GEOL EXAM 4
How would Charleston be affected by a category 1 - category 5 hurricane?
1: half of peninsula flooded 2: more than half and areas around downtown 3: 1/5 of peninsula and areas around charleston almost all under water 4: almost all under water 5: all under water besides north charleston
How many glacial-interglacial oscillations did Earth undergo during the Pleistocene epoch?
20-30
What is the angle of the tilt of Earth's axis
23.5 degrees
A single period of precession of Earth's axis is completed in about
25,000 years
What is the average salinity of ocean water
3.5%
Models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that by the year 2100, the average annual temperature will have increased in some parts of the world by as much as ________.
4 degrees C
The stream in the diagram (40 ft wide, 20 ft deep) flows at a velocity of 6 ft/s. Its discharge is
4,800 cubic ft/s
The stream in the diagram flows at a velocity of 6 ft/s. Its discharge is: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/earth4/img/quiz/ch17_f1.jpg
4,800 ft 3/s
The average depth of the oceans is approximately
5 km
How much of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans
70.8
The oil window (temperature range wherein organic matter is converted to petroleum hydrocarbon without destroying it) lies between ____________.
90°C and 160°C
Which of the following climate conditions would most likely allow glaciers to form?
A heavy snowfall in winter coupled with relatively cool summers - Glaciers need lots of snow that doesn't all slide or blow away when it falls or melts away in the summer (pg 516)
Which is NOT a contributing factor to the onset of major ice ages
A high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Which is NOT a contributing factor to the onset of major ice ages?
A high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas whose presence traps heat close to Earth's surface (pg 538)
Which of the following statements is false? A perched water table is one that sits high on a hill rather than low in a valley. The chief source of groundwater is precipitation. The water table of an area goes down as more wells are established there. The slope of the water table is called the hydraulic gradient. The water table fluctuates as the amount of precipitation changes.
A perched water table is one that sits high on a hill rather than low in a valley. A perched water table can occur anywhere that an impermeable lens of rock stops the downward percolation of groundwater. See Fig. 19.8. (Section refs: 19.3, p. 654)
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A stream that swings back and forth in snake-like curves is called a braided stream.
Which of the following statements about drainage basins and divides is FALSE?
A watershed is a ridge that separates one catchment from another.
Which of the following statements is False? (C)
A) A stream is any channelized body of running water B) Meteoric water is any water that has fallen from the sky C) A stream that swings back and forth in snake-like curves is called a braided stream D) The efficiency of downcutting depends on the velocity of flow, the strength of the substrate, and the amount of vegetation cover
Which of the following statements is False? The channeled scablands... (A)
A) Are an area of unusual topography in Alaska B) Were flooded because successive glacial dams of Glacial Lake Missoula broke C) Are littered with giant boulders and hills that are giant ripples D) Were created by great flood about 11,000 years ago
Which of the following statements is False? Incised meanders... (B)
A) Are demonstrating a feature of stream maturity (meanders) in a youthful setting (steep walled) B) From when based level remains stable for long periods of time C) Can result from either superposed or antecedent stream activity D) Are illustrated by the goosenecks of the San Juan River, Utah
Identify the False statement. Stream piracy... (D)
A) Can leave a dry channel through a high ridge called a wind gap B) Results when headward erosion causes one stream to intersect the course of another stream C) Created the Cumberland Gap in the Appalachian Mountains that Daniel Boon used as part of his wilderness road for sttlers D) Causes the pirate stream to decrease its discharge and eventually dry up while the captured stream continues flowing
Which of the following statements is False? The Mississippi River Delta...(B)
A) Consists of several distinct lobes B) Developed its shape because the ocean current there was stronger than the river current C) Is a birds-foot delta D) Is the product of several avulsions
Identify the False statement. A drainage network... (D)
A) Drains water toward the ocean B) IS an interconnected group of streams C) Collects water over a large area D) Is considered a trellis network when rivers flow over uniform substrate with gentle slope
Which of the following statements is False? (A)
A) If a dam is constructed properly, it will not change the ecosystem of the area its in B) Overuse of the waters of the Colorado River has reduced it to a mere trickle near its mouth C) Floodplains are areas of fertile soil, replenished yearly by seasonal floods D) Early civilizations of Egypt, India, and China were established in river valleys and on floodplains
Which of the following statements is False? Deltas... (A)
A) Make poor farmland because they flood regularly and flooding leaches out the minerals B) Received their name because some have a triangular shape, but many don't C) Are likely to slowly sink and become swampland called a delta plain D) May form where a stream empties into the quiet waters of a lake or the ocean
Which of the following statements is False? Waterfalls... (D)
A) Often scour out plunge pools at their bases B) May be found where a stream crosses a resistant ledge of rock C) May form where movement along a fault has produced an escarpment D) Last for millions of years because they are created by elevation differences in exceedingly hard bedrock
Identify the False statement. Streams cause erosion by...(B)
A) Scouring B) Saltation C) Dissolution D) Breaking and lifting
Which of the following statements about drainage divides is False? (A)
A) The divide that runs along the crest of the Appalachians separated the Atlantic Ocean drainage from the arctic Ocean drainage B) Precipitation that falls on the east side of the continental divide flows to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean C) The ultimate base level for streams on the west side of the continental divide is the Pacific Ocean D) A drainage divide is a ridge that separates one watershed from another
Identify the False statement (B)
A) The size of a flood is described in terms of its discharge, measured in cubic feet (or cubic meters) per second B) The size of a flood and its recurrence interval are inversely related; the larger the flood, the shorter its recurrence interval C) A 200-year flood has a recurrence interval of, on the average, once every 200 years D) An annual probability of 4% means there's a one in 25 chance that a flood of some given size will happen in any given year
Which of the following statements about the hydrologic cycle is False? (B)
A) There is an exchange of water among oceans, land, and atmosphere B) Water that manages to infiltrate the land is lost to the cycle C) Sheet wash is a thin film of water that moves down slopes D) Surface snow and ice is part of this cycle
Incised meanders:
A) are meanders that lie at the bottom of a steep-walled canyon. B) can result from either superposed or antecedent stream activity. C) are demonstrating a feature of stream maturity (meanders) in a youthful setting (steep walled). D) are illustrated by the goosenecks of the San Juan River, Utah. (All of the possible answers are correct)
13. Which is NOT a depositional structure formed by a stream? A. V-shaped valley B. Alluvial fans C. Floodplains D. Deltas
A. V-shaped valley
18. Braided streams _______________. A. consist of interwined channels that are overloaded with sediment B. have flowing water either episodically or during a portion of the year C. have a channel that is highly sinuous (curvy) D. are those that divert flow from streams
A. consist of interwined channels that are overloaded with sediment
3. An array of interconnecting streams that together drain an area is called the ______. A. drainage network B. floodplain C. tributaries D. trunk stream
A. drainage network
8. The stream slope of most rivers _____________. A. is steeper near the source than near the mouth B. is steeper near the mouth than near the source C. does not change significantly as the river flows downstream D. is steeper for a meandering stream than for any other type
A. is steeper near the source than near the mouth
15. V-shaped stream valleys result from the downcutting of stream erosion and ______. A. mass wasting on the valley sides B. isostatic rebound C. the "rule of the V's" D. conservation of angular momentum
A. mass wasting on the valley sides
23. A thin strip of land separating abutted cut banks on opposite ends of a meander loop is a(n) ___________. A. meander neck B. cut bank C. point bar D. abandoned meander
A. meander neck
9. All else being equal, water will flow faster in a stream that has a ____________. A. steep stream gradient B. gentle stream gradient
A. steep stream gradient
16. Waterfalls eventually disappear because of headward erosion. A. true B. false
A. true
6. The floor of an ephemeral stream lies above the water table. A. true B. false
A. true
12. Coarser sediment tends to settle out farther _________, whereas finer grains settle out farther ________. A. upstream, downstream B. downstream, upstream
A. upstream, downstream
Glacial polish is caused by the
Abrasion of bedrock by sand grains of rock or mineral - Glacial polish forms when predominantly sand-sized particles of rock or mineral embedded in glacial ice are carried along the bottom of a glacier flowing over a bedrock surface (pg 524)
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
Agriculture (planting crops on floodplains) reduces sediment load into nearby rivers.
Plate tectonics: is often the ultimate cause of mass movement because it generates relief in an area. can cause volcanic eruptions that provide gases and water that weather and weaken crustal rock. may cause earthquakes that trigger mass movement. is responsible for the San Andreas Fault, which causes lots of mass movement events in California. All of the possible answers are correct.
All of the possible answers are correct.
The water table: may be defined by the surface of a permanent stream, lake, or marsh. becomes a downward-pointing cone-shaped surface around the bottom of a well. lies within a few meters of the surface in humid areas. mimics the topography of the land it underlies. All of the possible answers are correct.
All of the possible answers are correct.
Water combines with carbon dioxide: as it falls as rain, producing acidic water. as it filters through organic-rich soil on its way down to the water table. and thus forms carbonic acid. creating slightly acidic groundwater that dissolves limestone and forms caves. All of the possible answers are correct.
All of the possible answers are correct.
Which of the following could not be a potential groundwater contaminant? pesticides, because they act only against specific insects animal sewage, because it's a natural product and will naturally and quickly dissipate petroleum products, because they're less dense than water, float on top, and therefore don't contaminate the water acid drainage from mines older than 100 years, because by then the waste minerals have been neutralized and can no longer cause acidic drainage All of the possible answers are groundwater contaminants.
All of the possible answers are groundwater contaminants. All of the reasons offered to explain why the four choices are harmless are incorrect. (Section refs: 19.7, p. 667)
Choose the TRUE statement (all)
All the possible answers are correct - pg 516
Milankovitch
All the possible answers are correct - pg 538
Recent studies of ice ages
All the possible answers are correct - pg 538
Tillites
All the possible answers are correct - pg 538
Streams come down out of a steep areas onto much flatter land, lose velocity, and drop material in triangular-shaped structures called...
Alluvial fans (not deltas because it is forming above land not underwater)
In what part of a glacier is ice flow typically the fastest?
Along the surface and away from the sides - The fastest flow of ice in a glacier occurs near its surface and away from the sides because the sides and bottom encounter friction with adjoining and underlying geologic materials (pg 520)
The largest river in the world, on the basis of discharge, is the
Amazon River
The largest rover in the world, on the basis of discharge, is the...
Amazon River
What is an estuary
An embayment in which sea water and fresh water mix
Continental ice sheets today are found only in
Antarctica and Greenland
Continental ice sheets today are found only in
Antarctica and Greenland - Antarctica and Greenland are both covered by continental glaciers (pg 520)
Upwelling zones
Are areas where water flows in a vertical direction, bring nutrients up from the depth, occur near the equator to replace water by winds blowing steadily from east to west Can be driven by density differences caused by temperature and salinity differences
Choose the FALSE statement. Drumlins
Are asymmetric along their length, with their gentler slope upstream - The gentler slope of the drumlin is its downstream side
Oxbow lakes...
Are formed when a meander cuts off across the neck
Abyssal plains
Are underlain by cool oceanic lithosphere Of the Western Atlantic Ocean stretch from the base of the continental rise to the base of the mid-ocean ridge Are covered by pelagic sediment Are covered by microscopic plankton shells and fine flakes of clay
Where did the following mass-wasting event take place? A lahar in the Andes buried this town and its inhabitants. Armero, Colombia (1985) Gros Ventre slide, Wyoming (1925) Vaiont Dam (1963) Yosemite National Park (1996) Yungay, Peru (1970)
Armero, Colombia (1985) The other events were triggered by different processes in other geologic settings. Read more in Mudflows and Debris Flows in Section 16.2. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 545)
10. All else being equal, water will flow faster in a stream with ____________. A. well-developed meanders B. a straight channel
B. a straight channel
21. The outer edge of a meander, where material is being eroded, is a(n) ________. A. meander neck B. cut bank C. point bar D. abandoned meander
B. cut bank
4. A highland or ridge that separates one watershed from another is called the ____________. A. drainage network B. drainage divide C. drainage basin D. drainage system
B. drainage divide
11. The sediment load of a stream consists of only those grains that are fine enough to stay in suspension. A. true B. false
B. false
2. All the water in rivers and streams arrives directly from rainfall runoff. A. true B. false
B. false
26. All flooding events occur so rapidly that there is no time to alert people in harm's way. A. true B. false
B. false
1. Channels form where the stream flow is _______ or the substrate is ________. A. slow, weak B. fast, weak C. slow, strong D. fast, strong
B. fast, weak
24. The flat-lying area surrounding a river channel is termed the ____________. A. base level B. floodplain C. stream gradient D. thalweg
B. floodplain
5. Ephemeral streams _______________. A. consist of a series of interwined channels that are overloaded with sediment B. have flowing water either episodically or during a portion of the year C. have a channel that is highly sinuous (curvy) D. are those that divert flow from streams
B. have flowing water either episodically or during a portion of the year
7. All else being equal, a deep, narrow stream will flow__________ a shallow broad stream. A. more slowly than B. more rapidly than C. at the same rate as
B. more rapidly than
14. The distinction between a valley and a canyon is ___________________. A. nonexistent; the two terms are synonymous. B. the sides of a canyon are steeper than those of a valley. C. the sides of a valley are steeper than those of a canyon. D. valleys are often cut by streams; canyons are eroded out by the wind.
B. the sides of a canyon are steeper than those of a valley.
Which of the following was the location of a flash flood caused by over 7 inches of rain in about an hours time?
Big Thompson River, Colorado, 1976
This image shows the Platte River in eastern Nebraska. Which of the following terms best describes the morphology of this stream?
Braided river--under normal flow conditions, a braided river is chocked with sediment and has multiple active channel strands
19. Meandering streams _____________. A. consist of interwined channels that are overloaded with sediment B. have flowing water either episodically or during a portion of the year C. have a channel that is highly sinuous (curvy) D. are those that divert flow from streams
C. have a channel that is highly sinuous (curvy)
22. A meander that is cut off to become completely isolated from the main channel and filled with water is a(n) __________. A. meander neck B. cut bank C. oxbow lake D. abandoned meander
C. oxbow lake
20. The inner edge of a meander, where sediment is deposited, is a(n) _________. A. meander neck B. cut bank C. point bar D. abandoned meander
C. point bar
How are carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere affected by tectonic uplift and subsequent chemical weathering of rocks?
CO2 is removed from the atmosphere.
The total load that a stream can carry is called its...
