Exam 2 - GEOG 2300E
Ebb tide
- as the water falls, the receding water is an...
Gullies
- if rills widen and deepen, they become gullies
mechanical weathering
- imposed stresses break rocks apart ( no chemical changes)
The heat flux through the ocean surface is determined by four components
- incoming solar radiation, outgoing back radiation, heat loss from evaporation, mechanical heat transfer between ocean and atmosphere, the latter 3 are dependent on sea surface temperature (SST)
Focus
- origin of the quake below ground
seas
- smaller bodies of water, enclosed by land, exchanging water with oceans
Epicenter
- the point on the surface directly above the focus
Thermohaline circulation-
- water circulates throughout the world's oceans, driven by winds, temperature and salinity, this water movement occurs along the ocean floor and at the surface (Ocean Conveyor Belt), warm, salty water moves from the tropics north and warms the air, bring mild weather to northern Europe, as this water cools, its higher salinity therefore density causes it to sink to the ocean floor
Stream erosion, Hydraulic action
- water itself dislodges material
Know how wells, discharge into streams as baseflow, and springs work and why the water table takes the shape it does under hills and near streams or wells. Know how to distinguish a well from an artesian well from a flowing artesian well. Understand concepts of drawdown and the cone of depression in wells. Know why sub-surface pollutants would tend to flow toward a stream or well.
-Wells discharge into streams as baseflow -Water table is highest under hills
Characteristics of ocean water including salinity (as measure of dissolved solids), pressure, distribution of salinity around the planet and why some parts of the ocean or seas have more salinity than others
3.5% dissolved solids,Salinity is increased by evaporation and decreased by inflow from rivers, hot/arid regions have higher surface salinity so the areas near the subtropical high have higher salinity, humid regions w/ input from many rivers have lower salinity, red > black sea, polar regions have lower salinity because there is less evaporation and input of fresh water from snow melt Pressure increases rapidly w/ depth, increases by one atmosphere for every ten meters of water depth
Elevation influences on vegetation mimicking latitude and vertical zonation. Know how this might look in New England as one went from a place like coastal New Hampshire to the peak of Mt. Washington (above tree line) in the White Mountains
As elevation increases, temperatures decrease and precipitation increases This leads to a sequence of vegetation zones or life zone related to altitude
Wave refraction and where wave energy is focused (headlands) or not focused (bays)
Close to coast, water gets more shallow, waves are slowed down, if waves arrive at an angle, on part is slower than the rest, causes waves to bend (wave refraction)
What are the major relief features?
Continents Alpine chains - mountain arcs and island arcs Continental shields - low lying older areas of igneous and metamorphic rocks (exposed and covered shields) ancient mountain roots - remains of mountain belts in shields Ocean basins Mid ocean ridge - Ocean basin floor - deep plains (abyssal plains) Continental margins - where ocean and continental lithosphere meet Continental shelves
Erosion,denudation, transport, and deposition
Creation of erosional and depositional landforms - denudation - wearing down of rocks, processes of erosion, transport, and deposition Erosion, transportation, deposition produce landforms that make up landscape
Types of plate boundaries:
Divergence, convergence, lateral/transform Plate divergence & seafloor spreading at a rift Plate convergence: ocean-continent (subduction), ocean-ocean (subduction), continent-continent -convergence causes earthquakes, and volcanism in the case of subduction, with subduction, the earthquakes get deeper as the plate dives under as described in the exercise Earthquakes
Three Stages of the fluvial process
Erosion, Transportation, and Deposition
Properties and features of waves
Features - crest, trough, height, length, period
Floods
Floods - when a stream overflows its channel, low-lying ground next to the river (floodplain) is said to be inundated Flood Stage - Stream spills over its banks into the floodplain because it is too full What causes flood waves - reducing infiltration capacity, peaks in hydrograph, river = deeper & overflow banks Big flood - (Red River) numerous snow storms, saturated soils, flat terrain, large catchment
Orbital motions of waves (particles move in cycles, but wave energy propagates)
Forward movement of the wave form, the orbital motion of water particles beneath the wave (wave energy not water molecules that moves across the sea surface)
Factors that make the oceans important
Important - control weather and climate (critical reservoir in the hydraulic cycle), absorb/ store distribute energy within the Earth system. Produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, seafloor contains 2/3 of Earth's surface topography, contain many ecosystems and a vast array of biological diversity, source of food, minerals, and energy
