GLG 111 Exam
a stronger Coriolis effect
Along with the global warming expected as a consequence of anthropogenic enhancement of the greenhouse effect, global sea level is expected to rise for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:
west
An East wind is moving air to the
No
*Are surface processes, such as weathering and erosion, expected to cease when plate tectonics ceases?*
divergent
*Area IV in the figure below is a mid-ocean ridge in the South Atlantic. Which type of plate boundary does this area represent?* (Choose the best option)
Continental shelf, continental slope, continental rise, abyssal plain
*As you move away from the continent, and out to sea, the major depth zones of a passive margin are*
1.2
*Assuming a dry adiabatic lapse rate of 10ºC/km, to what height (in km) must this air mass rise in order to reach saturation? In other words, how high does this air mass need to rise to cool to the dew point?* This is simply found by taking the cooling you just calculated, and dividing by the lapse rate: (Cooling required to get to the dewpoint)/(Lapse rate) = elevation (in km)
divides, or drainage divides
*The boundaries between watersheds (or drainage basins) of all sizes are elevated areas called:*
Increases flood hazards by both reducing floodplain storage capacity and increasing surface runoff.
*Urbanization in a floodplain*
subduction zone
*Wet melting produces partial melting of rock when water (a so-called volatile) is added to the rock, thereby lowering the melting temperature of some of the minerals in that rock. Which plate tectonic setting produces such wet melting?*
isobars
*What are the contour lines of equal pressure called?* *The figure below is an air pressure map for Australia, with the contours representing lines of equal pressure, in units of millibars. What is the specific term for those contour lines of equal pressure?*
Oxygen & Silicon
*What are the top two most abundant elements in Earth's continental crust, by weight?*
The combined number of neutrons and protons
*What determines the atomic mass (or mass number) of an element?*
The number of protons
*What determines the atomic number of an element?*
Counterclockwise, opposite of now
*What direction would gyres circulate in the Northern Hemisphere if Earth rotated towards the west rather than towards the east?*
The number of neutrons in the nucleus
*What distinguishes the different isotopes of a particular element?*
Plate tectonics will speed up notably, because the cooling of subducting lithospheric slabs will allow them to subduct faster than they do today.
*What does Christopher Scotese predict will happen in the next one to two billion years?*
how high the upper surface of the river water is, relative to some fixed height called a datum
*What does the "stage" of a river mean?*
Carries heat northward within the North Atlantic Ocean It carries high-salinity, warm waters from central Atlantic to higher latitudes
*What does the Gulf Stream do?*
Decrease circulation because of decreasing densities
*What effect might fresh water input near the Arctic have on thermohaline circulation?*
All of the other choices are correct.
*What evidence indicated that Mount St. Helens was going to erupt in 1980?*
Torino
*What scale predicts the potential threat posed by an asteroid impact?* *The potential threat posed by an asteroid impact is assessed using what scale?*
unconformity
*What term refers to breaks in the geologic rock record which represent times of non-deposition or erosion?*
Sugar
*Which of the following cannot be classified as a mineral?* *Which of the following is not a mineral?* A) Ice B) Salt C) Sugar D) Diamond
diamonds
*Which of the following is NOT aggregate?* A) crushed stone B) gravel C) diamonds D) sand
Hawaiian Islands
*Which of the following is a good example of, or has many examples of, a shield volcano?*
andesite
*Which of the following is a volcanic intermediate-composition igneous rock?*
basalt
*Which of the following is an igneous rock which cooled quickly and has a mafic composition?*
granite
*Which of the following is an igneous rock which cooled slowly and has a composition that is enriched in silica and poor in iron and magnesium?*
Organic (biological) in origin
*Which of the following is not a characteristic that a substance must have in order for it to be considered a mineral?*
catalyst
A key process for destroying ozone involves chlorine. In this process ozone is lost, but not chlorine. In other words, chlorine is not consumed by the reaction. This implies that chlorine is a ____ for ozone destruction.