Capacity
Why is tracking the carbon cycle important?
Carbon is part of carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas that is partially responsible for the current global warming trend.
Which of the following elements is released into the atmosphere by all of these processes: volcanic outgassing, animal respiration and flatulence, burning of fossil fuels, and metamorphism of limestone
Carbon--all of these elements are involved in the biogeochemical cycles, but it is only carbon that cycles between solid, liquid, and atmosphere Earth reservoirs via all of these processes
Most of the world's coal was deposited in coal swamps during the ____________.
Carboniferous
Which of the following is NOT a driver in short-term climate change
Changes in tidal cycles
Which of the following is a method of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Chemical weathering of rocks
Which of the following scenarios is most likely to occur if the climate continues on its current trajectory?
Cities like New York, New Orleans, and Miami will be flooded by ocean water.
What properties are referred to by a stream's competence and capacity? Select all that apply.
Competence refers to the largest particle size that a stream can carry; Capacity is the amount of sediment that a stream can carry
Which of the following drives long term climate change
Continental drift, volcanic activity, uplift of continents, formation of coal and oil
Choose the FALSE statement
Continental glaciers create spectacular scenery filled with horns, arêtes, cirques, and truncated spurs - Mountain (alpine) glaciers, not continental glaciers, produce horns, arêtes, cirques, truncated spurs and other spectacular features (pg 529)
________ glaciers cover vast areas of land, whereas ________ glaciers are restricted to mountaintops.
Continental; alpine
Larry, Curly, and Moe are buried in a cemetery on a hillside. Their headstones were placed upright at their funerals, but now they all tilt downhill as shown in the diagram. Larry's stone tilts 20° down from the vertical, Curly's tilts 37°, and Moe's tilts 6°. Who died first? Larry Curly Moe There's not enough difference between the tilt figures to judge. Tilt is not related to how long the headstones have been in the ground.
Curly Creep of the ground surface causes vertical structure in it to gradually tilt downhill. The longer the time in the ground, the greater the tilt. Note Fig. 16.2. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 542)
17. A(n) _______ is a gently sloping apron of sediment dropped by an ephemeral stream at the base of a mountain in arid or semi-arid regions. A. Talus apron B. Flood plain C. Debris flow D. Alluvial fan
D. Alluvial fan
27. Which of the following does NOT control floods? A. Dams B. Artificial levees C. Concrete floodwalls D. Waterfalls E. Wetlands
D. Waterfalls
Which of the following is not a class of desert
Deserts of temperature mid-latitudes
Which is NOT an erosive glacial feature?
Drumlin - A drumlin is a teardrop-shaped pile of sediment that is deposited beneath the distal end of a continental glacier. It is reworked till and therefore a depositional feature. At first glance it looks similar to a roch mountonée, a teardrop-shaped bedrock feature formed underneath a glacier by physical weathering/erosion of bedrock (pg 529)
the New York city area was an outwash plain
During the Pleistocene Ice Age (choose the false statement)
25. When do floods possibly happen? A. during abrupt, heavy rains B. after a long period of continuous rain C. when heavy snows from the previous winter melt rapidly D. when an artificial or natural dam suddenly collapses E. all of the above
E. all of the above
Which term has nothing to do with temporary desert lakes
Erg--vast regions of sand in which very large sand dunes may form; playas are the lake basins' and the other terms are possible evaporite deposits in the basins
How does the water from Earth's surface make it way back to the atmosphere?
Evapotranspiration
Since the Big Thompson Flood of 1976 was a 100-year flood, it's almost impossible for such a flood to happen again for another 99 years. (T or F)
False
The total load that a stream can carry is called its competence. (T or F)
False
A rock glacier is a glacier that is so thickly covered with surface rock it is pushed firmly to the ground and can no longer move.
False A rock glacier is a mix of rock fragments and ice that does slowly move. Note Fig. 16.3. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 542)
To stabilize steep hillsides, it is a wise practice to weight them down with buildings.
False Added weight is more likely to trigger than to prevent mass movement. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 555)
Highways can be protected from snow avalanches by building avalanche chutes above them.
False Build avalanche sheds, not chutes; chutes are the pathways created and followed by avalanches that happen often in the same location. (Section refs: 16.5, p. 563)
Groundwater exists in pore spaces in the rock down to about 50 km (about 30 mi)
False Groundwater can exist to a depth of only about 15 km (about 9 mi). Deeper than this, minerals flow plastically and close up pore spaces, and any existing water is supercritical water of metamorphic reactions. (Section refs: 19.3, p. 653)
In terms of human usage and availability, groundwater is a renewable resource.
False Groundwater is renewable on a time frame of about 10,000 years, but on a timescale of human needs, groundwater is being extracted at a rate that exceeds recharge in many regions of the world. (Section refs: 19.7, p. 663)
Snow avalanches are no longer purposely triggered by explosions because the results are too unpredictable.
False It's standard procedure to do this because it works so well and avoids unexpected and therefore more dangerous avalanches. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 549)
Groundwater flows upward in a recharge area, downward in a discharge area.
False Just the reverse is true. See Fig. 19.9. (Section refs: 19.4, p. 655)
Soil moisture is precipitation that sinks deep, fills the zone of saturation, and resides there for many decades.
False Soil moisture remains close to the surface and returns to the atmosphere by evaporation and by transpiration through plants. (Section refs: 19.2, p. 648)
The bright colors of some hot springs are due to the presence of thermophyllic (heat-loving) moss and lichens that metabolize iron in the water.
False The colors result from thermophyllic bacteria that metabolize sulfur minerals in the water. (Section refs: 19.6, p. 661)
Landslide-potential maps designate areas in which construction is illegal because of the high risk of mass movement there.
False The maps show the high-risk areas as a guideline for intelligent construction choices, not as legal orders. (Section refs: 16.5, p. 563)
In the diagram pictured, if the hillside gets wet, the resisting force (Rf) gets greater.
False The resisting force gets smaller because wet surfaces offer less frictional resistance. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 553)
A slope of damp sand is more likely to slide than a comparable slope of dry sand.
False The surface tension created by minimum amounts of water tends to hold small rock pieces together. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 557)
Mahomet, Dakota, High Plains, Phoenix, and Florida are names of aquitards that serve as important reservoirs of groundwater in the United States.
False They're the names of important United States aquifers. Aquitards are layers of sediment or rock that don't hold and conduct water. (Section refs: 19.2, p. 651)
Glacial striations running northeast to southwest indicate that the glacier that produced them was moving from northwest to southeast
False - Glacial movement is parallel to the direction of striations, not perpendicular (pg 523)
On average, polar glaciers move faster than temperate glaciers, and continental glaciers move faster than mountain glaciers
False - Just the opposite is true. Temperate glaciers, which usually are wet-bottomed, move faster than dry-bottomed polar glaciers, and mountain glaciers move faster than continental glaciers (pg 520)
Studies of long-term climate changes show a gradual warming of Earth since mid-Cretaceous times, ending abruptly with the appearance of ice sheets in the Arctic one Mya
False - Studies show a long-term cooling and the appearance of ice sheets two to three million years ago (pg 540)
Varves are rides of glacial drift deposited in tunnels of water flowing under a glacier's base
False - This question describes eskers. Varves are seasonal pairs of thin layers of sediment, one silt and one clay, laid down in glacial lakes (pg 529)
The hottest verified temperature on Earth was 166 F
False it was 133
Ice ages are examples of biogeochemical cycles
False--Ice ages are fluctuations in Earth's water balance (e.g., amount of ice) and temperature-in other words, related to the hydrologic cycle. A biogeochemical cycle involves chemical transformation via metabolic processes
Approximately 10% of anthropogenic CO2 is taken up by biogeochemical cycles, while the remainder remains within the atmosphere
False--about 40-45% of anthropogenic CO2 is taken up by biogeochemical cyles, whereas 55-60% remains within the atmosphere, thus contributing to to the increasing atmospheric concentration of CO2
Volcanic eruptions typically contribute to global warming by increasing the aerosol content of the atmosphere
False--aerosols erupted into the atmosphere by volcanoes--or from any other source-block sunlight and therefore cool the atmosphere near the Earth's surface
Green plants produce food through photosynthesis, which is the combination of oxygen and chlorophyll to yield carbon dioxide and water
False--photosynthesis is the combination of carbon dioxide and water, in the presence of chlorophyll and light, to yield sugar and oxygen and water
Studies of long-term climate changes show a gradual warming of Earth since mid-Cretaceous times, ending abruptly with the appearance of ice sheets in the Arctic one Mya
False--studies show a long term cooling and the appearance of ice sheets two to three million years ago
The Sargasso Sea, located at the center of the North Atlantic gyre, is an area of rapidly rotating surface water and tangle sargassum seaweed
False--the location is properly stated, but the waters are non-circulating and therefore have allowed the seaweed to accumulate
C. karst landscapes.
Features that are created when water dissolves surface and subsurface limestone, like sinkholes, troughs, caverns, natural bridges, and towers, are collectively called Choose one: A. potentiometric surfaces. B. geothermal landscapes. C. karst landscapes. D. artesian surfaces.
Present day concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is about 390 ppm. In the early 1700s atmospheric CO2 was only about 280 ppm. This 40% increase is primarily due to which of the following?
Fossil fuel combustion
Choose the TRUE statement (Glaciers)
Glaciers can grow smaller by melting, sublimation, or calving - Ablation is wasting away; glaciers at high latitudes can reach to the sea; the position of the toe moves back, but the ice never does; and loess is fine-grained material transported by wind (pg 520)
What is the greatest contributor to causing the tides
Gravitational attraction of the Moon
Where did the following mass-wasting event take place? A river eroded away the base of the mountain slope it flowed alongside, causing a huge landslide that filled the valley and dammed its flow. Armero, Colombia (1985) Gros Ventre slide, Wyoming (1925) Vaiont Dam (1963) Yosemite National Park (1996) Yungay, Peru (1970)
Gros Ventre slide, Wyoming (1925) The other events were triggered by different processes in other geologic settings. Read more in Changing slope loads, steepness, and support in Section 16.3. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 555)
A. typically moves slowly within the ground through porous rock layers like sandstone.
Groundwater Choose one: A. typically moves slowly within the ground through porous rock layers like sandstone. B. moves underground mainly in underground river channels. C. dissolves very porous rock like obsidian faster than it dissolves limestone. D. completely fills the zone of aeration above the water table.
B. like methane, arsenic, and salt may occur naturally in groundwater.
Groundwater contaminants Choose one: A. are all eventually removed by rock and sediment acting as natural filters. B. like methane, arsenic, and salt may occur naturally in groundwater. C. dissipate quickly into the groundwater reservoir and often do not pose a problem. D. are always toxic materials like arsenic, mercury, and lead.
A. a geyser
Groundwater in underground, constricted fractures is heated past its normal boiling temperature by surrounding hot rocks. The superhot liquid expands in volume; this reduces its confining pressure, and it flashes into steam. This is an explanation of which geologic feature? Choose one: A. a geyser B. a hot spring C. a mud pot D. an artesian spring
All seas
Have salinity ranging between 1 and 4.1%
The subtropics
Host the world's largest deserts, including the Sahara and Kalahari
Because of typical convection cell movement in the atmosphere
Hot, moist air close to the equator rises, rising air expands and cools, the cooled dry air sinks and warms, cooled sinking air absorbs moisture from the area below
Hydrocarbons are chain-like or ring-like molecules made of carbon and ____________ atoms.
Hydrogen
Which of the following atoms are needed for life?
Hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, sulfur, oxygen
Which of the following is NOT a type of mountain (alpine) glacier?
Ice shelf - An ice shelf originates from a continental glacier that extends into the sea; the other glaciers are located along the mountain crest, in the valleys, in cirques, and along the adjacent plains (pg 518)
C. is responsible for roughly 50% of all caves.
Identify the FALSE statement. Sulfuric acid cave formation Choose one: A. occurs because microbes convert sulfur in the oil into hydrogen sulfide gas, which oxidizes in the limestone to sulfuric acid. B. produces gypsum and CO2 gas as a by-product of the chemical reaction. C. is responsible for roughly 50% of all caves. D. occurs where limestone overlies strata rich in hydrocarbons like oil.
C. can seep up from the water table due to electrostatic attraction of water molecules to mineral surfaces and form a thin layer called the phreatic zone.
Identify the FALSE statement. Water underground Choose one: A. can adhere temporarily to sediment particles and eventually evaporate back into the atmosphere or be absorbed by plant roots (soil moisture). B. can completely fill pores in the saturated zone (groundwater). C. can seep up from the water table due to electrostatic attraction of water molecules to mineral surfaces and form a thin layer called the phreatic zone. D. partially fills pores in the unsaturated zone.
A typical longitudinal profile of a stream...
Illustrates that a streams gradient is steeper near its headwaters than near its mouth
Which of the following statements is true? An artesian well never has to be pumped to draw water to the surface. In diagram 1 of the accompanying figure, if there were severe drought conditions in Kansas but lots of rain in Colorado, the well in Kansas would be naturally recharged and would not run dry. In diagram 1 of the accompanying figure, water from the well could rise to point P, above the potentiometric level. Diagram 3 of the accompanying figure would be showing an artesian situation if layer C were shale because then you'd have the aquitard present to satisfy the definition. All of the possible answers are correct.
In diagram 1 of the accompanying figure, if there were severe drought conditions in Kansas but lots of rain in Colorado, the well in Kansas would be naturally recharged and would not run dry. A nonflowing artesian well has to be pumped; artesian water can never rise higher than its potentiometric level; if C were shale, which is an aquitard, you'd have a dry well; and any producing well must open into an aquifer. See Fig. 19.13. (Section refs: 19.5, p. 658)
Which of the following statements is false? Porosity is a measure of how much water rock can hold; permeability is a measure of how well water can travel through that rock. In order to produce water, a well must be drilled so it stops above the water table, within the zone of aeration. Groundwater accounts for 95% of the liquid freshwater on Earth, but having enough accessible groundwater can be a problem. The water table is defined as the top of the zone of saturation. An aquifer is a porous, permeable layer of rock that holds and conducts water.
In order to produce water, a well must be drilled so it stops above the water table, within the zone of aeration. The well must reach below the water table into the zone of saturation in order to be a producing well. (Section refs: Figure 19.5, p. 657)
Choose the FALSE statement. Sediment deposited in glacial environments
Includes a mix of fine-grained sediment and sand called erratic till - Till is unsorted sediment of all sizes carried on the ice. Erratics are cobbles and boulders carried on the glacier and dropped when the ice melts (pg 527)
D. springs.
Interconnected fractures that open onto a hillside and an impermeable rock layer intersecting a hillside are both likely locations of Choose one: A. potentiometric surfaces. B. artesian wells. C. cones of depression. D. springs.
