EES 027 Exam 1

As measured by tidal gauge detection equipment, tsunami wave trains typically consist of

six or more noticeable waves

The primary control of climate at the surface of the Earth is related to

the latitudinal position of the land surface

The figure below shows submarine slump deposits around deposits extending as far as 200 km from the Hawaiian Islands. What single factor is most important in generating tsunamis from submarine mass-wasting processes?

the velocity of motion of the slump block

Referring to the global tectonic map in the figure below, which plate tectonic boundary setting rarely produces volcanic activity?

transform margin plate boundaries

In comparing tsunamis to wind-driven waves,

tsunamis result from the sudden movement of mass against the water; wind shear produces wind-driven waves

The initiation of creep is related to

weak regolith

On average, how long does it take to form a cm of soil?

100-400 years

Hazard potential maps are useful to

a. serve as a basis for designing building construction requirements. b. serve as a basis for developing laws for the permissible uses of land. c. serve as a basis to establish insurance rates. d. all of these e. none of these answer: d

Various sources of shocks and vibration are responsible for the initiation of mass wasting. These include which of the following?

a. strong winds b. earthquakes c. vibrations from vehicles d. claps of thunder e. all of these answer: e

The recurrence interval for a volcano to erupt has been based on

a. studies of organic matter. b. absolute dating of volcanically erupted minerals. c. written historical records. d. all of these answer: d

As it relates to natural disasters, the risk a community faces can be calculated as

risk = hazard x exposure x vulnerability

As the magnitude of an earthquake increases by 1 (for example, from 5 to 6), there is an increase in the amount of energy released by a factor of

32

Magma chambers typically develop at what depth in Earth?

6-10 kilometers

The biosphere realm of the Earth incorporates all living organisms. Where is life found on Earth?

On the surface, in bodies of water, in the atmosphere, and in the shallow subsurface

once a tsunami reaches its inundation limit, has the danger passed?

no, drawback returns water to the sea carrying much of the debris that was carried along in the advancing wave, and weakened structures are now subjected to dynamic forces in the opposite direction

divergent lithospheric plate boundaries exhibit two styles of faulting:

normal and strike-slip faulting

The most serious disasters in human history, in terms of cumulative human casualties, are related to

pandemic disease

A sediment that has 20% pore space will be expected to be

permeable or impermeable, depending on the degree to which pores or cracks are connected to one another

The extreme erosion that occurred during the Dust Bowl catastrophe of the mid-1930s in the Great Plains region of North America was a result of

poor agricultural practices

Drawback, as it relates to tsunamis, describes the condition in which

sea surface level drops due to the arrival of the trough of the tsunami wave

The figure below illustrates changes that occur to tsunamis as they approach shorelines. This process is termed

shoaling

What is the relationship between the number of annual earthquakes recorded and the magnitude of those earthquakes?

small magnitude earthquakes are more numerous relative to large magnitude earthquakes

Mapping of submarine slide deposits on the seafloor has been a result of

sonar and satellite surveys

Disasters that may be very slow or even imperceptible during their development are referred to as

stealth disasters

The resilience of a community describes its ability to respond, recover, and restore itself following a natural disaster. Resilience depends on several factors, including

the access to needed resources

What does the term magnitude describe as it relates to earthquakes?

the amount of energy released from an earthquake

The steepest angle that dry, granular material can be piled onto a flat surface without collapsing is

the angle of repose

The most serious secondary disaster associated with the 2011 Tohoku earthquake was

the destruction of roads and bridges regionally, thwarting immediate disaster response

Sinkholes form in regions underlain by limestone bedrock, and form due to

the dissolution of the mineral calcite in the limestone

The result of a major disaster declaration authorizes

the federal government to begin to respond to a disaster

Hot-spot volcanism like the Columbia River Plateau and the Yellowstone calderas (see figure below) is related to what type of tectonic plate setting?

the interior of tectonic plates, not associated with a boundary

Tsunami inundation limit describes

the maximum horizontal distance tsunamis encroach over land, relative to the shoreline.

liquefaction is a process that may occur by earthquakes, and is related to

the presence of soft, water-saturated, unconsolidated sediment in the subsurface

An application of the principle of uniformitarianism related to hazard prediction is that

the principle may be useful to understand where natural hazards may be likely in the future

Removal of supporting materials at the base of a slope is referred to as

undercutting

Areas that have experienced wildfires have an increased risk of mass wasting because

vegetation is removed

Effusive eruptions are characterized by

mafic lavas at high temperatures and low viscosity

Phreatomagnetic eruptions occur because

magmas interact with water at or near the surface

How did the Hawaii island chain form?

mantle plume volcanism

Tectonic plates move at a rate of

1-15 centimeters per year

A transition from a brittle deformation response in the crust to a plastic deformation response occurs at what depth?

15-20 kilometers

Primary seismic waves are a form of

compressional wave

Natural hazards and disasters that are primarily related to excess rainfall will be related to the

meteorological realm of the Earth System

a watershed is defined as

a portion of land that channels rainfall and snowmelt into a common outlet (river, lake, or other body of water.)