2-4ºC
Approximately how much globally-averaged warming should we expect by 2100, based on the assessment of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?
discrete pieces of lithosphere at the surface of the solid Earth that move with respect to each other
Under the theory of plate tectonics, the plates themselves are
Magma B
Use the graph below to answer this question. One point represents basaltic magma, one andesitic magma and one rhyolitic magma. *Which magma is most likely to form andesite or diorite once it cools?* *-Andesite (cooled QUICKLY)* *-Diorite (cooled SLOWLY)* Magma A : high temp, low silica % Magma B : med temp, med silica % Magma C : low temp, high silica %
Magma A
Use the graph below to answer this question. One point represents basaltic magma, one andesitic magma and one rhyolitic magma. *Which magma is most likely to form basalt or gabbro once it cools?* *-Basalt (cooled QUICKLY)* *-Gabbro (cooled SLOWLY)* Magma A : high temp, low silica % Magma B : med temp, med silica % Magma C : low temp, high silica %
Magma C
Use the graph below to answer this question. One point represents basaltic magma, one andesitic magma and one rhyolitic magma. *Which magma is most likely to form rhyolite or granite once it cools?* *-Rhyolite (cooled QUICKLY)* *-Granite (cooled SLOWLY)* Magma A : high temp, low silica % Magma B : med temp, med silica % Magma C : low temp, high silica %
20ºC
Using the graph above, what is the approximate temperature we would need to cool our air down to (in ºC) in order for it to reach saturation (100%)? In other words, what is the approximate dew point or our air that is presently at 32ºC, 50% relative humidity?
three quarters, or 75%
What fraction of the incoming carbon dioxide (CO2) do Climeworks direct-air-capture modules filter out, according to Climeworks co-founder Jan Wurzbacher?
It decreased
What happened to ocean 18O/16O between last glacial maximum (LGM, about 20 thousand years ago) and the present time
Rings get wider.
What happens to the annual growth ring patterns in a tree when there is a change from a cold, dry climate to a warm, wet climate?
Montreal Protocol
What is the name for the initial global agreement to address atmospheric ozone destruction?
Diamond
Which of the following is not a member of the silicate group of minerals?
Isotopes
Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei are _______ of that element.
more
Compared to the anticipated rise in global temperature, will the temperature rise less or more on land and at higher latitudes?
C
Below is an air pressure map, with the contours representing isobars, or lines of constant pressure. The unit for the pressure values is millibars. *Identify the center of a low pressure system on this map.*
Growth and decay of leaf material on or from deciduous trees, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere
Broadly speaking the Keeling curve shows the rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since 1958. However, it also shows seasonal variations in atmospheric carbon-dioxide concentration. What causes those seasonal variations?
decrease
Burning of fossil fuels leads to a measurable ________ in atmospheric oxygen (O2) concentration.
1/100 = 0.01
For a given river, the probability that a 100 year flood will occur this year is:
higher latitudes and over land
Given the anticipated rise in global temperature, where should we expect a larger warming?
12ºC
Given the dew point that you just identified, how much cooling must the air experience in order to reach saturation? This is just the difference between it's present temperature of 32ºC and the dewpoint you noted above.
eccentricity
Given the main period of climate variation, the variation in which orbital characteristic appears to be most important in driving, or forcing, the climate variation? Here the idea is that the main period of climate variation matches the period of only one of the orbital characteristics, and thus it is the variation in that orbital characteristic that is driving, or forcing, the climate changes.
As the air ascends, temperature decreases, causing condensation
So-called orographic precipitation forms when air is forced to flow up a mountain slope. The reason the precipitation forms is because:
air
The solar methanol exhibited by ETH Zurich's Aldo Steinfeld derives its carbon from what source?
dew point
The temperature to which you must cool an air parcel down to reach 100% relative humidity is referred to as the ___________.
is a zone in which the temperature drops rapidly with increasing depth in the ocean
The thermocline
About 500 million years
*Approximately when do large numbers of fossils first appear in the geologic record?*
Just as likely as it was this year.
*A 40-year flood occurs this year in a stream near where you live. How likely is that another 40-year flood will occur next year?*
Just as likely as it was this year.
*A 50 year flood occurs this year in a stream near where you live. How likely is that a 50 year will occur next year?*
subduction zone
*A ____________ is an elongated region where one lithospheric plate descends below another.*
oxbow
*A cut-off meander is known as a(n)*
False
*A hypothesis is supported by more scientific observation and research than a theory.* T/F?
True
*A scientific theory is supported by more scientific observation and research than a hypothesis.* T/F?
L-I-G-K-H-J-L
*A shipment of rubber duckies falls overboard in the southern Atlantic at location L on the map in the figure below. What path does the duck flotilla follow?* (Hint: this is in the southern hemisphere). K H G F J I L
1.45 billion years from now
*According to the mathematical geoscientist Quiming Cheng, when will plate tectonics shut down?*
True
*Adding water, a so-called volatile, to a rock tends to lower the melting temperature of its minerals, and thus may allow it to melt if it is sufficiently warm.* T/F?
It is near a convergent plate boundary, in this case a subduction zone.