The hydrologic cycle
Is a biogeochemical cycle, involving both physical and biological phenomena. Carbon, oxygen, sulfur, ammonia, phosphorus, and nitrogen also participate in biogeochemical cycles; it is a true cycle, happening over and over again, whereas a unidirectional change is one that precedes in one direction and never repeats; and the hydrologic cycle can maintain a steady state for long periods but can also change the proportions of distribution and thus produce global change
The Coriolis effect
Is a phenomenon created by the rotation of the Earth Is a deflection of wind or water flowing over Earth's surface Causes opposite directions of deflection in the northern and southern hemispheres Must be taken into account when aiming artillery shells over long distances
Glacial ice
Is bluish in appearance - Ice is less dense, or it wouldn't float; salt doesn't fit in the crystal lattice; and ice's albedo (measure of light reflectivity) is high (pg 516)
Why is carbon dioxide called a greenhouse gas?
It allows solar radiation to reach Earth but absorbs and traps the infrared radiation re-radiated by Earth
Which one of the followings is not the pros of nuclear power plant?
It is very safe.
The Mercalli intensity scale tends to be very subjective and thus is generally only used for historical earthquakes that were near people but were not recorded by seismometers. Why might the Mercalli scale be subjective?
It relies on testimony from people
Which of the following is the most likely scenario for the long-term future of Earth
It will be consumed by the Sun when it c a red giant
f a P-wave is traveling through Earth and encounters a molten magma chamber, what will happen to the velocity of the P-wave?
It will slow down.
Which term has nothing to do with glaciers?
Lag deposits - Lag deposits are desert deposits left behind when wind has blown away finer sediment (pg 524)
Which of the following statements is false? Lahars are mudflows that have been triggered by earthquake shaking. Permafrost is permanently frozen ground in arctic regions or at high elevations. Slow movement of unconsolidated material downslope is called creep. The angle of repose is the steepest angle at which unconsolidated sediments can sit without slipping downhill. Sediments carried by turbidity currents settle out in sequence from coarse to fine, creating graded beds.
Lahars are mudflows that have been triggered by earthquake shaking. Lahars are mudflows associated with volcanic activity. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 545)
The discharge of a stream is...
Likely to decrease downstream in arid regions and increase downstream in temperate regions
Defining characteristics of deserts
Little precipitation, high rates of evaporation, sparse vegetation cover
Which earthquake scale is used to assess the effects of an earthquake on humans and human-made structures?
Mercalli scale
Case Study: Mississippi River of 1993 and Big Thompson River Floods of 1976 How did man affect these situations?
Mississippi: broken levees Big Thompson: no way to predict but did build in a bad area
Case Study: Mississippi River of 1993 and Big Thompson River Floods of 1976 upstream or downstream?
Mississippi: downstream (large area, time-delay, large volume, longlived, sum of many streams and rivers) Big Thompson: upstream (intense rain, small area, floods soon after rain, short lived)
Case Study: Mississippi River of 1993 and Big Thompson River Floods of 1976 Different causes?
Mississippi: large amounts of rainfall in fall of 1992, large amounts of snow winter 1992-1993, storms in the spring and continued into the summer. record floodings were happening in Missouri and southwest Illinois. August 1, levee breaks near Columbia, Illinois. Mississippi River flooded for almost 200 days, while various locations on the Missouri neared 100 days of flooding. Big Thompson: flash flood. huge storm system to stall over the area as it dumped its load. average depth of 18 inches to a 20-foot wall of water that crashed through the length of the canyon. short lived.
Choose the TRUE statement
Narrow, steep-sided, deep inlets of seawater may be fjords - Icebergs form by calving; today, 10% of land is ice-covered, while in the Ice Age 30% was ice-covered; and pluvial lakes were far from glaciers and existed because of wetter climate conditions (pg 526)
Why was Superstorm Sandy so destructive?
Natural storm buffers, such as dunes, had been destroyed by coastal development Sandy struck one of the most densely populated regions in the US Sandy extended across an area the size of Texas The storm and associated surge made landfall during high tide
Choose the FALSE statement. Continental glaciers
Never reach seas or oceans - The Antarctic ice sheet is a huge continental glacier. Portions of it extend far into the salty Southern Ocean, forming floating ice shelves hundreds of miles across (pg 518)
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
Nitrogen isotopes within air bubbles in old ice can be studied to determine past temperatures.
Case Study : North Carolina landslides Hurricanes Ivan and Frances what is the solution? will these types of disasters happen again?
North Carolina Geological Survey are actively involved in debris flow research. attempting to map regions with a heightened risk of slope failures a landslide can definitely happen again.
Choose the FALSE statement (Environments)
Periglacial environments are areas around the edges of glacial environments that have permafrost but no covering of ice (pg 534)
The most noted and recent ice age began 1.8 million years ago during the Pleistocene Epoch. Ice ages occurred during what other geologic periods of time before the Pleistocene Epoch?
Permian, Proterozoic
Most of the hydrocarbons within oil and natural gas are derived from the breakdown of organic matter from dead ____________.
Plankton
Cause of ice ace climate change
Plate tectonics, variations in Earth's orbit, changes in atmospheric CO2, changes in ocean currents
For the diagram shown, which of the statements below is True?
Point A is called a point bar. (Diagram shows point A as area on the inner curve of a meander)
Scientists classify deserts based on where they are located. Which kind of desert is located above 60 N latitude
Polar
Where on Earth do surface currents sink and become deep ocean currents
Poles
Milankovitch
Predicted climate cycles that have since been confirmed and named in his honor, stated that there are cyclical changes in Earth's orbit and axial tilt, stated that there are changes in the amount and distribution of insolation received on Earth. Offered ideas that explain the timing of ice age events but not the severity of temperature change associated with ice ages
Which of the following statements is false? Aquifers transmit water easily, aquitards don't transmit water easily, and aquitards don't transmit water at all. Primary porosity refers to the largest 10% of pore spaces; secondary porosity refers to the remaining 90% of smaller pores. The permeability of a rock depends on the number, size, and straightness of available conduits. Cork is very porous but very impermeable. Water moves upward in the capillary fringe due to electrostatic attraction between its molecules and mineral surfaces.
Primary porosity refers to the largest 10% of pore spaces; secondary porosity refers to the remaining 90% of smaller pores. Primary porosity refers to porosity developed during both sediment deposition and rock formation; secondary porosity refers to new pore spaces formed in existing rock by jointing, faulting, and dissolution. (Section refs: 19.2, p. 648)
A. depends on the permeability of the material it flows through and on the hydraulic gradient.
Rate of groundwater flow Choose one: A. depends on the permeability of the material it flows through and on the hydraulic gradient. B. is comparable to the rate of flow in an average surface stream. C. is determined theoretically; it can't be measured, since it happens underground. D. typically varies between 0.5 and 500 miles per year.
Which seismic wave phase causes the ground to roll like a wave?
Rayleigh wave
Recent studies of ice ages
Reveal more large ice ages, more subdivisions, and greater complexity than originally thought, have resulted in changed nomenclature, for example, Nebraskan and Kansan have been lumped together into pre-Illinoian. Have dated events by analyzing wood trapped in glacial deposits, the oxygen-isotope ratio in marine sediments, and tillite deposits Suggest that the entire Earth was covered by glacial ice in the late Proterozoic, hence the term "snowball Earth"
Identify the FALSE statement
Roughly half of a floating block of ice lies below the surface of the water - A full 80% of an iceberg lies below the surface (pg 522)
Identify the false statement. Weathering, vegetation covering, and water influence the stability of a slope. Roots of vegetation tend to hold unconsolidated grains together and thus help stabilize slopes. Saturating a slope with water tends to hold unconsolidated grains together and thus helps stabilize slopes. Weathered rock is more susceptible to mass movement than is fresh rock. Forest fires followed by heavy rains are likely to result in severe mud and debris flows.
Saturating a slope with water tends to hold unconsolidated grains together and thus helps stabilize slopes. A thin film of water increases cohesion and stability; excess water makes mass movement more likely. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 555)
This image shows the coastline during the last ice age (red line) and where the shoreline would be if today's ice sheets melt. The ice age coastline (~17,000 years ago) resulted from which of the following
Sea level ~ 100 meters lower than today's
Which of the following is NOT an impact of coastal storms on barrier islands?
Seaward migration of barrier islands
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
Shallow seas cannot ever again cover continental interiors because there has been enough sediment deposition to raise the average land surface high enough to prevent this.
According to climate models, which of the following is a likely consequence of continued global climate change
Shifting climate zones Rise in snow line and glacial retreat Global sea level rise More intense storms --All of the possible answers are correct
Which of the following changes is NOT a unidirectional change?
Small continents merged to become a supercontinent.
D. are composed of limestone precipitated out of cave water.
Stalagmites Choose one: A. are icicle-shaped cones that hang from cave ceilings. B. are a type of flowstone. C. begin as delicate, hollow structures called soda straws. D. are composed of limestone precipitated out of cave water.
Which statement is True?
Stream flow is fastest in the center of the channel near the surface
Which statement is TRUE?
Stream flow is fastest in the center of the channel near the surface.
Which statement is true?
Stream flow is fastest in the center of the channel near the surface.
Scientists can determine the direction of movement of continental glaciers by looking at glacial
Striations - Striations, gouged by material on a glacier's bottom, are parallel to its direction of motion (pg 531)
This image shows fossils from the Hoyt limestone, a Cambrian formation in eastern New York. Which of the following is the correct name for this type of fossil?
Stromatolite
Folly Beach: what is the current status of Folly Beach County Park?
Structures were built, as well as parking for 400 cars. now it is eroding so 1993, a beach-wide renourishment project for all of Folly Island was begun.
This image shows the Mississippi river flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, the plumes of brown water that reach far into the Gulf represent which type of sediment transport
Suspended load
Choose the FALSE statement (Tarn)
Tarn is rocky material that has been carried along and deposited by the ice of a glacier - This is a definition of till; a tarn is a lake in a cirque (pg 524)
Which type of moraine can a glacier have only one of?
Terminal - Only the end moraine extending farthest from the glacier's origin is also a terminal moraine; end and recessional moraines mark temporary halts of the glacier's advance; and several laterals (along the sides) and medials (down the middle) may be present (pg 527)
Choose the FALSE statement. Permafrost
That thaws and refreezes produces a pentagonal or hexagonal ground surface pattern called columnar joints - This pattern is simply called patterned ground. Columnar jointing does produce polygonal shaped surface patterns, but this is a volcanic phenomenon caused by cooling lava. (pg 534)
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has ruled that all future research use the one computer climate model they have concluded is the best.
Choose the FALSE statement. During the Pleistocene Ice Age
The New York City area was an outwash plain - The are of New York City was under approximately 250 m (approximately 825 feet) of ice in the Pleistocene Ice Age (pg 516)
Case Study : North Carolina landslides Hurricanes Ivan and Frances what anthropogenic activities played a role?
The Peeks Creek housing community sits along Peeks Creek near the bottom of Fishhawk Mountain, about one-quarter mile above the Cullasaja River. The massive debris flow destroyed about 15 homes in a matter of seconds, killing four people and seriously injuring several more.
If a volcano were to erupt and release large amounts of ash into the air, how would this affect the climate on Earth?
The ash would increase the albedo and decrease the global temperature.
How has Earth's atmosphere changed since it formed?
The atmosphere contains much more nitrogen than the initial atmosphere
Much of the capitol city of Port-au-Prince was destroyed during the 2010 Haiti earthquake despite the fact that similarly sized earthquakes in other cities did very little damage. What caused so much damage during the Haiti earthquake?
The buildings were poorly built
The amounts of Plankton and other microscopic shelled marine organisms affect
The concentration of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide - Plankton and the other organisms remove carbon dioxide from ocean waters, thus keeping it from returning to the atmosphere and making room for more of the gas in the waters (pg 538)
The amounts of plankton and other microscopic shelled marine organisms affect
The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide
Which statement below explains why the "conveyor belt" analogy of a glacier is misleading?
The conveyor belt shown above receives material at only point, whereas the glacier receives additions material along its entire length - The analogy of a conveyor belt as a glacier nicely demonstates lateral transport of solids to an end point, and it is easy to visualize the formation of and end moraine. A shortcoming of this analogy is that it does not show the input of rock and other material into an alpine glacier along its sides (leaving lateral moraines), as well as commonly into an alpine or continental glacier along its bottom
How has Earth's crust changed since it first formed?
The crust is much more silicic than the initial crust
What effect would the intrusion of a magma body have on the depth to the "oil window," and why?
The depth to the oil window should decrease because the magma is bringing heat closer to Earth's surface.
Bathymetry is defined as
The depths and shapes of the bottoms of water bodies. Term used to describe the depths and bottom configuration (shape) of nearly any body of standing water, whether salty or fresh
Which of the following statements about drainage divides is FALSE?
The divide that runs along the crest of the Appalachians separates the Atlantic Ocean drainage from the Arctic Ocean drainage.
Which of the following statements is true of the accompanying figure? Since sandstone is an aquitard, all of the wells shown would be dry. The farmlands in diagrams 1 and 3 are better recharge areas than the city in diagram 2 is because city pavements keep water from infiltrating. Layers A, B, and C are all too slanted to hold moisture; it would flow quickly through the area and leave all the wells dry. The wells in all three diagrams are seasonal. The potentiometric level in diagram 1 is wrong; it should be drawn at a higher elevation.
The farmlands in diagrams 1 and 3 are better recharge areas than the city in diagram 2 is because city pavements keep water from infiltrating. Sandstone is a good aquifer; groundwater doesn't flow fast enough to "escape" the area; there's no data given by which to judge the seasonality of these wells; and water has the potential to rise only to the level at which it entered the system. (Section refs: 19.5, p. 657)
Which of the following statements is true? Mining groundwater simply means pumping it out of wells. The lowering of water tables is a growing problem in the United States desert southwest. In coastal areas saltwater can enter an aquifer, float on the freshwater there, and be drawn up in wells. The United States plans to dispose of petroleum wastes in salt domes at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. All of the possible answers are correct.