Tidal bores the factors that can lead to them
Large tidal range from low to high tide, incoming tides are funneled toward a narrow area through a broad bay, the narrow area into which the tide is being funneled is a shallow, narrowing river or inlet, the funnel shape causes the rising tide to occur dramatically during a short period, appearing as a wave
Know how tides are generated by the interaction of gravity of the Moon and Sun with the Earth's oceans Diurnal, semidiurnal, and mixed tides
Level of the ocean rises and falls due to the gravitational force of the sun and moon Tides occur on a diurnal cycle (each occurs daily), semidiurnal (twice a day)
Plate tectonics and continental drift: Know that the plates of Earth were once a super-continent called
Pangaea
Oceanography and its subsets
Physical oceanography, marine geology, marine chemistry, marine biology, marine, technology
pollutants aquifer
Pollutants enter the groundwater from landfills, leaking oil tanks, surface pollutants infiltrating and once in the aquifer pollutants flow w/ the hydrologic gradient toward a well or stream
Solutions for reducing flood damage
Prevent - preserve forests on watersheds to reduce storm runoff, preserve and restore wetlands in floodplains, tax development on floodplains at a higher rate to create disincentive for activity that is likely to end in flood damage, use floodplains primarily for recharging aquifers, sustainable agriculture sustainable forestry, and recreation Control - strengthen and deep streams (channelization), build levees/ floodwalls along streams, build dams
progressive and standing waves
Progressive waves - wind generated waves Standing waves - combination of two waves moving in opposite directions, each having the same amplitude and frequency
Solutions to human impacts on the ocean like Coastal Cleanup Day and the Seafood watch program Why is it difficult to protect aquatic biodiversity? Know reasons
Rapid increasing human impacts, the invisibility of problems, citizen unawareness, and lack of legal jurisdiction hinder protection of aquatic biodiversity, human ecological footprint is expanding, damage to oceans is not visible to most people, incorrectly view the oceans as an inexhaustible resource
where fresh water is found
Rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and creaks & streams
Slope and its characteristics: How are rocks weathered and moved down slope?
Rocks are weathered below the surface as well as when they are exposed at the surface, materials resulting from weathering move downslope by means of mass wasting to form colluvium, slopes are generally made up of/covered by loose debris/colluvium, material moves downslope bc of gravity/aided by organisms, gravity will directly pull material downslope because of gravity/organisms, gravity will directly pull material downslope if the force of gravity overcomes the friction holding the material grain where it is on the slope, slopes will not exceed the angle of repose where gravity overcomes friction, leading to slippage, moisture causes materials to stick together better and increase the angle of repose
Know how Biological weathering works
Rocks can be weather through the action of plant roots, burrowing animals, and human activity
What drives ocean currents? (External forces including those related to gravitation and radiation flux)
Solar radiation provides heat energy, non-uniform heating that generates winds & Coriolis force
Ekman drift and the Ekman spiral with depth: How is it related to Coriolis effect and what is the overall result
The balance of the wind on surface water and Coriolis force at depth, generates a spiraling current pattern, results in a net direction of water movement about 90 degrees to the wind direction, near coasts this leads to vertical movement of ocean water, upwelling if net transport is away from land, downwelling if net transport is toward land, means water upwells or downwells when persistent winds blow parallel to coastlines, upwelling is important because it brings rich nutrients from deep water to the surface where, combined sunlight, it cuases blooms of phytoplankton = more zooplankton... to whales
Life history of waves originating in fetch area with interference (constructive and destructive), then dispersion area with ocean swells. In fetch area, have seas, then swells in dispersion area, then surf where waves reach the coast. Progressive wave types:
This area is characterized by a confused sea state with extensive wave interference : surf, swash, backwash
Slope erosion, rain splash and vegetation cover, sheet erosion, rills, gullies, and channel erosion.
Vegetation holds down soil and slows erosion. Normally, soil removed is balanced by new soil added through weathering of rocks.slope erosion - overland flow picks up small particles, size depends on speed and volume of water flow & on mechanisms that hold slope materials together, soil removed should balance new soil added in the weathering of rocks
Know how water gets into the groundwater through percolation into an aquifer. Know what the water table is and the distinction between an unconfined and a confined aquifer. Know what an aquiclude is.