*Again considering the December 26th, 2004 Sumatra earthquake, what is the tectonic reason for this earthquake?*
inward and counterclockwise, or cyclonic
*Again looking at the air pressure map below, what direction is the air circulating around the low pressure center you just identified?* Hint: this is in the Northern Hemisphere
Between C and A
*Again looking at the pressure map below, where are the greatest wind speeds?* Hint: think about what the spacing between isobars means.
False
*All other things being the same, temperatures on Earth would be warmer if there was less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.* T/F?
4.5
*An unknown mineral sample scratches fluorite but cannot scratch apatite. What is the approximate hardness of this mineral?*
20-40 km in diameter
*Approximately how large would an asteroid have to be to generate an 400 km diameter impact crater like the Chicxulub crater on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula?*
180-200 million years
*Approximately how old is the oldest ocean crust scientifically dated to be?*
200 million years
*Approximately how old is the oldest oceanic crust scientifically dated to be?*
65 million years ago
*Approximately when did dinosaurs, exclusive of birds, become extinct?*
542 million years ago
*Approximately when did large numbers of fossils first appear in the geologic record? *At what approximate time does the geologic record begin to contain a larger number of fossils?*
one
*Assuming you know the location of the two seismic stations (GSC & NEE) in the image below, how many additional seismic stations do you need to locate the position of the epicenter?*
0 half-lives elapsed -- 1 parent-total ratio 1 half-live elapsed -- 1/2 parent-total ratio 2 half-lives elapsed -- 1/4 parent-total ratio 3 half-lives elapsed -- 1/8 parent-total ratio 4 half-lives elapsed -- 1/16 parent-total ratio 5 half-lives elapsed -- 1/32 parent-total ratio
*Based on your previous two sets of answers, match the number of half-lives elapsed with the correct ratio of parent to total. This really just dividing the number of parent atoms noted in the first question, by the total number of atoms, which in this case is 800.* Note: this correspondence between the number of half-lives elapsed and the parent to total ratio is general, i.e., it's true for the decay of any radioactive isotope, regardless of the total number of parent atoms a sample started with.
all of the other answers are correct
*Beyond the global warming expected as a consequence of anthropogenic enhancement of the greenhouse effect, global sea level is expected to rise because of* A) melting of alpine (mountain) glaciers B) melting of ice sheets C) thermal expansion of ocean water D) all of the other answers are correct
large amounts of sediment, which usually exceed the capacity of the stream.
*Braided streams are produced by:*
biochemical
*Coal is what type of sedimentary rock?*
False
*Comets have NOT actually been observed striking a planet in our solar system.* T/F?
faster & more smaller & slower
*Comets tend to be ________ than asteroids, and it is estimated that there are far ___________ large comets than large asteroids.* *Asteroids tend to be, on average, _____ and _____ when compared to comets.*
Rock X
*Compare the phase diagrams above. Rock X and Y are located at exactly the same same depth and experience the same temperature. Which rock, X or Y, is not experiencing partial melting?* Rock X : located in solid rock Rock Y : located in crystals & liquid
False
*Complex craters, those with a central peak, tend to be smaller in diameter than simple craters.* T/F?
Tens of minutes to a few hours
*Consider the 26 December, 2004 Indonesia earthquake, which caused the death of over 200,000 people. Many of the people who were killed who lived along the coast of the Indian Ocean, several hundred kilometers (miles) from where the earthquake caused a large tsunami. If there had been an adequate tsunami warning system, how much time would there have been to get those people to higher ground?* (Hint: recall the approximate speed of tsunamis, and remember time=distance/speed; you do not need a calculator)
lower
*Decompression melting is produced by reducing the pressure on hot rock, usually by moving that rock closer to the surface of Earth's crust. The underlying reason why decompression can lead to melting is that decreasing the pressure on a rock tends to _____ its melting temperature.*
Deductive
*During orientation you learn that all classrooms on campus are air conditioned. You decide to bring a sweatshirt to class even on the hottest days. What type of reasoning did you use?*
True
*Earth was built up by an accumulation of material similar to that of many asteroids, meteors, and comets.* T/F?
The rotational axis of Earth being tilted relative to its orbit. The result is that a particular hemisphere (north or south) is pointed away from the Sun during Winter, and toward the Sun during summer.