The lowering of water tables is a growing problem in the United States desert southwest. "Mining" implies pumping out more groundwater than can be naturally replaced; freshwater is less dense than saltwater, so saltwater invading a coastal aquifer moves in under the freshwater; and nuclear wastes will be disposed of in welded tuff at Yucca Mountain. (Section refs: 19.7, p. 663)
Where does the majority of tidal force come from?
The moon, the Sun is so distant that it accounts for only 46% of the tidal forces on Earth.
The depth of a crevasse is limited by
The pressure at which ice begins to deform plastically - Crevasses are limited to about 60 m (200 ft) in depth, because ice at that depth is under sufficient pressure to recrystallize so that the glacier deforms plastically instead of brittly, allowing it to flow rather than crack (pg 520)
How are pollen species used to interpret ancient environments?
The ratio of oxygen isotopes can be measured in pollen.
A stream and the sediment it carries empties into a human-made reservoir. Pick the most logical follow-up statement.
The reservoir will provide irrigation water, hydroelectric power, and recreation areas.
How do the shelf and slope of an active continental margin differ from those of a passive margin
The shelf is thinner, and the slope is steeper at an active margin
Identify the false statement. (T or F)
The size of a flood and its recurrence interval are inversely related; the larger the flood, the shorter its recurrence interval
Identify the FALSE statement.
The size of a flood and its recurrence interval are inversely related; the larger the flood, the shorter its recurrence interval.
C. bioremediation.
The technique that injects oxygen and nutrients into a contaminated aquifer to foster the growth of bacteria that can break down contaminant molecules is called Choose one: A. reactive barrier injection. B. buffering. C. bioremediation. D. effluent.
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
The two major factors determining Earth's temperature are the Earth-Sun distance and the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere.
Why is the term "Earth System" used to describe the processes operating on Earth
There are many related physical processes on Earth
You are studying the seismic data from Mars when you notice that there are no S-waves recorded from 130° through 180° on the opposite side of the planet. What does this information tell you about the interior of Mars?
There is a layer of liquid material in the interior of Mars
Studies of assemblages of microscopic marine plankton and their oxygen isotope ratios suggest that
There were many more episodes of Pleistocene glacial advances and retreats than previously thought - Studies of plankton and isotope ratios have allowed scientists to subdivide the major Pleistocene glaciations they first recognized. The Pleistocene Ice Age began 2.5 to 3.0 Ma during the Pleiocene; there have been four or five major ice ages in Earth's history; and the maximum decrease of average temperatures was 13 degrees C (pg 537)
Studies of assemblage of microscopic marine plankton and their oxygen isotope ratios suggest that
There were many more episodes of Pleistoecene glacial advances and retreats than previously thought
Cold, salty water sinks; warm, less salty water rises. This phenomenon is called
Thermohaline circulation
A drainage network is an interconnected group of streams that collects water over a large area and drains it away toward the sea. (T or F)
True
A stair-step-shaped canyon develops where a stream downcuts through alternating layers of hard and soft rock. (T or F)
True
Building gauging stations and studying an area to identify possible problems is a logical first step in flood control. (T or F)
True
Fast moving turbulent sandy water has a greater competence than does quiet clear water. (T or F)
True
The Vaiont Dam area was vulnerable to slide because limestone beds there dipped parallel to the mountain slope and were interlayered with weak shale.
True
The jet stream was a key contributing factor to Mississippi River flooding in 1993 because it trapped warm, most Gulf of Mexico air the central US
True
Talus slopes typically have higher angles of repose than hills of dry sand because the irregular rocks of talus interlock and hold each other in place.
True Angular pieces of talus are more stable than rounded pieces of sediment or rock. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 553)
Darcy's law has nothing to do with saturation levels; it's a formula commonly used by hydrologists to determine the quantity of water passing through an area. (Section refs: 19.4, p. 656)
True Both concepts are used in discussing rate of flow and amount of discharge of groundwater. (Section refs: 19.4, p. 655)
In the diagram pictured, if angle A is increased, the normal force (Wv) becomes relatively smaller in relation to the driving force, represented by line D, and the block is more likely to slide.
True If you sketch a larger angle A on the diagram, thus increasing the length of line D, it is apparent line W, representing a force that helps keep the block in place, has become smaller in relation to the force causing the block to move downhill, represented by line D. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 553 )
In the diagram pictured, if angle A is increased, the downslope force (D) gets larger.
True If you sketch a larger angle A on the diagram, you must increase the length of line D to complete the triangle. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 553)
In the diagram pictured, if angle A is increased, the slope of the hill becomes steeper.
True Increasing the size of angle A on the diagram produces a steeper hillside. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 553)
Unfractured granite has low porosity and is impermeable; jointed granite can be permeable if the joints interconnect.
True Jointed granite can be permeable if its joints interconnect; unfractured granite is neither porous nor permeable. See Fig. 19.2. (Section refs: 19.2, p. 648)
Landslides happen when the angle of repose is somehow exceeded and the slope readjusts itself.
True Material moves downhill when its angle of repose is exceeded, and it doesn't stop until a new equilibrium is reached. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 553)
Bioremediation is a technique that injects oxygen and nutrients into a contaminated aquifer in order to foster the growth of bacteria that can break down contaminant molecules.
True Some bacteria can break down contaminant molecules in an aquifer; encouraging their growth by injecting oxygen and nutrients is termed bioremediation. (Section refs: 19.7, p. 669)
The angle of repose of dry sand is typically between 30 and 37°.
True The angle at which unconsolidated material can sit without sliding is its angle of repose; for dry sand this is between 30 and 37°. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 553)
Igneous and metamorphic rocks generally have low porosity because their crystals grow and interlock, leaving minimal space.
True The crystalline structure of igneous and metamorphic rocks limits their porosities. See Fig. 19.2. (Section refs: 19.2, p. 648)
Potential failure surfaces are weak layers of rock or sediment below ground level that parallel the slope surface.
True Weak layers of rock or sediment under the ground surface and parallel to it are typically where movement occurs. The weak layers could be wet clay, wet sand, exfoliation joints, bedding planes, or metamorphic foliation planes. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 554)
Because sand grains are larger than mud grains, primary porosity is greater in unconsolidated sand than it is in uncompacted mud.
True Well-sorted sandstone has a porosity of 30% and poorly sorted sandstone has 15% porosity. Both are more porous than shale, which consists of packed-together clay flakes resulting in very low porosity (5%). See Fig. 19.2. (Section refs: 19.2, p.648)
Radiometric dating of glacial deposits and fossils has made the traditions chronology of four glaciations in the United States (Wisconsinan, Illinoian, Kansan, and Nebraskan) obsolete
True - Geologists now believe there were 20 to 30 different glacial advances during the Pleistocene Epoch, and the traditional four were probably the largest (pg 539)
Glaciers are analogous to metamorphic rocks because both involve the recrystallization of preexisting material in the solid state
True - Glaciers and metamorphic rocks are analogous in that both result from the solid-state recrystallization of preexisting material (pg 516)
Fast-moving portions of glaciers are called ice streams; episodes of fast movement of entire glaciers are called surges
True - Ice streams and glacial surges are correctly defined in the question (pg 520)
Kettle holes form when blocks of ice calve off the toe of a glacier, become buried in till, and then melt
True - Kettle holes do form in the manner described (pg 529)
Ice melts under pressure, refreezes when pressure subsides, and thus can pluck rock fragments from the land it passes over
True - Rocks are incorporated into glacial ice when ice melts and then refreezes around rocks. Bedrock plucking forms roches moutonnées by this process (pg 531)
Saltwater is denser than fresh water, so objects (including you) float higher in it
True--dissolved ions fit between water molecules without changing the volume, making salt water denser than fresh water. Any object floats higher in a denser fluid.
Radiometric dating of glacial deposits and fossils has made the traditional chronology of four glaciations in the United States (Wisconsinan, Illinoian, Kansan, and Nebraskan) obsolete
True--geologists now believe there were 20 to 30 different glacial advances during the Pleistocene Epoch, and the traditional four were probably the largest
Ice melts under pressure, refreezes subsides, and thus can pluck rock fragments from the land it passes over
True--rocks re incorporated into glacial ice when ice melts and then refreezes around rocks. Bedrock plucking forms roches moutonnees by this process
The continental slope descends at a steeper angle than either the continental shelf or the continental rise, but even so, its slope is only a few degrees
True--the continental slope is steeper than the continental shelf and the continental rise, but its slope is still just a few degrees
One effect of global warming may be a halt to the global thermohaline circulation of ocean currents
True--the global thermohaline circulation includes the Gulf Stream, which carries warm water from the subtropical North Atlantic northward to Europe, Iceland, Greenland, and eastern Canada. A sudden melting of the Greenland ice sheet would disrupt the flow by placing shallow layer of freshwater in the North Atlantic, thus obstructing the Gulf Stream-and causing temperatures to fall over the region, including the lands listed above
Studies of air bubbles and oxygen-isotope ratios in glacial ice, fossil pollen, tree rings, and stratigraphic record are all useful in determining paleoclimates
True--the study of ancient glacial ice and its contents, fossil pollen, and tree rings are among the best tools scientist have to determine paleoclimates
A combination of surface currents and vertical thermohaline circulation acts as a conveyor belt and moves water and heat among ocean basins and from ocean surface to ocean floor
True--water and heat move horizontally and vertically through the ocean because of surface currents and thermohaline circulation
Valleys carved by glaciers tend to be shaped like the letter ________, whereas valleys carved by water tend to be shaped like the letter ________.
U; V
What causes the seasons
Unequal heating of the Earth's surface due to the tilt of Earth's axis
Where did the following mass-wasting event take place? Part of a mountain slid into a reservoir and caused a splash that drowned residents downstream. Armero, Colombia (1985) Gros Ventre slide, Wyoming (1925) Vaiont Dam (1963) Yosemite National Park (1996) Yungay, Peru (1970)
Vaiont Dam (1963) The other events were triggered by different processes in other geologic settings. Read more in Rock and Debris Slides, Section 16.2. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 546)
Identify the FALSE statement (fjord)
Valley glaciers whose terminuses extend into the sea are called fjord glaciers (A fjord is a steep, narrow, deep valley formed when sea level has risen compared to the land surface, after a glacier has excavated a valley to give it a U-shaped bottom. This is a postglacial landscape, not a glacier. (pg 523)
According to Milankovitch, which of the following is a contributing factor to ice-age cycles?
Variations in the shape of Earth's orbit - All of Milankovitch's ideas involved aspects of Earth's movement around the sun (pg 538)
Earthquakes that occur in a band called the ________ can be used to track the motion of subducted oceanic lithosphere.
Wadati-Benioff zone
Identify the FALSE statement. New York City
Was covered by the Cordilleran ice sheet of the Pleistocene - New York City was covered by the Laurentide ice sheet of the Pleistocene (pg 534)
Which of the following statements about the hydrologic cycle is FALSE?
Water that manages to infiltrate the land is lost to the cycle.
________ is a change in atmospheric conditions over minutes to days, whereas ________ is the average of conditions over years to decades.
Weather; climate
A. geysers
What is a spelunker NOT likely to encounter? Choose one: A. geysers B. speleothems C. limestone columns D. flowstones
Choose the FALSE statement (Ablation)
When the rate of ablation equals the rate of accumulation, the glacier retreats - When the rates are equal, the toe remains fixed. When the rate of ablation exceeds the rate of accumulation, the glacier retreats. (pg 520)
A. Over the span of 10 to 1,000 years, groundwater behaves as a renewable resource.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Choose one: A. Over the span of 10 to 1,000 years, groundwater behaves as a renewable resource. B. Withdrawal of groundwater faster than natural recharge occurs has caused extreme land subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley, California. C. Overuse of groundwater in the Everglades of Florida has caused parts of the swamp to dry up. D. A sinkhole developed at Winter Park, Florida, due to dissolution of limestone bedrock.
C. A perched water table is one that sits high on a hill rather than low in a valley.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Choose one: A. The slope of the water table is called the hydraulic gradient. B. The water table of an area goes down as more wells are established there. C. A perched water table is one that sits high on a hill rather than low in a valley. D. The chief source of groundwater is precipitation.
A. To produce water, a well must be drilled so it stops above the water table, within the zone of aeration.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Choose one: A. To produce water, a well must be drilled so it stops above the water table, within the zone of aeration. B. Groundwater accounts for 95% of the liquid freshwater on Earth, but having enough accessible groundwater can be a problem. C. Porosity is a measure of how much water rock can hold; permeability is a measure of how well water can travel through that rock. D. The water table is defined as the top of the zone of saturation.
D. Primary porosity refers to the largest 10% of pore spaces; secondary porosity refers to the remaining 90% of smaller pores.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Choose one: A. Water moves upward in the capillary fringe due to electrostatic attraction between its molecules and mineral surfaces. B. The permeability of a rock depends on the number, size, and straightness of available conduits. C. Aquifers transmit water easily, aquitards don't transmit water easily, and aquicludes don't transmit water at all. D. Primary porosity refers to the largest 10% of pore spaces; secondary porosity refers to the remaining 90% of smaller pores.
D. is a method to determine the degree of saturation of water at any specified depth.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Darcy's law Choose one: A. is an equation used by hydrologists. B. was developed experimentally to characterize groundwater flow velocity. C. states that discharge equals the hydraulic conductivity coefficient times the hydraulic gradient times the area involved. D. is a method to determine the degree of saturation of water at any specified depth.
D. sometimes parallel to the slope of the water table and sometimes straight down, but never upward.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? In an area of rolling hills, groundwater moves Choose one: A. along a curved path. B. from where the water table is at high elevation to where the water table is at low elevation. C. from regions under hills to regions under valleys. D. sometimes parallel to the slope of the water table and sometimes straight down, but never upward.
C. when rocks develop joints or fractures.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Porosity decreases Choose one: A. with increasing crystallization of sediments into sedimentary rock. B. when grains don't fit together during deposition. C. when rocks develop joints or fractures. D. with the cementing of sediments by minerals from groundwater.
B. lies within a few meters of the surface in arid areas.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? The water table Choose one: A. becomes a downward-pointing cone-shaped surface around the bottom of a well. B. lies within a few meters of the surface in arid areas. C. may be defined by the surface of a permanent stream, lake, or marsh. D. mimics the topography of the land it underlies.
A. and thus forms carboxylic acid.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Water combines with carbon dioxide Choose one: A. and thus forms carboxylic acid. B. as it filters through organic-rich soil on its way down to the water table. C. as a natural process, which produces a corrosive component to groundwater. D. creating slightly acidic groundwater that dissolves limestone and forms caves.
