice occurs
on or around December 21.
tropical cyclones
originate entirely within tropical air masses.
Which of the following is not a denudation process?
orogeny
Earth's first atmosphere likely formed from
outgassing from Earth's interior.
exfoliation occurs because
overlying rock is removed, thereby allowing the underlying rock mass to expand and fracture.
Rust, formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water, is an example of
oxidation
These mature soils are found in the tropics.
oxisols
The three most abundant elements in Earth's crust are
oxygen, silicon, and aluminum.
________ streams flow year-round, fed by snowmelt, rainfall, groundwater, or a combination thereof.
perennial
The Celsius scale
places melting point of ice at 0° and was formerly called centigrade.
Which of the following is an example of an intrusive, igneous rock formation?
pluton
Which of the following is incorrectly matched?
point bar - area of substantial erosion
During the last century, sea level
rose 17 to 21 cm (6.7 to 8.3 in.).
A stony coral is a type of ________ that secretes ________ to form an organic rock home.
polyp; calcium carbonate
The heterosphere is the layer of the atmosphere in which the gases are ________ because of ________.
poorly mixed; gravity causes gases of different weight to separate into layers
The term used to denote the part of a volume of soil that is filled with air, gases, or water is
porosity
The reaction of automobile exhaust and ultraviolet light
produces photochemical smog.
The precipitation in form of liquid water droplets that forms by condensation or by melting ice crystals as they pass through a warm layer of the atmosphere is
rain
The dry leeward side of a mountain is often termed a(n)
rain shadow
Which of the following results from the friction force? 1. causes geostrophic winds up to 500 m (1650 ft) 2. reduces the effect of the Coriolis force up to 500 m (1650 ft) 3. increases the effect of the Coriolis force up to 500 m (1650 ft) 4. causes winds to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere 5. increases the effects of the pressure gradient force
reduces the effect of the Coriolis force up to 500 m (1650 ft)
Katabatic winds are
regional-scale, gravity-driven winds that bring high density air downslope
When the upper surface of consolidated rock undergoes constant weathering, it creates broken-up rock called
regolith
Within the deep cold zone, average temperature and salinity
remain fairly constant with depth
A ________ occurs when convergent motion forces rocks to move upward along the fault plane.
reverse fault
A ________ is created when the backwash of water produced by breakers flows to the ocean from the beach in a concentrated column.
rip current
________ occurs when the relative humidity is 100%.
saturation
Which of the following can lead to the slope failure that causes mass movement?
saturation, oversteepening of slopes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report concludes
scientists are 95 to 100% certain that human activities are the primary cause of present climate change
Which of the following best describes the vegetation of the Mediterranean shrubland biome?
sclerophyllous
Undercutting action of the sea results in
sea cliffs
Factors that influence dry climates include all the following except
seasonal influence of the ITCZ
Stream transport involves all of the following except
sheetflow
Cyclonic storm tracks across the United States and Canada generally
shift to the south in winter, and toward the north in summer.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of tropical climates?
short, relatively mild winters
Approximately 95% of the Earth's crust is made up of
silicates
The weathering of limestone can create circular depressions known as
sinkholes
The type of mass movement in which material moves in a unit along a zone of weakness is
slides
On average, ocean water is
slightly basic (pH around 8).
The mass movement process responsible of the curved growing pattern in the trees and the downslope leaning of the utility posts and fences is
soil creep
The Little Ice Age likely resulted from
solar activity, volcanic activity and/or multiyear changes in global circulation.
The general term that refers to the tendency of a parcel of air to either remain in place or change its initial position is
stability
What speleothem forms from groundwater emerging at a cavern roof, drips to the floor, evaporates, and leaving the dissolved materials it contained to accumulate as a deposit attached to the floor of the cavern?
stalagmite
The majority of hurricane damage and drowning is caused by the ________.
storm surge
Flat and layered clouds with horizontal development are classed as
stratiform
Which of the following has a negative radiative forcing (i.e. cools the planet)?
stratospheric ozone (O3)
What is the name of the location on Earth's surface that receives the Sun's perpendicular rays?
subsolar point
The great circulations in the ocean basins occur around the ________ pressure systems and are known as ________.
subtropical high; gyres
This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?
subtropical hot desert
In which of the following region would you expect to have the highest levels of seawater salinity?
subtropical oceans
What two pollutants react with water to produce acid rain?
sulfer oxides and nitrogen oxides
Regular patterns of smooth, rounded waves are called
swells
Which of the following will favor stream terrace formation?
tectonic uplift of the head waters
This biome is typically found in areas with marine west coast climates, characterized by high precipitation, moderate air temperatures, summer fog, and an overall maritime influence.
temperate rain forest
Pulverized rock and clastic materials ejected violently during an eruption are called
tephra, or pyroclastics.