Approximately 60 NOAA DART stations have been deployed in the Pacific Ocean, with more planned for other ocean basins round the world. How do the DART stations work?

DART stations use pressure sensors on the seafloor to detect the pressure of a passing tsunami to send alerts when a tsunami is detected.

The risk a community faces from natural disasters may be reduced by

Decreasing the exposure and/or vulnerability of the community to hazards

What is an effective way in which casualties can be reduced in an area prone to damaging earthquakes?

Educate population regarding preparation and response to an earthquake

Can meaningful tsunami predictions be made, and what is the basis to do so?

No, as the events responsible for tsunamis are themselves unpredictable, it is not possible to predict the onset of a tsunami.

Are there other types of natural disasters predictable in the same way that weather-related natural disasters are?

No, precursory events are not reliable indicators of an impending disaster, even when they may be observed.

Do tsunamis pose a danger to ships at sea far from shorelines?

No, tsunamis exhibit small amplitudes in deep water and pose no danger to ships

Faults form when

a portion of the Earth's brittle crust fractures, and the opposing sides of the fracture are displaced relative to one another

Globally, there has been significant development in river delta regions, floodplains, and coastal plains. What is the main reason these regions are so attractive for humans to settle?

The land is commonly fertile for agriculture

Once pyroclastic material has been deposited, does it pose any additional hazardous risk?

Yes, ash can be remobilized in water to form a lahar

Given that the Atlantic Ocean basin is bounded mostly by passive tectonic margins around its perimeter, is there any evidence that coastal communities in Eastern North America are at risk from tsunamis?

Yes, coastal communities face tsunami risk from mass wasting events around the margins of the Atlantic basin, like the historical event that occurred in the North Atlantic in 1929, and flank collapse of volcanic islands found in the Atlantic basin.

Can fault motion that does not involve vertical displacement of the seafloor be responsible for the generation of a tsunami?

Yes, earthquakes resulting from fault displacement can produce subaerial or submarine landslides that flow into bodies of water and displace the water column.

Should groundwater be considered a nonrenewable resource?

Yes, recharge rates ranging from years to decades to centuries to millennia means that on a human time scale, groundwater is essentially a nonrenewable resource.

Can meaningful tsunami warnings be issued, and what is the basis to do so?

Yes, warnings can be issued if a triggering event like an earthquake of the appropriate form is detected. Warnings are most valuable for far-field tsunamis.

The geologic sub-discipline of seismology studies

a. All of these. b. the geologic phenomena responsible for earthquakes. c. how seismic waves propagate through the Earth and at the Earth's surface. d. the ways in which earthquakes may be compared to one another. e. why earthquakes occur in certain places. answer: a

Evidence that liquefaction has occurred can be observed as

a. None of these. b. sinkholes. c. sand volcanoes. d. open fissures. e. all of these answer: e

The United States Geological Survey has established multiple volcano observatories. what types of activities are these observatories involved with?

a. They monitor the potential for activity at multiple locations. b. They field teams of scientists to observe conditions at volcanic centers. c. They issue alerts for ground-level hazards. d. They issue alerts for aviation hazards. e. all of these answer: e

How can people avoid landslide disasters in choosing a place to live?

a. Understand the types of geologic materials present in the subsurface of an area. b. Avoid areas with steep slopes. c. Avoid areas artificially altered by slope cutting or infilling of low areas. d. Understand the various triggers for mass-wasting events. e. all of these answer: e

Is it possible to damage an aquifer's recharge area?

a. Yes, by removing vegetation at the surface. b. Yes, by compacting the surface. c. Yes, by covering the surface with an impermeable layer. d. Yes, all of these can damage a recharge area. e. None of these. Recharge areas are typically extensive enough that it is unlikely they will be affected by any surface processes. answer: d

Tectonic plate motions are a response to forces related to

a. all of these b. none of these c. slab pull. d. ridge push. e. asthenospheric convection. answer: a

Mountains can be built by which of the following tectonic events?

a. all of these b. rifting at developing divergent boundaries c. none of these d. continental collision at convergent boundaries e. subduction at convergent boundaries answer: a

Hazardous volatile species found in magma and lavas include

a. carbon dioxide. b. sulfur dioxide. c. hydrogen sulfide. d. all of these e. none of these answer: d

Precursory events that have been used to reliably indicate an impending earthquake include

a. changes in electrical conductivity in rocks. b. multiple small earthquakes occurring in a limited area and time. c. observations of unusual animal behavior. d. changing gas emissions as measured in wells. e. None of these provide reliable indications of an impending earthquake. answer: e

The distribution of water supplies across the globe depends on such factors as

a. climate. b. political influences. c. economic factors. d. all of these e. none of these answer: d

Secondary disasters associated with earthquakes are often amplified by the effects of a subsequent tsunami, and are a result of

a. conditions promoting the growth of mold and rot. b. contamination of water supplies. c. pollution of agricultural fields and destruction of food crops. d. all of these e. none of these answer: d