A. The lowering of water tables is a growing problem in California.
Which of the following statements is TRUE? Choose one: A. The lowering of water tables is a growing problem in California. B. Pumping on a well can produce a local slope to the water table, but cannot affect the direction of groundwater flow. C. Mining groundwater simply means pumping it out of wells. D. In coastal areas saltwater can enter an aquifer, float on the freshwater there, and be drawn up in wells.
A. an artesian well.
Which of the following statements is TRUE? A well in which the water rises on its own to a level above its aquifer is called Choose one: A. an artesian well. B. an oasis. C. a cone of depression. D. an ordinary well.
Which of the following statements is true? A sinkhole developed at Winter Park, Colorado, and damaged a large section of a ski lift. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy, is a classic example of a sinkhole collapse. Withdrawal of groundwater faster than natural recharge occurs has caused extreme land subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Pore collapse causes temporary, reversible loss of porosity and permeability in aquifers. Venice, Italy, has canals rather than streets because its impermeable ground surface causes almost constant flooding.
Withdrawal of groundwater faster than natural recharge occurs has caused extreme land subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley, California. The classic sinkhole case was in Winter Park, Florida, where a sinkhole swallowed part of a neighborhood; the Leaning Tower and Venice have problems because of ground subsidence; and pore collapse is a permanent nonreversible phenomenon. (Section refs: 19.1; 19.7, p. 663)
Where did the following mass-wasting event take place? A layer of rock broke loose along an exfoliation joint and caused damage in a famous recreation area. Armero, Colombia (1985) Gros Ventre slide, Wyoming (1925) Vaiont Dam (1963) Yosemite National Park (1996) Yungay, Peru (1970)
Yosemite National Park (1996) The other events were triggered by different processes in other geologic settings. Read more in Rock Falls and Debris Falls in Section 16.2. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 550)
Where did the following mass-wasting event take place? An earthquake triggered an icefall, which triggered a debris flow that buried thousands of people. Armero, Colombia (1985) Gros Ventre slide, Wyoming (1925) Vaiont Dam (1963) Yosemite National Park (1996) Yungay, Peru (1970)
Yungay, Peru (1970) The other events were triggered by different processes in other geologic settings. (Section refs: 16.1, p. 541)
. An artesian well is one that __.; a. induces an upward flow of groundwater without any pumping; b. has its intake sited within the saturated zone of an unconfined aquifer; c. has its intake sited within the unsaturated zone of an unconfined aquifer; d. has its recharge area at an elevation below sea level; ;
a
23. Hard water results from relatively high concentrations of dissolved __.; a. calcium and magnesium; b. francium and cesium; c. sodium; d. potassium; ;
a
A dry well will result whenever the base of the well is above the water table.; a. true; b. false; ;
a
A layer of rock or sediment with exceptionally low permeability is termed a(n) __ in hydrogeologic contexts.; a. aquitard; b. confined aquifer; c. unconfined aquifer; d. unsaturated zone; ;
a
An ordinary (water-producing) well will result whenever the base of the well extends below the water table.; a. true; b. false; ;
a
Extensive pumping of fresh groundwater from a coastal aquifer can induce __.; a. saline intrusion; with time the well will start to deliver saline water; b. saline expulsion; with time the freshwater/saline water interface within the aquifer will be pushed downward and seaward; ;
a
Perched water tables occur __.; a. above the regional water table, within permeable rock or sediment; b. above the regional water table, within impermeable rock or sediment; c. below the regional water table, within impermeable rock or sediment; d. below the regional water table, within permeable rock or sediment; ;
a
The majority of large cave and karst systems have resulted from __ etching into __.; a. carbonic acid; limestone; b. ascorbic acid; dolostone; c. phosphoric acid; shale; d. sea water; rock salt; ;
a
Unconsolidated sediment typically has greater porosity than the lithified rock that forms from it.; a. true; b. false; ;
a
Water flowing from hot springs __.; a. contains more dissolved minerals than water flowing from cool springs; b. contains fewer dissolved minerals than water flowing from cool springs; c. is never hotter than 40°C, so it is always safe to bathe in; d. only occurs in regions of active volcanism; ;
a
Well-sorted sediments typically have __ porosity compared to poorly sorted sediments.; a. greater; b. less; c. approximately the same; ;
a
Groundwater in underground, constricted fractures is heated past its normal boiling temperature by surrounding hot rocks. The superhot liquid expands in volume; this reduces its confining pressure, and it flashes into steam. This is an explanation of which geologic feature? a hot spring an artesian spring a mud pot a geyser karst
a geyser An artesian spring is not a geothermal feature; hot springs and mud pots don't have crooked subsurface passageways; and karst is a type of topography in humid limestone areas. (Section refs: 19.6, p. 661)
Slump Landslides
a little faster that creep but still slow a block falls and create a toe (kinda looks like stairs)
Which of the following would lead to an increase in the temperature of Earth?
a reduction in the square footage of glaciers on Earth
A tsunami is ________.
a sea wave generated by a displacement of water
Which of the following statements is FALSE? If significant global warming happens, the consequence would be
a shift in climate belts, with temperate climates moving to lower latitudes
The flood of the Big Thompson River in Boulder County, Colorado, in 1976 was caused by
a year's worth of rainfall falling over the course of a few days.
A remnant ridge separating two bowl-shaped depressions formed by a mountain glacier is termed a (an) ____________. a. arête b. cirque c. horn d. tarn
a. arête
Glacial ice exhibits ____________ behavior near the top, but ____________ behavior beneath a depth of 60 m. a. brittle; ductile b. ductile; brittle c. solid; liquid d. plastic; elastic
a. brittle; ductile
An intermediate product in the transformation of snow to glacial ice is ____________. Select one: a. firn b. sublimation c. ablation d. terminus
a. firn
Cirques and horns are features associated with ____________. a. mountain glaciation b. continental glaciation c. glacial outwash deposits d. loess deposits
a. mountain glaciation
A hanging valley is formed when a ____________. a. smaller glacially carved valley intersects a larger glacially carved valley b. smaller stream-cut valley intersects a larger stream-cut valley c. smaller stream-cut valley intersects a larger glacially carved valley d. stream-cut valley is on the upthrust side of a normal fault
a. smaller glacially carved valley intersects a larger glacially carved valley
Although glaciers advanced no farther south than the midwestern states during the Pleistocene, periglacial loess was blown deep into the southeastern states. Select one: a. true b. false
a. true
A glacier will always advance from its source area if the rate of accumulation is greater than the rate of ________.
ablation
Currently, almost all the glaciers on Earth are in a state of retreat, which means that the rate of ________ is less than the rate of ________.
accumulation; ablation
Which of the following statements is false? Classification of mass movement events is based on the: type of material involved (rock, regolith, snow, and ice). age of the material involved (historic, thousands of years old, or millions of years old). velocity of the movement (fast, intermediate, or slow). character of the moving mass (chaotic cloud, slurry, or coherent body). environment (subaerial or submarine).
age of the material involved (historic, thousands of years old, or millions of years old). The age of the material has nothing to do with the classification of mass movement. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 542)
Which of these is the longest-lasting sink for carbon dioxide?
air bubbles within glacial ice
Glacial ice forms when snow accumulates in large enough volumes to compact and force ________ out and ________ the ice crystal size.
air; increase
Which of the following would increase the risk of having a landslide? allowing water to infiltrate the slope removing weight at the top of the slope adding support to the toe of the slope recontouring the slope to reduce its slope angle planting vegetation that has deep roots
allowing water to infiltrate the slope All the other choices would help prevent a landslide. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 555)
Streams come down out of steep areas onto much flatter land, lose velocity, and drop material in triangular-shaped structures called
alluvial fans
Which of the following statements is false? A well in which the water rises on its own to a level above its aquifer: consists of a confined aquifer beneath a sloping aquitard. is called an artesian well. always pushes water higher than the ground surface. must be drilled so it ends in the aquifer, not the aquitard. is analogous to a city water supply in which water flows from a high storage tank.
always pushes water higher than the ground surface. If water rises higher than the ground surface, it's a flowing artesian well; when the level it reaches is below ground surface, it's a nonflowing artesian well. See Fig. 19.13. (Section refs: 19.5, p. 657)
The larger the ________ of the wave, the more severe the damage will be.
amplitude
Sediments deposited directly by glaciers as they melt are characterized by ________.
an absence of sorting
A channel is
an elongate depression or trough of running water.
Which one of the following coal types has the lowest amount of reserve today in North America?
anthracite
Which one of the followings contains the largest content of carbon ?
anthracite
Which one of the followings forms at the highest temperature?
anthracite
Which of the following statements is FALSE? The channeled scablands:
are an area of unusual topography in Alaska.
Stalagmites: are a type of flowstone. are composed of limestone precipitated out of cave water. begin as delicate, hollow structures called soda straws. are icicle-shaped cones that hang from cave ceilings. All of the possible answers are correct.
are composed of limestone precipitated out of cave water. Stalagmites are dripstone, not flowstone, which precipitate as sheets of material across broad surfaces. Soda straws develop into stalactites, which hang from cave ceilings. (Section refs: 19.8, p. 671)
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Anthropogenic (human-induced) changes in the Earth system
are decreasing as technology leads to more environmentally friendly practices
Hurricanes
are huge storms that develop over warm equatorial ocean water, can have winds exceeding 155 mph, can temporarily raise sea-level by more than 10 feet as they pass over a region, have high air pressure, little wind, and clear weather in their centers
Which of the following statements is false? Dissolved ions in groundwater: can create hard water, rich in calcium and magnesium. can precipitate out as carbonate minerals and clog plumbing pipes. include iron, which leaves a rusty stain on materials it touches. are more abundant in young groundwater than in old groundwater, which has precipitated out most of its ions over time. can make water too salty to be used for irrigating crops.
are more abundant in young groundwater than in old groundwater, which has precipitated out most of its ions over time. Old groundwater contains more ions because it's had more time to dissolve them from bedrock. (Section refs: 19.7, p. 667)
Sea-level changes
are reflected by blankets of sediment called sedimentary sequences. have been recorded on the sedimentary cycle chart. are termed eustatic if they are worldwide changes. have been as great as 300 m during the Phanerozoic eon
All deserts are
arid--there are many kinds of deserts, but all have dry air and generally little precipitation
. In groundwater, __.; a. dissolved ions are rarely, if ever, found; b. calcite (in limestone) is more soluble than quartz (in sandstone); c. minerals may be dissolved but will never precipitate out of solution; d. precipitation may take place but only if the mineral in question is undersaturated; ;
b
. In unfractured rock and sediment, water molecules usually take a __.; a. straight path; b. wandering path; c. circular path; ;
b
. Land subsidence is likely whenever __.; a. groundwater is used nonrenewably from aquifers composed of rock; b. groundwater is used nonrenewably from aquifers composed of sediment; c. groundwater is used renewably from aquifers composed of rock; d. groundwater is used renewably from aquifers composed of sediment; ;
b
A periodic explosive eruption of steam and water from within the ground up through; the surface is termed a __.; a. flowing artesian well; b. geyser; c. spring; d. recharge area; ;
b
Bioremediation of contaminated groundwater involves __.; a. introducing laboratory-cultured viruses that can dissolve the plume; b. pumping oxygen and nutrients into a contaminant plume to help local bacteria metabolize the plume; c. pumping out the contaminated groundwater and using it to irrigate genetically modified crops; ;
b
Freshwater lakes are always discharge areas.; a. true; b. false; ;
b
If groundwater is clear, it can be assumed that it is drinkable.; a. true; b. false; ;
b
Most dissolution of bedrock to form caves takes place __.; a. above the water table; b. just below the water table; c. greater than 10 m below the water table; ;
b
Pumping vast quantities of water locally __.; a. raises the local water table; b. lowers the local water table, forming a cone-shaped depression; c. lowers the local water table, forming a cylindrical depression; d. does not affect the water table; ;
b
Rock or sediment with water-filled pores, wherein upward percolation is blocked by an overlying, impermeable layer, is termed a(n) __.; a. aquitard; b. confined aquifer; c. unconfined aquifer; d. unsaturated zone; ;
b
Topography dominated by depressions formed by the collapse of caves is termed __.; a. valley and ridge; b. karst; c. horst and graben; ;
b
Unless it has recently rained, there is no water within pores in the unsaturated zone.; a. true; b. false; ;
b
Question text The current interglacial interval began a little more than ____________ years ago. a. 1,000 b. 10,000 c. 100,000 d. 1 million
b. 10,000
Today, continental glaciers are limited to Antarctica and ____________. a. Alaska b. Greenland c. Canada d. Siberia
b. Greenland
The effect of periodic changes in Earth's orbital eccentricity and magnitude and direction (precession) of Earth's axial tilt on the advance and retreat of ice sheets was first proposed by ____________. a. Richter b. Milankovitch c. Mohorivic d. Lyell
b. Milankovitch
A bowl-shaped depression formed by a mountain glacier is termed a (an) ____________. a. arête b. cirque c. horn d. tarn
b. cirque
Because glacial advance is driven by gravity, it is impossible for glaciers to advance over perfectly flat terrain. a. true b. false
b. false
Walking across an Antarctic ice sheet during winter would not be very treacherous, because ice is not slippery at temperatures well below freezing. a. true b. false
b. false
Wind blows finer particles long distances from glacial environments, where they settle out to form ____________. a. firn b. loess c. outwash d. til
b. loess
The feature shown slopes gently along the base of a mountain, extending for a long distance in either direction. This fits the location and shape for a
bajada
Most coal forms in ____________, which develop and preserve the thick sedimentary sequences necessary for deep burial.
basins
The following energy source is renewable and does not produce carbon dioxide EXCEPT _____________.
biofuels
Glacial ice exhibits ________ behavior near the top but ________ behavior beneath a depth of 60 m.
brittle; plastic
what are the different types of shorelines and coast?