Water gets into the groundwater through percolation (trickle through a permeable substance) into an aquifer (precipitation is absorbed by soil)
Boreal Forests
a few species of tall cone-shaped mostly evergreen coniferous trees, these trees create a continuous deep shade at ground level which inhibits the growth of shrubs
Storm swells and how
a storm out at sea can generate waves from the direction of the storm
Confined aquifer
a type of aquifer that if impervious rock caps the aquifer such that the pressure in the aquifer is higher than it would be without the impervious rock
Unconfined aquifer
a type of aquifer that when permeable sediments lie between the water table and the surface
Tidal bore
a wave that moves up a river or narrow bay under unique circumstances Large tidal range from low to high tide, incoming tides are funneled toward a narrow
artesian well
a well dug into a confined aquifer
Flowing artesian well
a well that if the pressure in the confined aquifer is great enough that water flows out of the well
Which of the following is NOT a factor that can support a tidal bore a) a lunar leap tide b) incoming tides funneled to a narrow area through a broad bay c) the incoming tide is funneled into a shallow and narrow area like a channel or inlet d) a large tidal range
a) a lunar leap tide
Which of the following conditions is NOT necessary for a flowing artesian well? a) a sufficient amount of local rainfall to replenish the unconfined surface aquifer b) an aquiclude above the aquifer layer into which the well is placed c) a distant water source region at higher elevation than the land surface where the well is placed d) a lack of adjacent wells causing drawdown of the aquifer layer into which the well is placed e) a porous aquifer layer capable of transmitting water
a) a sufficient amount of local rainfall to replenish the unconfined surface aquifer
As continents move around through geologic time, _________________ a) all of these b) their vegetation changes c) their longitude position changes d) their climate changes e) their latitude position changes
a) all of these
A layer of rock that is porous and permeable enough that water can easily be pumped from it is knownas a(n) a) aquifer b) aquiclude c) cavern d) soil water belt e) well
a) aquifer
which of the following would NOT be a likely effect of clear-cutting a forested hill slope? a) increased transpiration of water into the atmosphere b) increased surface water flow to the stream at the bottom of the slope c) increased sedimentation of the stream at the bottom of the slope d) decreased recharge of the aquifer under the slope e) increased leaching of nutrients from the topsoil
a) increased transpiration of water into the atmosphere
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the temperature of ocean water? a) ocean water connects when it warms up b) ocean water has a high heat capacity c) ocean temperatures can affect the climate over coastal land d) ocean water has low total and seasonal temperature range
a) ocean water connects when it warms up
Which of the following best describes the epicenter of an earthquake? a) the point at the Earth's surface directly above the focus b) the location that experienced the greatest up and down movement from the earthquake c) the location where the fault slipped d) the seismograph where the seismic wave was first measured e) the location that experienced the greatest damage from the earthquake
a) the point at the Earth's surface directly above the focus
Which of the following is NOT a common environment where earthquakes occur? a) trailing, continental margins b) transform boundaries c) island arcs d) mountain arcs e) subduction boundaries
a) trailing, continental margins
The prominent peaks of the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest U.S. (e.g. Mount St. Helens) are the result of what kind of geologic activity? a) volcanic b) mountain root exposure c) continental shield formation d) seafloor spreading
a) volcanic
Which of the following is NOT true of the type of island described? a) volcanic islands are always associated with a continental tectonic plate b) when a volcano rises to the surface, forms a coral reef, then sinks back, the reef continues to grow, forming a ring-shaped island called an atoll c) many islands are volcanic and occur when the seafloor rises above the surface of the ocean d) many islands are formed by volcanism
a) volcanic islands are always associated with a continental tectonic plate
Which of the following best describes the motion of a deep water wave? a) wave energy propagates in the direction of the wave, but the particles of water move in circles without propagating b) waves move particles of water at the surface over long distances c) wave energy moves in an orbital motion that propels water particles in the direction of wave motion d) waves move up and down, but create an optical illusion of movement in a particular direction
a) wave energy propagates in the direction of the wave, but the particles of water move in circles without propagating
Bogs
acidic freshwater with few nutrients, composed largely of sphagnum moss or lichens (fed by rainwater
Set-back levees
allow for floodplain space within the levees where various activities can take place, but also allow the river to spread out more when it is in flood, don't need to be as high as channelization, cheaper, land inside levees can withstand occasional flooding
chemical weathering
alters chemical composition of the rock (weaker), minearla are chemically altered, some minerals (quartz) or more easily weathered
Sediment load
amount of sediment removed by overland flow
Alluvium
any stream laid deposit
Slack tide
as the water peaks, it is at high water and the lack of tidal current is called a...
Flood tide
as water rises, the incoming water is referred to as...
Subtropical Evergreen and Temperate Rain Forest
associated with the moist subtropical or temperate climate, vegetation consists of browadlead and needleleaf evergreen trees, little natural forest remains due to logging and agricultural development
Flood plain Terraces
at the margin of the floodplain are terraces -Downcutting, terraces, entrenched meanders, and waterfalls usually occur when there is uplift.