Downslope stresses are increased by

a. constructing buildings at the surface. b. heavy rains. c. leaking pipes. d. all of these answer: d

Volcanic hazards include

a. earthquakes. b. explosive eruptions. c. landslides. d. tsunamis. e. all of these answer: e

The goal of paleoseismicity studies is to understand recurrence intervals on a fault, and they can utilize such things as

a. fault orientations. b. displaced sedimentary strata. c. tree ring studies. d. isotopic studies of organic material. e. All of these answer: e

Federal responses to disaster may include

a. grants to cities and municipalities to cover recovery costs. b. grants to states to cover recovery costs. c. low-interest loans to businesses to cover recovery costs. d. low-interest loans to individuals to cover recovery costs. e. all of these answer: e

Anthropogenic hazards are related to which one of the following examples?

a. hurricanes or other types of storms b. pollution of the environment from agricultural activities c. meteorite impacts d. tsunamis as a result of earthquakes e. volcanic eruptions answer: pollution of the environment from agricultural activities

The effects of water on regolith are to

a. increase the weight. b. increase slope stability. c. decrease slope stability. d. all of these e. none of these answer: d

How can the strength of rock be reduced at the surface of the Earth?

a. jointing b. weathering of minerals c. breakdown into soil d. all of these e. none of these answer: d

For tsunami warnings to have any positive effect

a. populations should be educated about how to respond to an impending tsunami. b. populations must be able to receive the communication of a tsunami warning quickly after it is issued. c. governments must be able to act quickly to respond to an impending tsunami. d. all of these answer: d

An important step in predicting the possibility of future volcanic eruptions involves the recognition of those repose period between eruptions at a volcano. What is a useful indicator of the repose period?

a. radiometric dating of organic material buried in volcanic deposits b. radiometric dating of minerals produced during volcanic eruptions c. the amount of vegetation that has been able to reestablish itself following a volcanic eruption d. all of these e. none of these answer: d

Soils develop as a result of sediment modification over time from interactions with

a. rainwater. b. organisms. c. decaying organic matter. d. all of these e. none of these answer: d

Initial steps to identify areas at risk for mass wasting involve

a. reviewing official records where historical events have occurred. b. computer modeling. c. geologic mapping. d. identification of surface features associated with historical mass-wasting events. e. all of these answer: e

Threats to the Critical Zone include which of the following?

a. running out of fresh water b. the formation of sinkholes c. subsidence of the land surface d. the destruction of soils e. all of these answer: e

The economic impact of a natural disaster is based on

a. the costs to replace or repair buildings. b. the costs to replace lost or damaged property. c. the costs to replace and repair damaged infrastructure. d. the lost value from decreased economic activity. e. all of these answer: e

With respect to natural disasters, the exposure of a community refers to

a. the potential for casualties resulting from a disaster. b. the potential economic impacts resulting from a disaster. c. the potential social disruptions resulting from a disaster. d. all of these e. none of these answer: d

The shape of a slope depends on

a. the strength of the material. b. the climate. c. processes of slope formation. d. all of these e. none of these answer: d

An example of an early detection system being developed to provide advance warning of a slide at the instant it begins to move is

acoustic sensor detection of vibrations

The largest use of freshwater on the Earth is related to

agricultural use

Pyroclastic flows

are composed of hot ash, gases, and lapilli-sized pyroclasts

Which of the following types of mass-wasting events move the fastest?

avalanches, rockslides, and rockfalls

In the figure below, the overuse of groundwater initially results in the development of a three-dimensional surface described as a

cone of depression

Which tectonic plate setting is capable of producing shallow focus, intermediate focus, and deep focus earthquakes?

convergent plate boundary settings

Tsunamis that are generated by earthquakes occur most commonly at which type of tectonic plate margin?

convergent tectonic boundaries

A sinking of the water table from the overuse of groundwater is referred to as

drawdown

A phenomenon referred to as "fault creep" occurs when

faults are slipping very slowly and not accumulating stress

Compositional categories of melt are based on their abundance of silica, iron, and magnesium. What of the compositional categories below contains the highest amount of silica and the lowest amount of iron and magnesium?

felsic

Explosive eruptions are characterized by

felsic lavas at low temperatures and high viscosity

Rock falls and debris falls involve

free-fall of debris

What resisting forces must be overcome for regolith to flow downslope?

friction and cohesion between grains

Referring to the figure below, the largest proportion of the freshwater on Earth resides in

glaciers, ice caps, and snow fields

Attempts to mitigate the risk from large damaging earthquakes by requiring resistant building materials and construction techniques

have been in place for variable amounts of time in seismically at-risk locales, partly due to lack of recognition of the potential for earthquake activity in some areas

The most common types of volcanic hazards associated with Hawaiian styles of volcanic eruptions are

lava flows

In the US, the response to a local disaster is typically the responsibility of

local authorities