broad sandy beaches Rocky coasts barrier islands coastal wetlands and estuaries coral reefs
A body of permeable rock or sediment that possesses a water table is termed a(n) __.; a. aquitard; b. confined aquifer; c. unconfined aquifer; d. unsaturated zone; ;
c
Any place where groundwater naturally flows outward at the surface of Earth is termed a __.; a. flowing artesian well; b. geyser; c. spring; d. recharge area; ;
c
As a rule, groundwater always flows from areas __.; a. of greater elevation to those of lesser elevation; b. of greater permeability to those of lesser permeability; c. of greater hydraulic head to those of lesser hydraulic head; d. near streams to areas beneath mountain ranges; ;
c
Dissolution of grains in the burial environment produces __.; a. primary porosity; b. primary permeability; c. secondary porosity; d. a reduction in primary porosity; ;
c
If a material is porous, it __.; a. will be permeable as well; b. will be impermeable; c. may be permeable or impermeable; ;
c
In a humid climate, the topography of the water table __.; a. is unaffected by local surface topography; b. precisely mimics the topography of the ground surface; c. is a subdued (less steeply sloping) mimic of surface topography; d. is an exaggerated (more steeply sloping) mimic of surface topography; ;
c
Material through which water readily flows is termed __.; a. fluent; b. porous; c. permeable; ;
c
Primary porosity may be reduced by the __.; a. compaction of grains; b. cementation of grains; c. Both A and B are correct.; d. None of the above is correct.;
c
Sinkholes are a concern primarily for residents whose dwellings are constructed atop __.; a. sandstone; b. shale; c. limestone; d. granite;
c
The elevation of the water table __.; a. is a constant for a given area so long as the topography remains the same; b. may rise during times of drought and sink during rainy periods; c. may rise during rainy periods and sink during droughts; ;
c
The majority of Earth's liquid freshwater exists in __.; a. lakes; b. rivers and streams; c. pores within rock and sediment; d. atmospheric clouds; ;
c
The relationship governing the rate of groundwater flow was discovered by __.; a. Alfred Wegener; b. Isaac Newton; c. Henry Darcy; d. Charles Richter; ;
c
Which statement about recharge areas is INCORRECT?; a. They typically are elevated with respect to neighboring areas.; b. They are regions of relatively high precipitation.; c. They are the same as discharge areas.; d. They are areas where water infiltrates the sediment from above.; ;
c
At the present, glaciers cover about ____________ of the surface of the continents. a. 1% b. 5% c. 10% d. 20%
c. 10%
Valleys carved by glaciers tend to be shaped like the letter ____________, whereas valleys carved by water tend to shaped like the letter ____________. a. V; U b. V; C c. U; V d. V; I
c. U; V
A glacier will always advance from its source area if the rate of accumulation is greater than the rate of ____________. a. subsidence b. melting c. ablation d. abrution
c. ablation
Sediments deposited directly by glaciers as they melt are characterized by ____________. a. uniformly coarse grain size b. uniformly fine grain size c. an absence of sorting d. graded bedding
c. an absence of sorting
An important long-term factor determining whether glacial ice will form on the continents has likely been the proportion of which gas in the atmosphere? a. oxygen b. nitrogen c. carbon dioxide d. carbon monoxide
c. carbon dioxide
By increasing the albedo of Earth, global ice sheets produce conditions that are ____________ to their further advance, thus providing an example of ____________ feedback. a. detrimental; positive b. detrimental; negative c. favorable; positive d. favorable; negative
c. favorable; positive
When sea level rises, causing the ocean to fill a glacially carved valley, a ____________ results. a. smorgasbord b. tarn c. fjord d. ford
c. fjord
Stratified sorted sand and gravel are deposited by ____________. a. mountain glaciers b. continental glaciers c. glacial outwash streams d. wind
c. glacial outwash streams
An angular peak surrounded by three or more bowl-shaped depressions formed by a mountain glacier is termed a (an) ____________. a. arête b. cirque c. horn d. tarn
c. horn
Given the modern continental configuration, it is much easier for large continental ice sheets to become established in the ____________ Hemisphere than in the ____________ Hemisphere. a. eastern; western b. western; eastern c. northern; southern d. southern; northern
c. northern; southern
Ice is a substance with a high albedo, which means it ____________. a. requires much heat to raise its temperature by 1°C b. absorbs most of the light that falls on it c. reflects most of the light that falls on it d. strongly refracts the light that falls on it
c. reflects most of the light that falls on it
Identify the false statement. Water underground: is subdivided into three categories: soil moisture, vadose-zone water, and groundwater. can adhere temporarily to sediment particles and eventually evaporate back into the atmosphere or be absorbed by plant roots (soil moisture). partially fills pores in the unsaturated zone (vadose-zone water). can completely fill pores in the saturated zone (groundwater). can seep up from the water table due to electrostatic attraction of water molecules to mineral surfaces and form a thin layer called the phreatic zone.
can seep up from the water table due to electrostatic attraction of water molecules to mineral surfaces and form a thin layer called the phreatic zone. The thin layer described is called the capillary fringe. Phreatic zone is just another term for saturated zone. (Section refs: 19.3, p. 652)
Which of the following statements is false? Mass movement: simply explained means gravity exists so things move downward. was the basic cause of the tragedies of Yungay, Peru, and Armero, Colombia. is more likely to happen under wet conditions than under dry conditions. happens when the slope of a hill gets steeper than the angle of repose. can't happen underwater because the buoyancy force of water is too great.
can't happen underwater because the buoyancy force of water is too great. There's abundant evidence of submarine mass movements, including submarine slumps, debris flows, and turbidity currents. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 550)
The total load that a stream can carry is called its
capacity.
The ________ cycle helps us understand how the concentration of greenhouse gases changes in the atmosphere.
carbon
Which of the following elements is released into the atmosphere by all of these processes: volcanic outgassing, animal respiration and flatulence, burning of fossil fuels, and metamorphism of limestone
carbon
An important long-term factor that determines whether glacial ice will form on a continent has likely been the proportion of which gas in the atmosphere?
carbon dioxide
Identify the FALSE statement. Stream piracy
causes the pirate stream to decrease its discharge and eventually dry up, while the captured stream continues flowing.
how can we mitigate (reduce severity) of the floods?
channel restoration: allow for natural channel with wetland areas to store runoff during floods flood hazard mapping.
Consider phrases 1-8, below: 1. careful inventory and mapping to determine dangers 2. weathering of minerals to produce clay 3. controlled blasting of unstable slopes 4. water drainage 5. retaining walls along highway embankments 6. spraying shotcrete on road cuts 7. removing support at the toe of the slope 8. adding weight at the top of the slope Which of these are factors that lead to slide? choices 2, 4, 7, and 8 choices 2, 7, and 8 choices 7 and 8 only
choices 2, 7, and 8 Choices 2, 7, and 8 are all factors that lead to slide. The remaining choices are ways to reduce losses. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 555; 16.5, p. 561)
Identify the false statement. Many diverse types of aquifers exist including: permeable gravels of Pleistocene (Ice Age) river valleys. sandy floodplain and delta deposits along the edge of the Cretaceous seaway. ancient alluvial fan deposits on the high plains of the Midwest. clay and shale sediment filling half-grabens of the Basin and Range Province of the western U.S. fractured limestone formed by ancient reefs in the Florida area.
clay and shale sediment filling half-grabens of the Basin and Range Province of the western U.S. The sediments that fill these half-grabens are coarse-grained material, not clay or shale, which are not porous or permeable enough to serve as aquifers. (Section refs: 19.2, p. 651)
Which of the following lists contains only fossil fuels?
coal, oil, natural gas
what is the role of plate tectonics and coastlines?
coastlines on convergent boundaries have rocky coastline (California) and coastlines far from divergent boundaries have broad sandy beaches (Charleston) passive margin=broad low-lying coastal plains common active margin= uplifted, rocky coasts dominate
Identify the false statement. Hot springs: may occur where faults allow very deep, hot groundwater to flow to the surface. may occur in geothermal regions where current (or recent) volcanism occurs. contain water that is at least boiling temperature (100°C or 212°F). can dissolve more mineral matter than can cold water springs. waters may cool and precipitate out mounds and terraces of travertine (limestone) or siliceous minerals.
contain water that is at least boiling temperature (100°C or 212°F). The water in hot springs ranges from about 30°C (86°F) to 104°C (221°F). (Section refs: 19.6, p. 661)
During the last ice age, a ________ glacier covered much of the northern United States.
continental
Moderate- and deep-focus earthquakes occur along only ________.
convergent-plate boundaries
what effect do large volcanic eruptions typically have on the atmosphere
cooling for one to two years
what causes barrier islands?
created and destroyed by hurricanes. move material by longshore currents. easily washed over because easy relief. affected tremendously on sea level.
What process most logically explains the different tilts of gravestones in a hillside cemetery? slump ghosts mudflow creep liquefaction
creep Creep is slow movement of the ground surface downhill. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 542)
Groundwater __.; a. does not affect the porosity of the rock and sediment through which it flows; b. uniformly increases porosity due to dissolution of grains; c. uniformly decreases porosity due to deposition of minerals into pores; d. may increase or decrease porosity through dissolution or deposition; ;
d
If a material is highly permeable, it __.; a. must be porous; b. cannot be porous; c. must be fractured; d. must either have substantial porosity or be fractured; ;
d
Permeable rock or sediment between the water table and the land surface represents a(n) __.; a. aquitard; b. confined aquifer; c. unconfined aquifer; d. unsaturated zone; ;
d
The rate of groundwater flow through a body of rock or sediment depends __.; a. only on the slope of the water table locally; b. only on the porosity of the rock or sediment; c. on the slope of the water table and the porosity of the rock or sediment; d. on the slope of the water table and the permeability of the rock or sediment;
d
Mars has polar ice caps that differ from the Earth's Antarctic ice cap in that ____________. a. the Martian caps consist of a combination of water ice and frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice) b. the Martian caps have a spiral fracture pattern not found in Antarctica c. Martian caps are ablated by sublimation only; there is currently no liquid water on Mars d. All of the above are correct
d. All of the above are correct
The first scientist to theorize the past presence of glaciers in Europe was ____________. a. Isaac Newton b. Charles Darwin c. Walter Alvarez d. Louis Agassiz
d. Louis Agassiz
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Long Island, New York, are both examples of Pleistocene glacial ____________ that have been further built up by wave-deposited sands. a. drumlins b. kettles c. eskers d. end moraines
d. end moraines
A lake that forms within a bowl-shaped depression formed by a mountain glacier is termed a (an) ____________. a. arête b. cirque c. horn d. tarn
d. tarn
Sediments deposited directly by glaciers as they melt are termed ____________. a. firn b. loess c. outwash d. till
d. till
Areas on the southern margins of the continental glaciers of the northern hemisphere were much ____________ during Plio-Pleistocene glaciations than they are today, as suggested by evidence of large ____________ during this time. a. warmer; tropical rainforests b. wetter; tropical rainforests c. drier; deserts d. wetter; pluvial lakes
d. wetter; pluvial lakes
Most industrial nations have intentionally decreased their production and use of refrigerants and other chlorofluorocarbons in the last 20 years to address the ________.
decrease in atmospheric ozone over the Antarctic
Sea level ________ during glacials and ________ during interglacials.
decreases; increases
C. contain water that is at least boiling temperature (100°C or 212°F).
dentify the FALSE statement. Hot springs Choose one: A. may precipitate mounds and terraces of travertine (limestone) as waters cool. B. can dissolve more mineral matter than can cold water springs. C. contain water that is at least boiling temperature (100°C or 212°F). D. may occur in geothermal regions where current (or recent) volcanism occurs.
Rate of groundwater flow: typically varies between 4 and 500 miles per year. is determined theoretically; it can't be measured, since it happens underground. depends on the permeability of the material it flows through and on the hydraulic gradient. is comparable to the rate of flow in an average surface stream. All of the possible answers are correct.
depends on the permeability of the material it flows through and on the hydraulic gradient. Groundwater flow rate is 4-500 meters, not miles, per year, which is much slower than flow rate of surface waters. The rate can be measured by "tagging" water with dyes or radioactive elements and tracing its journey from one well to another. (Section refs: 19.4, p. 655)
Which of the following statements is TRUE? Ozone
depletion happens in high-latitude regions, particularly the Antarctic
most deserts lying around 30 degrees latitude are caused by
descending air
Which of the following statements is false? The Mississippi River Delta:
developed its shape because the ocean current there was stronger than the river current.
deserts in the interior of Asia developed as a result of
distance from oceans
why are the coastlines on the east coast so different than the coastlines on the west coast?
east coast: low energy meaning sandy broad beaches low energy due to the fact that the slope on the east coast has a shallow slope west coast: high energy meaning rocky beaches high energy due to the fact that the slope is a lot steeper.
Which of the following are possible pathways for water once it has begun to infiltrate the ground?
emerge through springs, flow out into freshwater lakes, run out into the ocean
Folly Beach: why is it eroding?
eroding because Charleston Harbour Jetties which block the longshore drift of sediment from northern coastal areas and river deltas
Cirques, horns, and arêtes form from glacial ________, whereas moraines, erratics, and till form from glacial ________.
erosion; deposition
The change in organisms over geologic history is known as the ________.
evolution of life
Changes in the positions of continents; the amount of volcanic activity; the uplift of land surfaces; the formation of coal, oil, and organic shale; and life evolution events all contribute to short-term climate change.
false
EL Niño effects are typically restricted to the eastern Pacific Ocean
false
Methane, carbon dioxide, and several trace gases (including water) are all greenhouse gases that cause the atmosphere to cool by reflecting large amounts of solar energy back into space.
false
Volcanic eruptions typically contribute to global warming by increasing the aerosol content of the atmosphere.
false
ice core data from Antarctica show that greenhouse gas concentration have been higher during glaciations and lower during interglaciations
false
most coal has the same sulfur content, but varies widely in heat content
false
the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant caused similar levels of environmental degradation as did the 3mile island incident
false
Methane, carbon dioxide, and several trace gases (including water) are all greenhouse gases that cause the atmosphere to cool by reflecting large amounts of solar energy back into space
false--greenhouse gases warm the atmosphere because they trap infrared radiation (heat) emitted by the Earth
Seismic waves travel ________ in solids than in liquids; however, unlike P-waves, S-waves ________ travel through liquids.
faster; cannot
By increasing the albedo of Earth, global ice sheets produce conditions that are ________ to their further advance, thus providing an example of ________ feedback.
favorable; positive
An intermediate product in the transformation of snow to glacial ice is ________.
firn
carbon dioxide is the dominant gas, by volume,in the atmosphere
flase
what are plain's gradient like?
flat water slows down discharge is high competence is low (sediments small) channels curve and twist
what are the two types of inlet deltas?
flood tide: rising tide ebb tide: falling tide
The point within Earth where an earthquake takes place is termed the ________.
focus
why does acid rain result from fossil fuel consumption
fossil fuel burning releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides
A primary force opposing motion on all faults is ________.
friction
what causes wetlands and estuaries?
gentle slopes and low wave action allows for brackish swamps
What is a spelunker not likely to encounter? fish without eyes speleothems limestone columns geysers snotites
geysers Geysers are a surface feature in geothermal areas; the other terms denote structures or organisms found in caves, which spelunkers explore. (Section refs: 19.8, p. 670)
how has glacial ice aided the study of climate change
glacial ice contains trapped air bubbles that archive former atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations
This image shows a 2 m block of quartzite deposited in the Wasp Head formation (Permian) in eastern Australia. The quartzite block is not underlain by a scour surface and appears to have been dropped into the sand and mud beneath it. Given this information, this outcrop most likely represents which of the following?
glacial marine deposition
Stratified sorted sand and gravel are deposited by ________.
glacial outwash streams
what is a fjord?
glacier-carved, deep, U-shaped valleys found at sea levels. floods as sea levels rise and glaciers retreat. common along rocky coasts in polar and subpolar regions.