Which of the following volcanoes is NOT associated with subduction and felsic magma? a) Mount Vesuvius b) Mauna Loa c) Mount St. Helens d) Mount Fuji e) Popocatapetl
b) Mauna Loa (shield)
According to the following figure, during what month is the Mississippi River most likely to flood? a) January b) May c) October d) April e) November
b) May
Based on this figure of ocean salinity, whi ch of the following is not a reason for why there is there such a large contrast in salinity between the Black Sea (low salinity) and the adjacent eastern Mediterranean Sea (high salinity)? Feel free to use an online map or map from the book if you are unsure of where these seas are and how they are connected. a) Black Sea receives a significant amount of fresh water from rivers draining more humid areas to the North b) The eastern Mediterranean receives a lot of high salinity water from the Red Sea c) The eastern Mediterranean Sea is in a drier, subtropical climate with fewer rivers than the Black Sea d) There is limited connectivity between the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean through the narrow, Bosphorus Strait
b) The eastern Mediterranean receives a lot of high salinity water from the Red Sea
what biome best fits the following figure showing average temperatures and precipitation? a) Savannah b) Tundra c) Chaparral d) Low-latitude rainforest e) Deciduous forest
b) Tundra
Which of the following is NOT found in karst landscapes, based on the description in the book? a) sinkholes b) aquiclude layers c) limestone caverns d) Lack of small, suface streams e) sleep-sided, conical hills or towers
b) aquiclude layers
In this figure, where is wave energy along this coastline least concentrated? a) along the right side of the headland b) bay c) headland d) in deeper water before it reaches the shore
b) bay
Which of the following would produce the densest water? a) cold water with low salinity b) cold water with high salinity c) warm water with high salinity d) warm water with low salinity e) water density doesn't vary with temperature or salinity
b) cold water with high salinity
Which of the following is true of stream discharge? a) discharge is maximum when flowing over falls between pools b) discharge is the same for any stretch of stream where there are no additions from other streams or groundwater c) discharge is maximum in pools d) discharge is greatest in meander bends e) discharge is greatest at the center and near the surface of straight sections of
b) discharge is the same for any stretch of stream where there are no additions from other streams or groundwate
Which of the following is a factor that increases the salinity of the ocean? a) melting of ice b) evaporation c) intense rainfall over oceans in the tropics d) inflow from rivers
b) evaporation
Which of the following pathways of water is the largest, based on the magnitude of the arrow in the book? a) vapor returned to land b) evaporation from oceans c) transpiration from vegetation d) surface runoff e) infiltration to soil
b) evaporation from oceans
Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons that oceans are important, as described in the online materials? a) oceans absorb, store and distribute energy in the Earth system b) oceans protect coastal populations from hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons c) oceans have a vast array of biodiversity d) ocean control weather and climate e) oceans are a source of food, minerals, and energy
b) oceans protect coastal populations from hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons
Why is there upwelling off the coast of West Africa? Recall that the Coriolis force bends fluid motion to the right in the northern hemisphere a) persistent winds that blow toward the pole push water northward with them and deep water rises to replace the water moving northward b) persistent winds that blow toward the equator cause Ekman drift to the west into the Atlantic which carries water away from the coast and deep, nutrient-rich water upwells to replace the water moving away from the coast c) cyclonic systems generate low air pressure over the coastal ocean which causes deep water to upwelling these zones d) cyclonic systems moving from east to west pull water with them and deep water upwells to replace this westward movement of surface water e) evaporation from these tropical waters causes the surface water to be warmer and more saline so cold, deep waters upwell to mix wit the warm surface waters
b) persistent winds that blow toward the equator cause Ekman drift to the west into the Atlantic which carries water away from the coast and deep, nutrient-rich water upwells to replace the water moving away from the coast
All of the following abiotic factors influence the type of biome that will occur in a location except: a) solar radiation b) soil organic matter c) precipitation d) latitude e) geological substrate
b) soil organic matter
Which of the following best describes the state of waves where wave sets become more regular beyond the area of generation? a) seas b) swells c) surfs d) tsunami
b) swells
The water table is best described as a) the zone where percolation occurs b) the upper limit of the saturated zone c) streams and ponds where water is at the surface d) a surface location that is suitable for drilling a well e) a table on which hydrologists perform experiments with flowing water
b) the upper limit of the saturated zone