The dry season in the tropical monsoon climate occurs when
the ITCZ has moves away from the region.
the tropical savanna climate has
the ITCZ in summer and the subtropical high in winter.
In terms of dating of specific rocks, structures, or landscapes, absolute age refers to
the age of geological features based on radiometric dating techniques.
relative humidity is
the amount of water vapor in the air relative to the water vapor capacity of the air.
The Sun's altitude refers to
the angular height of the Sun above the horizon.
Net radiation (NET R) refers to
the balance of all radiation incoming and outgoing at Earth's surface
Winds are named based on
the direction from which they originate.
Which of the following statements about tropical cyclones is correct?
the heaviest rainfall is found in the eyewall
The occurrence of contact metamorphism would be direct evidence for
the local intrusion of magma
The lower the pH of a liquid,
the more acidic it is.
Ocean floor subducts under continents because
the ocean floor is made of mafic material and is therefore more dense than continental material.
Which of the following factors would increase the rainfall in a region?
the presence of a warm current off shore
What is soil texture?
the sizes of soil particles
The energy that powers the biosphere comes primarily from
the sun
On a typical day, the point of highest relative humidity is associated with
the time of the lowest temperature
Why are corals more prevalent on the east coasts of continents?
the water is warmer
Between 20° to 35° north and 20° to 35° south are
the world's arid and semi-arid desert regions.
How are mass movements classified?
their speed and moisture content
This biome occurs in equatorial regions with erratic rainfall and typically occur on the margins of tropic rainforests.
tropical seasonal forest and scrub
Trumpet trees (Tabebuia caraiba), a dry-season deciduous tree, would likely be found in which of the following biomes?
tropical seasonal forest and scrub
A ________ is deposited sediment that connects a shoreline with an offshore island.
tombolo
In food webs, toxic chemicals tend to accumulate and concentrate most in the
top carnivores
The winds converging at the equatorial low are known as
trade winds
Areas where plates slide past one another, usually at right angles to a seafloor spreading, are
transform boundaries
The passage of shortwave and longwave energy through the atmosphere and water is an example of
transmission.
Which is the correct order of tropical cyclone classification, from weakest to strongest?
tropical disturbance-tropical depression-tropical storm-hurricane
This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?
tropical monsoon
Which atmospheric zone supports the biosphere and is the region of principle weather activity?
troposphere
Earth's main energy inputs are
ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared radiation.
In which of the following areas will thunderstorms not develop?
under areas of strong high pressure
What is the ultimate driver for global wind and ocean surface circulation?
uneven heating and cooling of the Earth's surface
The portion of air pressure exerted by water vapor is the
vapor pressure
Which of the following phase changes of water is incorrectly matched? 1. deposition - gas to solid 2. condensation - gas to liquid 3. sublimation - solid to gas 4. vaporization - solid to gas 5. melting - solid to liquid
vaporization - solid to gas
Which of the following is an endogenic process?
volcanism
Which of the following are located along the mid-ocean ridges?
volcanoes
Soils will develop at faster rates in which of the following environments?
warm and humid
Which conditions are created by the monsoons of Asia?
warm, wet summers and dry winters
Over the span of 70 million years, the Earth's climate
was much warmer 70 m.y.a. compared to the present.
In winter, freezing water can break pipes and even crack engine blocks. Why does this happen?
water expands in volume as it freezes
The most abundant greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere is
water vapor (H2O).
Which two gases are good absorbers of longwave radiation emitted from Earth?
water vapor and carbon dioxide
What are some variable atmospheric gases of the troposphere?
water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide
As air temperatures increase, evaporation increases. Warmer temperatures also increase the capacity to absorb water vapor. More water vapor in the atmosphere accelerates the greenhouse effect. This is known as the
water-vapor feedback
Wave action works to straighten a coast as wave energy focuses around headlands and tends to disperse energy in coves and bays in a process called
wave refraction
If an airplane flew from the North Pole due south along the 90° meridian and did not correct course, it would land
west of the 90° meridian.
As viewed from the equator, Earth's rotation is described as
west to east
The dominant surface winds from the subtropics to high latitudes are the
westerlies
A mT air mass is likely to be ________ than a cT air mass because the mT air mass ________.
wetter; forms over the ocean
Temperature inversions occur
when surface temperatures are lower than warmer overlying air.
A plant that is unable to extract needed water from soil has reached its
wilting point