The evolution of life takes place ________, while the mass extinction of life takes place ________.
gradually; abruptly
Fall Landslides
gravity makes fall fast boulders falling not really any water man-made problem or gravity
what are groins and how do they affect beaches?
groins are rock walls used to protect eroding beaches but perpendicular to shoreline and it traps sediment upstream and erodes sediments downstream
The Vaiont Dam disaster: occurred in the early 1800s before engineers understood how to build safe dams. was the worst dam disaster in the United States. came as a total surprise, with no warning signs. happened because a very fine dam was built in a geologically unstable location. resulted in the dam's complete destruction.
happened because a very fine dam was built in a geologically unstable location. The disaster happened in the 1960s in Italy; there was so much slope movement before the slope failure the locals called Mt. Toc "the mountain that walks"; the dam survived the disaster. Note Fig. 16.5. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 545)
Ocean water
has an average salinity of 3.5%, receives its salt from groundwater and river water Contains positive ions like sodium potassium, calcium, magnesium, derived from the chemical weathering of rocks Contains negative ions like chloride and sulfate derived from volcanic gases
Human population
has become a significant agent of global change. reached one billion in 1850. is currently a little over six billion. is doubling every forty-four years.
Glaciers that move via basal sliding can often undergo surges in which they move at a much faster rate than normal because they ________.
have minimal frictional contact with bedrock
the source of geothermal energy is
heat generated in the Earth's interior
what causes rocky coasts?
high energy waves erode beaches and create a rocky barrier and that eventually erodes away
How does sea level affect shorelines?
higher sea levels will erode beaches the higher and higher they rise
The hot springs of both Yellowstone and Iceland owe their existence to: subducting plates. groundwater rising from great depth. motion along transform faults. hot-spot activity. rifting of plates.
hot-spot activity. Yellowstone is located on a continental hot spot, Iceland on an oceanic hot spot. Iceland also sits on a rift area, but Yellowstone doesn't. (Section refs: 19.6, p. 663)
Some biologists think that ________ are causing a sixth mass-extinction event.
humans
Case Study : North Carolina landslides Hurricanes Ivan and Frances What happened and why?
hurricane ivan first came and hit the Appalachian Mountains and then ten days later frances highest rainfall totals in western North Carolina rainfall amounts of 8 to 12 inches, while 6 to 10 inches were common with Ivan approximately 6.5 miles southeast of Franklin, a layer of soil liquefied and began flowing down Peeks Creek. "Debris Flow"
The ________ cycle describes how water moves between reservoirs on Earth.
hydrologic
What is the relationship between friction and gravitational forces on slope stability?
if the ground is built of rocks with coarse grain then it makes the sliding of rocks a lot more difficult but if rocks are smooth then it is easier for the two to slide past eachother.
A typical longitudinal profile of a stream
illustrates that a stream's gradient is steeper near its headwaters than near its mouth.
Identify the FALSE statement. Floods can occur
in any area, but flash floods are most unexpected in humid regions.
An ephemeral stream...
in dry climates may sometimes become a dry wash (also called wadi or arroyo)
An ephemeral stream
in dry climates may sometimes become a dry wash (also called wadi or arroyo).
the future use of photovoltaics is likely to
increase bc they can be adapted to meet a variety of needs.
The hydrologic cycle
is a biogeochemical cycle, involving both physical and biological phenomena.
Solifluction: means the water-table level fluctuates with precipitation. is a faster-than-usual kind of slump in wetlands. is a kind of creep that's found in high-elevation regions or in the Arctic on slopes that are underlain by permafrost. is the technical name for a rock glacier. is the proper term for alternate expanding and contracting of swelling clays.
is a kind of creep that's found in high-elevation regions or in the Arctic on slopes that are underlain by permafrost. The term has nothing to do with water tables, wetlands, rock glaciers, or swelling clays. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 542)
Which of the following statements is false? Darcy's law: is an equation used by hydrologists. is a method to determine the degree of saturation of water at any specified depth. states that discharge equals the hydraulic conductivity coefficient times the hydraulic gradient times the area involved. takes into account the permeability of the rock and the viscosity of the fluid. can be used to decide practical issues, such as whether sufficient groundwater exists to supply a city's needs.
is a method to determine the degree of saturation of water at any specified depth. Darcy's law has nothing to do with saturation levels; it's a formula commonly used by hydrologists to determine the quantity of water passing through an area. (Section refs: 19.4, p. 656)
Earth's atmosphere
is becoming more acidic because of the sulfur-containing aerosols from fossil-fuel power plants.
Identify the FALSE statement. A drainage network
is considered a trellis network when rivers flow over uniform substrate with gentle slope.
Cut bank
is created on the outer edge of a curve where the fast flowing water erodes away sediment
Which of the following is NOT true concerning the long-term forecasting of earthquakes? Long-term forecasting ________.
is not possible
Identify the false statement. Sulfuric-acid speleogenesis: means caves form due to reaction of sulfuric acid. is responsible for roughly 50% of all caves. occurs where limestone overlies strata rich in hydrocarbons. occurs because microbes convert sulfur in the oil into hydrogen sulfide gas, which oxidizes in the limestone to sulfuric acid. has produced the huge rooms and passages of Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico.
is responsible for roughly 50% of all caves. This process has produced some immense cave networks, but it's responsible for only about 5% of all caves. (Section refs: 19.8, p. 670)
Which of the following statements is FALSE? The Mississippi River Delta
is stable and will not avulse in the future
what happens to global sea level during a glacial period
it falls
Rock layer C in diagram 3 of the accompanying figure cannot produce an artesian well at location X because: it's all sandstone, which is aquifer material, so the water present can't be contained and build up pressure as is necessary for an artesian situation. it's composed of sandstone, and sandstone is an aquitard. it doesn't have a city water supply available to recharge it. the recharge area is at a higher elevation than the discharge area. this question is misleading; rock layer C would make a very good artesian well.
it's all sandstone, which is aquifer material, so the water present can't be contained and build up pressure as is necessary for an artesian situation. An artesian situation requires a confined aquifer layer lying under a slanted aquitard layer; sandstone is an aquifer, not an aquitard; and recharge could happen by natural precipitation. (Section refs: 19.5, p. 658)
what are jetties and how do they affect beaches?
jetties are two rock walls that stabilize inlets and channels and protect channels from large waves and sand deposition but the sand builds up on one side of the jetty and erodes on the other side of the jetty
Features that are created when water dissolves surface and subsurface limestone, like sinkholes, troughs, caverns, natural bridges, and towers, are collectively called: potentiometric surfaces. geothermal landscapes. karst landscapes. artesian surfaces. undersaturated surfaces.
karst landscapes. Potentiometric surfaces are the levels to which artesian waters have the potential to rise; geothermal landscapes would involve geysers, hot springs, and mud pots; the other terms are meaningless. (Section refs: 19.8, p. 670)
Which organic substance is produced by black organic shales at temperatures below the oil window?
kerogen
What is the difference between a mudflow and a lahar?
lahar: ash and mud doesn't go very far mufdlow: more liquidy
what is a downstream flood? example?
large area delay in flooding large volume longlived sum of many streams and rivers EX: Mississippi River Flood 1993
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Waterfalls
last for millions of years because they are created by elevation differences in exceedingly hard bedrock
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Waterfalls:
last for millions of years because they are created by elevation differences in exceedingly hard bedrock.
Groundwater contaminants: like sulfur, iron, calcium carbonate, and methane may come from the rock the water flows through. are all eventually removed by rock and sediment acting as natural filters. move so slowly they are usually detected and removed before they travel far. are always toxic materials like arsenic, mercury, and lead. All of the possible answers are correct.
like sulfur, iron, calcium carbonate, and methane may come from the rock the water flows through. Contaminants in groundwater do move slowly, but they often travel long distances, can't all be naturally filtered out, and can be nontoxic materials like salt, iron, lime, and sulfur. (Section refs: 19.7, p. 667)
The discharge of a stream is
likely to decrease downstream in arid regions and increase downstream in temperate regions.
Wet and unconsolidated substrates are uniquely susceptible to ________ during an earthquake.
liquefaction
A seismic wave will speed up when passing from the crust to the mantle because the mantle is made of ________.
magma
Life on Earth has changed drastically over time, including the occurrence of ________, which paved the way for the evolution of new species to fill old niches.
mass extinctions
This image shows the Devonian Catskill formation at the Red Hill outcrop in northcentral PA the sandstones and red mudrocks in this outcrop also provide a spectacular example of ancient river deposits. Product of what type of river system
meandering river
Cirques and horns are features associated with ________.
mountain glaciation
What would Earth's climate be like if there were no greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
much colder than now
Flow Landslides
mud flows, debris flows, lahars, rock flow can be either fast or slow caused bc of water a lot of energy follow river channels steeper slopes where they occur
What does the energy of the stream have to do with the width of the stream?
narrow deep channel: focused and funneled- fast wide and shallow is slower
Fluvial landscapes that are early in their evolutionary progression have...
narrow, deep valleys
Fluvial landscapes that are early in their evolutionary progression have
narrow, deep valleys.
Fluvial landscapes that are early in their evolutionary progression have:
narrow, deep valleys.
Which of the following statements is false? Avalanches: are high-velocity mass movement events. can happen when frozen snow layers are buried by new snow. can be triggered by explosions, people, or even just new snow. may be turbulent clouds of debris mixed with air. never happen twice in the same place; therefore the pathway an avalanche creates is a safe place to build.
never happen twice in the same place; therefore the pathway an avalanche creates is a safe place to build. Pathways created by avalanches are called avalanche chutes, and avalanches typically run down the same chute many times. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 547)
Wave base
occurs at a depth equal to 1/2 the wavelength
Which of the following is not a factor that causes long-term climate change
ocean currents
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Mass extinction
of dinosaurs occurred at the Permian-Triassic boundary.
Identify the false statement. Oases: are small areas of natural vegetation in large regions of sand. have been the sites of settlement for centuries. of the Sahara Desert depend on rain in bordering highlands and water from the Nile River to recharge their shale aquifers. may get their water because folds bring the aquifer to the surface. may get their water because joints along faults conduct water to the surface.
of the Sahara Desert depend on rain in bordering highlands and water from the Nile River to recharge their shale aquifers. All of the statements are correct except that aquifers must be porous, permeable rock, like sandstone or conglomerate, and definitely not shale. Read more in Box 19.1, Oases. (Section refs: Box 19.1: Oases)
what is wave-cut notch?
overhang eroded. cliff collapse and retreat occurs
________ travel with a compressional motion.
p-waves
The ratio of oxygen-16 and oxygen-18 isotopes in plankton fossils in deep-sea sediments can be used to determine ________.
past temperatures
What can be done to stabilize slopes?
plant trees "revegetation" terrace steps (doesn't always work) relocate rivers retaining walls
what are the causes of coastal variability?
plate tectonic setting climate influences sea level rise and fall
Which of the following is not helpful in presenting mass movements? planting vegetation on newly graded slopes adding subsurface drainage to reduce water content on a slope regarding an oversteepened slope raising the water level behind a dam to hold down a potential failure surface redistributing the mass on a slope by terracing
raising the water level behind a dam to hold down a potential failure surface Adding water above a potential failure surface can act as a lubricant and adds to the load, which can increase the likelihood of mass movements. (Section refs: 16.5, p. 561)
what are atolls?
reefs formed on extinct volcanoes
Ice is a substance with a high albedo, which means it ________.
reflects most of the light that falls on it
Changes that occur ________ are called ________ changes.
repeatedly; cyclic
A permeable and porous rock, regardless of lithology, is a good candidate to serve as a ____________ in an oil-producing scenario.
reservoir rock
what is calcite?
rich structures with skins of living organisms and they protect shorelines. build up coral reefs
Slide Landslides
rock and debris slide very fast doesn't need water
Identify the FALSE statement. Streams cause erosion by
saltation
________ decreases as glaciers form.
sea level
An impermeable rock is most likely to be which of these?
seal rock
Shale, salt, and fine-grained limestone that are unfractured are all good candidates for ____________.
seal rocks
what are seawalls and how do they affect beaches?
seawalls are rock walls parallel to the shoreline. protects the houses behind the seawall but this erodes the beaches because the waves hit the seawall with higher energy and erodes the beaches
Vertical motion seismographs record earthquakes by producing a squiggly diagram called a ________.
seismogram
Case Study : North Carolina landslides Hurricanes Ivan and Frances how did soil/rock types contribute to the slope failures?
shallow loose sediment clay/slippery
Slides with a spoon-shaped (concave upward) surface are called: turbidity currents. debris flows. avalanches. slump. creep.
slump. The other choices are other types of mass movement that have nothing to do with concave surfaces. (Section refs: 16.2, p. 542)
how does glacial ice form
snow is retained for many years and compacted into ice by overlying snow.