Why is weather in western Europe milder than might be expected based on its latitude? a) Numerous volcanoes in Italy like Mt. Vesuvius warm the air in southern Europe and this warm air moves north into the rest of Western Europe b) warm, tropical waters are brought across the Atlantic on the Gulf Stream and warm western Europe c) The cold of the Greenland ice sheet forms a low pressure system that draws cold air toward it and that cold air is replaced by warm air from further south d) warm winds off of the Sahara blow into Europe, preferentially warming Western Europe
b) warm, tropical waters are brought across the Atlantic on the Gulf Stream and warm western Europe
Which of the following is NOT a feature of waves that is altered by friction with the bottom as water gets shallower a) wave height b) wave salinity c) wave speed (celerity) d) wave length
b) wave salinity
Which of the following factors does NOT contribute to the size of a wind-generated wave? a) wind duration b) wind pressure c) fetch d) wind speed
b) wind pressure
Fens
basic freshwater fed by groundwater (composed of peat)
Foreshocks
before the main earthquake, there may be a foreshock
Asthenosphere
beneath the lithosphere (layer of soft, plastic rock in the mantle)
According to the Ekman Effect, At what angle is the bulk flow of water relative to the direction of the wind at the surface of the ocean? a) 0 degrees (same direction) b) 180 degrees c) 90 degrees d) 15 degrees
c) 90 degrees
If a container ship lost a load of rubber duckies in a storm south of the Aleutian Islands (Alaska to Siberia) in which of the following locations would you most likely see the duckies wash up first? a) Hawaii b) Japan c) California d) Siberia e) Southeastern Alaska
c) California
Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons the oceans are important based on the online materials? a) oceans control weather and climate b) oceans absorb, store, and distribute energy within the Earth system c) Oceans reflect insolation back into space because of their high albedo, cooling the planet d) oceans produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide e) oceans contain many ecosystems and a vast array of biological diversity
c) Oceans reflect insolation back into space because of their high albedo, cooling the planet
What is the term for the deep ocean floor that is geologically distinct from the continent? a) continental margin b) continental slope c) abyssal plain d) continental shelf
c) abyssal plain
Why does the Earth have a magnetic field? a) because the motion of iron vehicles over the salty oceans of the world generates a magnetic field b) because repeated earthquakes in the oceanic lithosphere cause magnetic minerals to align themselves c) because the iron-rich, liquid outer core is in motion around the solid inner core d) because the iron of the core creates a magnetic dipole with the iron core of the Moon e) because the solar wind hits the Earth's atmosphere and generates changed particles that form a magnetic field
c) because the iron-rich, liquid outer core is in motion around the solid inner core
When shallow waves grow and the collapse under their own weight, they are called _________ a) streamers b) seas c) breakers d) riptides
c) breakers
Which of the following is NOT a form of physical weathering discussed in class? a) frost action b) salt wedging c) corrosion d) thermal expansion e) unloading
c) corrosion
Which of the following is NOT one of the major impacts of humans on the oceans shown in the online materials? a) overfishing b) point sources of pollution like cruise ships c) deposition of toxic ash in the ocean following volcanic eruptions d) invasive species e) habitat destruction
c) deposition of toxic ash in the ocean following volcanic eruptions
______ occurs on the inside of a bend in a graded stream and _________ occurs on the outside. a) deposition, decreased stream velocity b) erosion, decreased stream velocity c) deposition, erosion d) erosion, deposition e) erosion, increased stream velocity
c) deposition, erosion
which of the followign best describes the Mohorvicic Discountinuity (Moho)? a) the transition zone between the outer core and the mantle where rocks begin to form b) the transition zone between the inner core and the outer core where one goes from solid to liquid c) the transition zone from mantle to crust where seismic waves speed up because of density changes in the rocks d) the transition from asthenosphere to lithosphere where rocks become more brittle e) the transition form continental plates to oceanic plates where rocks becomes denser
c) the transition zone from mantle to crust where seismic waves speed up because of density changes in the rocks
Which of the following is NOT a component that helps describe an ocean wave? a) wave period b) wave length c) wave pitch d) wave height e) wave crest
c) wave pitch
Rills
channels on the slope that widen and deepen
Habitat
conditions of slope, water drainage, and soil type that influence the vegetation cover
Stream discharge
constant for any given section of stream w/ no inputs or outputs, volume of water-passing a given cross-section
Moho
contact between crust and upper mantle
Biomes
controlled by temp precipitation temperature, and precipitation, latitude, longitude, solar radiation, elevation