*Earth's seasons are primarily the result of*
True
*Earth's temperature would be higher if there were less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.* T/F?
nuclear fusion
*Energy emitted by the Sun is produced by*
more silica, less iron & magnesium
*Felsic rocks and minerals have relatively more ______ and relatively less ______ & ______ than mafic rocks and minerals.*
up
*For the rock (X or Y) that is still completely solid, describe in what direction (down, up, left, right, etc.) on the phase diagram that rock would have to move to represent a process that would cause the rock to melt without changing the temperature of the rock.*
The rock experienced a two-stage cooling process, with initial slow cooling at depth followed by rapid cooling at the surface.
*Geologists sometimes find a type of igneous rock known as porphyry, which contains both large and small crystals. Which is the best explanation for the formation of this rock?*
23
*Given that the relative humidity is 50%, approximately what is the water vapor pressure, in millibars (mb) in Oxford?* [Hint: rel. humidity = water vapor pressure/(saturation vapor pressure)x100]
quarts and feldspar
*Granite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock which tends to contain mica (e.g., biotite), and what other common minerals?*
Infrared
*Greenhouse gasses, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, absorb radiation in which band of the electromagnetic spectrum?* *To qualify as a greenhouse gas, a particular gas must absorb electromagnetic radiation in which band?*
P, or compressive
*Group A in the figure below are the first waves to arrive at each station. What type of wave does group A correspond to?*
Shield volcano
*Hawaii is an example of this type feature.*
slower
*High viscosity lava flows _______ than low viscosity lava.* (Hint: think about the flow of honey compared to that of water.)
House B
*House A and House B are identical in terms or their size, features, and price. House A is located on the cut-bank side of a meandering stream. House B is located on the point-bar side of the same stream. Which house would be the better long-term investment?*
parallel and symmetric
*How are magnetic stripes on the seafloor oriented with respect to mid-ocean ridges?*
50 to 100 m in diameter
*How large of an asteroid would likely be required to destroy a large city several km in diameter?* Keep in mind the area of devastation would extend well beyond the diameter of the crater created. The air blast alone will create an area of devastation with a diameter 2-3 times that of the crater.
Since Earth formed.
*How long have asteroids been striking Earth?*
Since the Earth formed.
*How long have asteroids been striking Earth?*
bed
*How would gravel normally be carried in a stream: as part of the bed, dissolved, or suspended load?*
suspended
*How would silt and clay-sized particles normally be carried in a stream: as part of the bed, dissolved, or suspended load?*
suspended
*How would silt and clay-sized particles normally be carried in a stream: as part of the bed, dissolved, or suspended load?* *Silt and clay are most likely to be carried in a stream as*
Incoming solar radiation would increase.
*How would the amount of incoming solar radiation change at the equator if Earth's axis were vertical instead of tilted?*
Switch direction, left of their course
*How would the deflection of ocean currents be altered in the Northern Hemisphere if Earth's direction of rotation reversed such that it was from east to west (instead of from west to east as it is)?*
Earth would be cooler
*How would the temperature of Earth differ if, on average, there were 50% more clouds in the troposphere?*
Shallow Depth
*How would you characterize the depth of the December 26th, 2004 Sumatra earthquake?*
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
*Identify the correct order of atmospheric layers, from the lowest, where we mostly live, to the highest, verging on outer space.*
Dissolved load
*Identify where salt would be carried in a stream: as part of the bed load, suspended load, or dissolved load.* *Salt is most likely to be carried in a stream as*
200-400 m in diameter
*If a meteor with a 20 m in diameter impacts Earth on land, approximately how big will the crater be?*
ion
*If an atom or molecule possess an equal number of protons and electrons it is neutrally charged. If that atom or molecule then loses or gains an electron it is called a(n) _____________.*
50
*If radioactive decay begins with 400 parent isotope atoms, how many will remain after three half-lives?*
150
*If radioactive decay begins with no daughter atoms and 200 parent isotope atoms, how many daughter atoms will there be after two half-lives?*
The lapse rate will decrease in magnitude
*If this air mass continued to rise above that elevation, where it reached saturation, what will happen to the magnitude, or size, of lapse rate?*
Sea level remains unchanged
*Imagine that it rained continuously all over the world for a month. If we were to measure sea level over a five day period near the end of the month, what would we observe?*
stratosphere
*In what layer of the atmosphere does the Antarctic ozone hole occur?* *The so-called ozone hole over Antarctica is an area of decreased ozone (O3) concentration in the*
True
*Intraplate earthquakes, though rare, can produce large areas of high-intensity shaking, unlike earthquakes near plate boundaries.* T/F?