The Milankovitch cycles describe the change in ________ because of changes in the ________ of Earth relative to the Sun.
solar insolation; orientation
Which of the following statements is false? In an area of rolling hills, groundwater moves: from where the water table is at high elevation to where the water table is at low elevation. from regions under hills to regions under valleys. along a curved path. sometimes parallel to the slope of the water table and sometimes straight down, but never upward. under the influence of both gravity and pressure differences.
sometimes parallel to the slope of the water table and sometimes straight down, but never upward. Pressure differences, caused by different thicknesses of groundwater, can push water up against gravity's influence. (Section refs: 19.4, p. 654)
A body of rock in which oil is formed is termed a ____________.
source rock
A black, organic-rich shale could likely serve as either of which two necessary types of rocks within oil fields?
source rock or seal rock
Interconnected fractures that open onto a hillside and an impermeable rock layer intersecting a hillside are both likely locations of: springs. artesian wells. potentiometric surfaces. cones of depression. natural bridges.
springs Choice A fits both location descriptions; no other choice is reasonable for either. (Section refs: 19.5, p. 658)
The tragedy in 1970 at Yungay, Peru: was surprising because there was no evidence of previous landslides there. started with an earthquake that triggered an icefall that triggered a debris flow. is not considered mass wasting because it happened quickly, and by definition mass wasting is slow movement of material downslope. unfortunately could happen again; the government rebuilt the town in the same place. All of the possible answers are correct.
started with an earthquake that triggered an icefall that triggered a debris flow. Previous slides had occurred; mass movement can be slow or fast; and the government has forbidden rebuilding in the area. Note Fig. 16.1. (Section refs: 16.1, p. 541)
what are mountain's gradient like?
steep fast flowing erodes ground moves big particles like boulders
You are hiking in your favorite forest when you encounter a surface that appears to have very fine scratches in it. What are these features?
striations
Generally, which type of earthquake waves travel with the slowest velocity?
surface waves
Which of the following is NOT an important type of oil trap?
syncline
Coal is the altered remains of ancient ____________.
terrestrial plants
Which of the following statements is FALSE? Deltas
that form where ocean currents exceed river currents are called bird's-foot deltas
coal type is based upon
the carbon percentage and heat value
The primary cause of recent global warming is believed to be ________.
the depletion of the ozone layer
Landslides are likely to happen when: the angle of repose of a sandy slope gets greater than 9°. the downslope force becomes greater than the resistance force. weak surfaces dip into the slope. weight is added at the bottom of a slope. All of the possible answers are correct.
the downslope force becomes greater than the resistance force. The angle of repose of sandy slopes is 30-37°; sliding happens on weak surfaces that parallel the slope; and adding weight to the tops of slopes may trigger movement. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 551)
Greenhouse gases heat Earth by absorbing the radiation from ________.
the earth
How is the energy of the stream related to the size of particles it can carry and deposit?
the energy of a stream determines the size and amount of sediments it can carry decreased velocity means sediments start to drop out, boulders, then sediment, and sands fill the bottom of the stream. high energy carries large cobbles and maybe even boulders low energy don't carry large clasts
Which of the following is NOT the result of human interaction?
the existence of radioactive materials
What drives the hydrologic cycle
the sun
why are barrier islands so important?
they protect beaches from erosion
what causes tides and waves?
tides and waves are caused by gravitational attraction to the moon and caused by spinning of the earth
Sediments deposited directly by glaciers as they melt are termed ________.
till
wind power generation has grown rapidly in the past decade
tr;ue
A commercially viable oil deposit must include a source rock, a reservoir rock, a seal rock, and a ____________.
trap that prevents the oil from reaching the Earth's surface
the greenhouse effect represents
trapping of heat by atmospheric gases
Another ice age would change sea level far more than global warming would change it.
true
Currently, large ice shelves are breaking up, the Greenland ice sheet is melting, sea ice has decreased substantially, valley glaciers worldwide are retreating, and the area of permafrost has substantially decreased.
true
Earth's early atmosphere contained far more CO2 and far less nitrogen compared to its modern composition
true
One effect of global warming may be a halt to the global thermohaline circulation of ocean currents.
true
Studies of air bubbles and oxygen-isotope ratios in glacial ice, fossil pollen, tree rings, and the stratigraphic record are all useful in determining paleoclimates
true
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states unarguably in its 2007 report that Earth's climate system is warming, and it states with very high confidence that human activities have contributed significantly to the warming.
true
climate is the long-term average of weather conditions over some area
true
given current trends, oil supplies are likely to be largely consumed by the end of the 21 century
true
groundwater at normal shallow subsurface temps can be used as an energy source
true
the greenhouse effect has affected global climate for millions of years
true
Continental-interior desert exist because air masses have traveled so far in getting there that they've precipitated most of their moisture along the way, even if they didn't cross mountains
true--statement correctly explains why the interiors of large continents can be desert areas
Groundwater: completely fills the zone of aeration above the water table. moves underground mainly in underground river channels. dissolves very porous rock like obsidian faster than it dissolves limestone. typically moves slowly within the ground through porous rock layers like sandstone. moves fastest through layers of clay called aquitards.
typically moves slowly within the ground through porous rock layers like sandstone. The zone of saturation is below the water table; groundwater moves mainly through interconnected pore spaces in rock and sediment, rarely in underground lakes or streams; aquitards like clay are impermeable; and unfractured obsidian is neither soluble nor porous. (Section refs: 19.2, p. 650)
How do human activities affect slope stability?
undercutting creating roads making an area above its angle of repose
According to Milankovitch, which of the following is a contributing factor to ice-age cycles?
variations in the shape of Earth's orbit
________ can be recognized as a series of U-shaped hills that are lined up and represent the ________ of the glacier.
varves; advance
Which geologic event is NOT suspected as a source of major climate change or mass-extinction events?
very large earthquakes
Case Study : North Carolina landslides Hurricanes Ivan and Frances what environmental factors contributed to the slope failures?
very steep terrain and abundance of loose surface material, the material liquified a large debris flow formed and moved down Peeks Creek due to these large amounts of water
which of the following geologic features is NOT required for an oil or gas deposit to form:
volcanic rock
Which of the following factors are responsible for reducing sea levels?
volume of glacial ice, slow sea-floor spreading
what is discharge?
volume of water moving past a point on a river over a unit of time River discharge= WxDxV W=average width of the river D=average depth of the river V= velocity of the water
what is wave refraction?
water depth often varies approaching coastal line. waves "curve in"
what are the main coastal processes and why are the important?
waves: erode and deposit sediment tides: 2 times daily rise and fall of sea level Longshore current: is an ocean current that moves parallel to shore. It is caused by large swells sweeping into the shoreline at an angle and pushing water down the length of the beach in one direction. Longshore drift: the movement of material along a coast by waves that approach at an angle to the shore but recede directly away from it.
how is a delta formed?
when a stream enters standing water and the stream divides into a fan of distributaries. the velocity slows and the sediment drops out
what is a delta?
when a stream flows and eventually hits another body of water ("birds foot")triangle shaped.
Which of the following statements is false? Mass movements can happen: only in areas where there is relief. on slopes. along joints and faults. when strong, intact rock gets weathered. when downslope force equals resistance force.
when downslope force equals resistance force. Downslope force must exceed resistance force before there's movement. (Section refs: 16.3, p. 553)
Which of the following statements is false? Porosity decreases: with increasing depth of the rock layer. as sediment is changed to sedimentary rock. with increasing compaction of sediments or rock. with the cementing of sediments by mineral grains from groundwater. when rocks develop joints or faults.
when rocks develop joints or faults. Joints and faults provide large openings for water and thus increase porosity. (Section refs: 19.2, p. 648)
what is a flash flood?
when water rapidly rises with no warning.
how do storms effect shorelines?
winds damage structures, uproot trees, and launch objects storm waves erode beaches and destroy coastal lines storm surge swamp lands and flood coastal communities heavy rains cause flooding and landslides
what is the wave pattern hitting the beaches?
zigzag pattern. waves hit diagonal to shoreline and moves straight back out
An ephemeral stream:
in dry climates may sometimes become a dry wash (also called wadi or arroyo).
Which of the following statements is false?
A stream that swings back and forth in snake-like curves is called a braided stream.
Stream piracy:
A) results when headward erosion causes one stream to intersect the course of another stream; B) can leave a dry channel through a high ridge called a wind gap; C) created the Cumberland Gap in the Appalachian Mountains that Daniel Boone used as part of his wilderness road for settlers. D) causes the pirate stream to increase its discharge while the captured stream goes dry. (All of the possible answers are correct)
The lowest elevation to which a stream channel can erode is defined as its
Base level
what is the difference between a delta and an alluvial fan?
Deltas are similar to alluvial fans in shape, but are deposited in a different environment. Sediments that form deltas are transported in continuous flowing water. Delta deposits are found at the mouths of streams or rivers as they empty into lakes and oceans. and alluvial fans only flow when there is rain or snow there.
Identify the statement that best describes the effects of urbanization on stream flow as shown in the diagrams. http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/earth4/img/quiz/ch17_f3.jpg
Diagram B shows a stream responding faster and more intensely to a rainfall event.
Rank the three types of sediment load in a stream from smallest to largest
Dissolved load -> Suspended load -> Bed load
A stream that is eroding more material than it is depositing is termed a graded stream. (T or F)
False
All standing bodies of water have an outlet through which water escapes and continues to the sea. (T or F)
False
Broad sweeping bends of a stream channel are called oxbow lakes. (T or F)
False
Potholes form when water rich in calcium carbonate dissolves a section of streambed (T or F)
False
Stream terraces are the result of extremely high flood levels that deposit debris far from the stream channel. (T or F)
False
The area in which floodwaters may sit because they can't climb up over natural levees and get back into their stream channel is called a yazoo stream. (T or F)
False
The largest river in the world, on the basis of discharge, is the Mississippi. (T or F)
False
Turbulent flow moves water swiftly and directly downstream, giving it no chance to erode the channel. (T or F)
False
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
If a dam is constructed properly, it will not change the ecosystem of the area it's in.
Which of the following was the location of a flash flood caused by failure of a dam?
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 1889
how can you try to prevent flooding?
LEVEES and FLOODWALLS and DAMS but levees create worse flooding for downstream. because once the levees come to an end and is released into a larger area it squirts out like a hose when you put your figure over half of the opening. or levees can be overtopped like 2005 New Orleans Hurricane Katrina. dams (store water during flooding) but if it breaks all hell breaks loose.
For the diagram shown, which of the statements below is true? http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/earth4/img/quiz/ch17_f2.jpg
Point A is called a point bar.
Which of these human activities explain why rivers are a vanishing resource? Select all that apply.
Pollution; Overzealous damming; Agricultural irrigation
What are some of the sources of water in streams? Select all that apply
Runoff from the surrounding lands; Inflow from tributaries, Direct rainfall; Groundwater discharge
A stream is capable of erosion, transportation, and deposition of materials. (T or F)
True
Local base levels are short lived because running water removes obstructions that create them. (T or F)
True
Plate tectonics events can produce mountains whose uplift can cause drainage reversal in existing river systems. (T or F)
True
Since it's unrealistic to build levees and reservoirs that could prevent all conceivable floods, it's sensible to allow some floodplains to revert to wetlands and to create floodways where flooding damage would be minimal. (T or F)
True
Streams carry their load in suspension, in solution, and as bed load. (T or F)
True
The Mississippi River Flood Control Act of the 1920s resulted in the construction of dams and reservoirs, levees, and floodwalls by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (T or F)
True
The diversion of river waters in central Asia for irrigation has caused the Aral Sea to shrink drastically and destroyed the fishing economy of much of its coastal area. (T or F)
True
The jet stream was a contributing factor to Mississippi River flooding in 1993 because it trapped warm, moist Gulf of Mexico air over the central United States. (T or F)
True
The terms fluvial deposits and alluvium both refer to sediment deposited by a stream. (T or F)
True
what is a dam?
a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, the resulting reservoir being used in the generation of electricity or as a water supply.
how does water influence landslides?
adds weight to the slope and also makes the slope slippery if it is on a slippery material like clay
Streams come down out of steep areas onto much flatter land, lose velocity, and drop material in triangular-shaped structures called:
alluvial fans.
what is an oxbow lake?
an oxbow lake is the lake that is formed off of a meandering lake when the water decides to cut off a path of a stream it creates a new lake
What are the factors that influence slope stability? How are they important?
angle of repose shocks and vibrations and liquefaction changes in characteristics
what is a floodplain?
areas of flat ground bounding a river channel on either side. they are usually narrow in mountains/hills but wide in lowland areas.
what does the government do to try to help with flooding?
collect hydrologic data and make flood risk maps review high flood risk areas keep levees in check
what does the government agency FEMA do?
collects hydrologic data and maps flood hazards and maintains levees and other flood control structures.
what is the difference between capacity and competence?
competence: the max clast size transported (SIZE) capacity: max load transport (HOW MUCH)
what is gradient?
drop in elevation (steepness) and it determines how fast it flows length and shape are determined by the gradient steep: discharge is low and carries big particles
what are the main types of streams?
ephemeral: dry up part of the year, above water table, dry climates (low rainfall and high evaporation) permanent: water flows all year, at or below water table, humid or temperate climates (sufficient rainfall, low evaporation)
A typical longitudinal profile of a stream:
illustrates that a stream's gradient is steeper near its headwaters than near its mouth.
what is an upstream flood? example?
intense rainfall small area floods soon after rain short lived EX:Big Thompson Canyon, Colorado, 1976
what causes a flash flood?
intense rainfall or dam failure example: Johnstown, PA, 1889 (dam failure)
The discharge of a stream is:
likely to decrease downstream in arid regions and increase downstream in temperate regions.
Which of the following statements is TRUE? Deltas:
make GOOD farmland because they flood regularly and flooding
what are landslides?
mass movement down a slope of rock, soil, sediment, or snow.
What are the 3 M's that govern the type of landslide?
material type movement rate material motion
What are the parts of a meandering stream?
meandering streams are curving back and forth and flat one side is the point bar which is the side with low energy (the wave is hitting the other side creates almost like a little beach): deposition other side is the cut (channel) bank where is is high energy and eroding the side of the stream it is hitting: eroding
what is a stream hydrograph?
measures rivers and tries to help predict flooding on y axis: increasing stage of flow on x axis:passing of time records changes in discharge or stream height over time
what are hill's gradient like?
not as steep but kinda steep transition stage wider flood plain middle sized particles
how does urbanization increase flooding?
roofs and parking lots block rain from soil and storm sewers all the water to get into streams quickly and this increases flash flood hazards.
Identify the FALSE statement. Streams cause erosion by:
saltation
How is sediment transported in rivers?
sediment load is material moved by a running water load. 3 types: dissolved load: ions from chemical weathering suspended loads: fine grains: clay and silt bed load: bottom, large particles roll and slide along the bottom
Creep Landslides
so slow you can't see move (curved tree trunks and telephone poles) due to soil expansion and contraction (loose sediment that is wetting and drying or freezing and thawing or heating and cooling)