which of these geographic locations is not a convergent tectonic plate margin? a) the Himalayas where the Austro-Indian Plate is running into the Eurasian Plate and lifting up mountains b) the Aleutian islands where the pacific ocean plate is sub ducting under the oceanic part of the North American Plate c) the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest where the Juan de Fuca Plate is sub ducting under the North American Plate d) Hawaii where a mantle hotspot is causing volcanism e) The Andes Mountains in South America where the Nazca Plate is sub-ducting under the South American Plate
d) Hawaii where a mantle hotspot is causing volcanism
Which of the following best describes a tsunami? a) an earthquake related to a subduction zone b) a massive, cyclonic storm that is also known as a hurricane or cyclone c) a violent S wave that causes immense damage when it strikes populated areas d) a massive wave caused by a displacement of water in an earthquake that can travel vast distances e) a violent, upward motion that occurs exactly at the epicenter during an earthquake
d) a massive wave caused by a displacement of water in an earthquake that can travel vast distances
An ox-bow lake is formed when: a) the building of artifical levees to protect farmland generates excess sediment which is used to dam a lake for cattle b) a river spills over its banks and forms temporary lakes in the flood plain c) a river spills over its banks through the process of avulsion and goes on a new course d) a river meander bend curves back on itself to such a degree that the upstream part of the bend cuts into the downstream part of the bend, leaving a curved lake, isolated in the floodplain e) a river meander migrates to the edge of the floodplain and cuts into a terrace, leaving a lake at the base of the terrace when it migrates back across the floodplain
d) a river meander bend curves back on itself to such a degree that the upstream part of the bend cuts into the downstream part of the bend, leaving a curved lake, isolated in the floodplain
When water is removed from the saturated zone through a well, the lowering of the water table near the well is called a a) dry well b) pump hole c) unsaturated drop d) cone of depression e) subsidence impact
d) cone of depression
A region of non-sedimentary rock, resistant to weathering and significant in the building of a continent is a/an ________________. a) continental margin b) active belt of mountain building c) spreading center d) continental shield e) mountain root
d) continental shield
When oceanic crust is spreading away from the oceanic crust of another plate, the tear __________________. a) fills with magma that moves laterally from the roots of mountain-building at an adjacent convergent margin b) fills with magma that rises from the core c) fills with magma that rises from the crust d) fills with magma that rises from the mantle e) fills with magma that rises from a sub ducting plate
d) fills with magma that rises from the mantle
which of these is NOT an aspect of the Mercali Intensity Scale? a) it measures seismic activity as it is felt locally b) it is affected by the local geology, soils, and water saturation c) it can be used to estimate the intensity of historic earthquakes d) for each increase in scale number, the amount of energy in the measured earthquake increases by a factor of 10 e) the scale is descriptive, not quantitive
d) for each increase in scale number, the amount of energy in the measured earthquake increases by a factor of 10
If you were a seagull in the middle of the ocean with no current, and a wave train passed you coming from the east, in what direction would you move? a) from east to west with the waves b) from west to east toward the waves c) up and down with each wave's passing, but still in the same place after the wave train passed d) in a circular motion going west at the wave crest and east in the wave trough, but still in the same place after the wave train passed e) in a slow drift to the north because of the Coriolis effect
d) in a circular motion going west at the wave crest and east in the wave trough, but still in the same place after the wave train passed
A tidal bore can be characterized by all of the following EXCEPT a) incoming tides are funneled toward a narrow area through a broad bay b) the possibility of surfing a long-lived wave c) a funneling effect in a river or inlet causes the rising tide to occur during a short period d) little difference between spring and neap tides e) a large variation in tidal range
d) little difference between spring and neap tides
which of the following is not a characteristic of wetlands a) saturated conditions for a least part of the year b) high nutrient content and productivity c) the ability to clean excess nutrients and pollutants from the water d) naturally formed environments e) important for migrating birds and other animals
d) naturally formed environments
Where does the heat that drives plate tectonics come from? a) fossil fuels b) the sun c) meteroities c e) the gravitational compression of the Earth
d) radiogenic heating
When too much water is pulled from coastal aquifers, which of the following is a possible effect? a) chemical pollution b) fertilizer pollution c) artesian wells d) saltwater intrusion e) coastal erosion
d) saltwater intrusion
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic associated with the deep ocean floor? a) trenches are the deepest part of the ocean an can be as deep as 11,00 meters b) the abyssal plains cover about 40% of the ocean floor c) the abyssal plain is covered with a fine blanket of clays and organic matter d) the abyssal plain receives sunlight that supports corals and other organisms
d) the abyssal plain receives sunlight that supports corals and other organisms
Which is NOT a true description of a layer of the Earth? a) the inner core is dense, solid layer, largely composed of nickel and iron b) the outer core consists largely of liquid iron and nickel c) the mantle is a semi-solid, plastic layer made up of ultra-mafic rocks d) the oceanic crust is the thickest layer of the Earth and is composed of felsic rocks e) the continental curst is thicker than the oceanic crust and its igneous fraction is largely made up of acidic rocks
d) the oceanic crust is the thickest layer of the Earth and is composed of felsic rocks
In which of the following scenarios would you be likely to see downwelling along a north-south oriented coastline? a) winds blowing north in the northern hemisphere along an east coast b) winds blowing south in the northern hemisphere along a west coast c) winds blowing north in the southern hemisphere along a west coast d) winds blowing south in the northern hemisphere along an east coast
d) winds blowing south in the northern hemisphere along an east coast
Constructed wetlands
designed to absorb flash floods, clean the water, provide habitat
Schlerophyll/chaparral Forest
develops in the Mediterranean an climate, trees have adapted to the dry, hot summers by producing small
well
dig/drill to the groundwater
biological weathering
digging of animals, rooting in plants
Stream velocity
discharge/ cross-sectional area
Limestone caverns are formed through the process of a) carbonation of surface limestone b) rapid downcutting c) stalagmitification d) travertine deposition e) acid groundwater flowing slowly through the saturated zone
e) acid groundwater flowing slowly through the saturated zone
Which of the following is not one of the items likely to be found in ocean water, as described in the slides? a) dissolved carbon dioxide b) sediments c) phytoplankton d) dissolved oxygen e) chlorofluorocarbons
e) chlorofluorocarbons
The Richter Scale measures _______________ a) damage severity of an earthquake b) energy of the largest earthquake fault c) movement on the earthquake fault d) difference between P and S wave speed e) earthquake magnitude
e) earthquake magnitude
Which of the following is NOT a factor that would make a bigger wave a) higher wind speed at the ocean surface b) longer distance over which the wind blows across the ocean surface c) longer time period over which the wind blows across the ocean surface d) longer fetch e) higher latitude
e) higher latitude
Which of the following is not a part of the Earth system where fresh water is stored? a) pores in bedrock b) ice sheets c) soils d) streams e) oceans
e) oceans
in a bay and headland coastline, where is the wave energy most focused, and why? a) the energy is most focused in the bay because wave energy ounces off the projecting headlands toward the bay b) the energy is most focused in the bay because there is a shallower bottom slope so waves can build over a longer distance c) the energy is equally focused at the bay and the headland because the energy is all coming form the same source far out to sea d) the energy is most focused at the headland because the headland receives both energy from ocean swells and from longshore drift e) the energy is most focused at the headland because the bottom of approaching waves hits the shallow bottom off the headland first and slows down, causing refraction of the wave energy toward the headland
e) the energy is most focused at the headland because the bottom of approaching waves hits the shallow bottom off the headland first and slows down, causing refraction of the wave energy toward the headland
springs
emerge where water emerges from the ground
Stream Transportation Suspension
fine sediment suspended in the water
cons of dams
flooded land destroys forests or cropland and displaces people, large losses of water through evaporation from the reservoir surface, downstream cropland and wetlands are deprived of nutrient-rich silt, risk of failure and devastating downstream flooding, migration and spawning of some fish are disrupted
Sheet erosion
following splash erosion, overland flow removes layers of soil
Splash erosion
force of falling droplets of precipitation moves soil particles
Channelization
forces the river into a narrow channel bounded by high levees, expensive, forces water to be deep and fast-flowing, works best where land value is high (city)
Monsoon Forest
found in a wet-dry tropical climate, dry season results in a deciduous forest that sheds its leaves, and open canopy allowing more development in the lower forest layers
Marshes
fresh, brackish, or saline w/ low herbaceous vegetation
Typical household water use
freshwater
Mass movement
gravity moves debris
mantle
largely plastic layer between the core and the crust
Rainforest
low latitude rainforest, monsoon forest, subtropical/ temperate evergreen forest, midlatitude deciduous forest, boreal forest, sclerophyll forest
Stream erosion Abrasion
material carried by the river erodes the valley
Stream Transportation Solution
material dissolved in stream water
Mercalli intensity scale
measures damage to buildings and such and can therefore be used w/ historical records, but is dependent on the setting
chemical weathering oxidation
minerals react with oxygen to form oxides such as red-colored iron-oxides in the soil
Hydrologic Cycles:
movement of water into ground, rivers and lakes, and runoff, 1. Evaporation and evapotranspiration, 2. Precipitation, 3. Interception, infiltration, Overland flow and runoff, 4. Surface water, 5. Aquifer recharge, 6. Groundwater flow, 7. oceans
Know the 10 human impacts on the ocean and be able to identify examples
nonpoint source pollution, invasive species, overfishing, bycatch, aquaculture, point source pollution, coastal development, habitat destruction, climate change, marine debris
saline lakes
not true seas because they are land-locked
Surface flow
occurs during storms when the infiltration capacity is exceeded on hillslopes and extensive overland flow reaches the streams (rapid, large peaks in hydrographs)
Aquiclude
other layers of impermeable rocks keep that water in
Flood plain Ox-bow lakes
oxbow is formed when the alluvial meanders of a graded stream cut themselves off
Unvegetated slopes
particles not held together by roots and surface of soil unprotected
Aquifers
porous rocks saturated with groundwater
pros of dams
provides water for year-round irrigation of cropland, provides water for drinking, reservoir is useful for recreation and fishing, can produce cheap, non-polluting electricity (hydropower), downstream flooding is reduced
Stream erosion Corrosion
rocks and minerals dissolved by water
Weathering
rocks are broken down
Wetlands
saturated at least some of the time so they can have low oxygen conditions (slows decomposition), have high nutrient content, productivity, and biodiversity, host either unique organisms and/or act as important locations for migrating birds and other animals, can act as filters for pollutants
Vernal pools
seasonal wetlands that often act as breeding grounds for specialized animals
surf
sequence of breaking waves
Stream Transportation Traction
sliding or rolling of particles
Aftershocks
smaller earthquakes after
Lithosphere
solid upper part of the mantle plus the crust, stiff tectonic plates that ride on the more plastic mantle
physical weathering thermal expansion
some minerals expand and contract more than others when heated and cooled, causing cracks to form
chemical weathering hydrolysis
some minerals expand when water is added, leaving an altered version that is softer and weaker (ex. Feldspars when weathered to clays) = results In spheroidal weathering where the outer layers of a rock flake off
Base flow
steady, year-round flow from groundwater into the stream
Mid-latitude Deciduous Forests
tall dense canopy in summer shed its leaves in winter in response to the cold temperatures, hot summers, cold winters, moderate precipitation, dominated by oaks, hickory, maple, commonly converted to agriculture
Aquifer drawdown
the amount by which the water level is reduced from the original water table level
Flood plain
the development of the first indication of gradation
Flood plain Bluffs
thick floodplain accumulates which is prone to overbank flooding (a floodplain is bounded by steeply sloping bluffs)
Arid region water use
too little water, droughts, overdrawing surface waters, aquifer depletion (causes subsidence, salt water intrusion), salinization of irrigated soil
Water table
underground upper boundary between the soil surface and the area where groundwater saturates spaces between sediments and cracks in rock
chemical weathering carbonation
water can be acidic and this acidic water can dissolve carbonate minerals like limestone (caves form & in humid areas)
physical weathering frost action
water expands in spaces when it freezes
Fluvial Processes
water flowing across the surface (overland flow and stream flow) Features created - erosional landforms (col, peak, ravine, spur, canyon), depositional landforms (fan, floodplain) - shaped by water
backwash
water flowing back down beach to sea
Stream Transportation Saltation
water lifts particles off river bed - these particles bounce along
swash
water sliding up beach
Erosion
weathered debris is removed
Swamps
wetlands w/ permanent, shallow water and woody vegetation
Cone of depression
what forms when water is removed from an aquifer by a well, it pulls down the water table near the well
Colluvium
when soil particles reach the base of the slope, they accumulate in a layer of debris
Low water
when the water stops falling at its lowest point, there is another slack tide referred to as...
physical weathering salt wedging
when water evaporates, salt can be left behind which can wedge rocks open
physical weathering unloading
when weight is removed, rocks expand and crack
Estuaries
where rivers meet the sea (marshes/swamps), highly variable environment, many fishes and shellfish spend larval stages here
Flood plain Entrenched meanders
where uplift elevates a floodplain, a river will begin to cut down, don't move around like shallow meanders on a flat floodplain, may cut back to produce cutoff lakes
Flood plain Meanders
widens over time creating a flat valley floor, river meanders back and forth (alluvial meanders), deposition - on the inside of each bend, erosion - on the outside of each bend
Wind generation of waves: factors that make for bigger waves
wind velocity, wind duration - wave size increases as the strength and duration of the wind and distance over which it blows increase fetch - distance over which the wind blows