Adjustment
*Is the evacuation of a city in advance of a hurricane an example of prevention or adjustment?*
before
*Is the time that Quiming Cheng is suggesting for the stoppage of plate tectonics before or after the Sun is expected to consume Earth as it becomes a red giant?*
Igneous
*Jello begins as a liquid mixture of boiling water and flavored gelatin. After it cools it forms a solid (but wobbly) material. This could be seen as an analog for the formation of what type of rock?*
outward and clockwise
*Keeping in mind that this is for a location in the Northern Hemisphere, in what direction will air flow around the HIGH pressure center you just identified?* Assume the flow is close to geostrophic (Coriolis force nearly balances the pressure gradient force)
inward and counterclockwise
*Keeping in mind that this is for a location in the Northern Hemisphere, in what direction will air flow around the LOW pressure center you just identified?* Assume the flow is close to geostrophic (Coriolis force nearly balances the pressure gradient force
A, C, H, G
*Looking at the figure below, oceanic ridges are present at all of the following locations.* A --> ocean under tip of Africa B --> Bottom of India C --> Ocean under left size of Australia D --> edge of the bottom tip of Alaska E --> along edge of California F --> along left edge of South America G --> Ocean on the right side of South America H --> Ocean on left side of south America J --> Ocean on right side of China
IV (Mid-Ocean Ridge)
*Looking at the figure below, which of the following areas (labeled with roman numerals) is an example of divergent plate boundary?*
ocean-ocean convergence zone
*Looking at the image below, what type of plate boundary does area I (the Aleutian Islands) represent?*(choose the best option)
Magma B because gases cannot easily escape.
*Magma A has low viscosity and magma B has high viscosity. Which magma is more likely to result in a violent (explosive) eruption?*
small city (5-10 km wide)
*Manicouagan Crater in Canada is approximately 100 km across. A rule-of-thumb is that an impact crater is 10 to 20 times as large as the object which created it. How large was the NEO which created Manicouagan Crater?* *Manicouagan Crater, in Canada, was a 100 km diameter crater when it was first formed in a NEO collision 200 million years ago. Approximately how large in diameter was the impacting NEO?*
Lower global temperatures by blocking incoming energy from the Sun
*Many things can happen when a large NEO strikes Earth. Consider only the effect of ejecta (material thrown up into the air) for a moment. How and why would ejecta affect short term climate (over a few months to a couple years)?*
Largest -- Universe Second Largest -- Galaxy Second Smallest -- Star Smallest -- Planet
*Match the following cosmic features with their relative size* Galaxy, Universe, Planet, Star
magma
*Molten rock beneath the planet's surface.*
lava
*Molten rock that has reached the planet's surface.*
commonly burn up in the atmosphere, never reaching the ground.
*Most meteors that strike Earth's atmosphere*
silicates
*Muscovite, Biotite, Quartz, Feldspar, Pyroxene and Olivine are all part of which mineral group?*
True
*NEO hunters are primarily focused on identifying larger objects that could threaten entire countries or continents.* T/F?
True
*NEO hunters are primarily focused on identifying larger objects that could threaten entire countries or continents.* T/F?
The gravitational pull of the moon, and to a lesser extent, the gravitational pull of the sun.
*Ocean tides are driven by*
granite
*Origin/Texture: plutonic or intrusive, phaneritic. Composition: felsic.*
diorite
*Origin/Texture: plutonic or intrusive, phaneritic. Composition: intermediate.*
gabbro
*Origin/Texture: plutonic or intrusive, phaneritic. Composition: mafic.*
rhyolite
*Origin/Texture: volcanic or extrusive, aphanitic. Composition: felsic.*
andesite
*Origin/Texture: volcanic or extrusive, aphanitic. Composition: intermediate.*
basalt
*Origin/Texture: volcanic or extrusive, aphanitic. Composition: mafic.*
crust, mantle, core
*Place the earth's compositional layers in order from least dense to most dense.* A) crust, mantle, core B) mantle, core, crust C) core, mantle, crust
False
*Quiming Cheng is the first earth scientist to attempt to calculate when plate tectonics will cease operating on Earth.* T/F?
False
*Relative dating involves radioactive isotopes* T/F?
igneous
*Rock produced by solidification of molten material, either lava or magma.*
metamorphic
*Rock that formed by the crystallization of new minerals in the solid state (i.e. without melting) due to heat and/or pressure.*
Sedimentary
*Rock that has formed from lithification of any type of sediment, including clastic or chemical sediments, or organic remains.*
Sedimentary rocks
*Rocks formed at the Earth's surface from the breakup of other rocks, followed by lithification, are:*
Metamorphic rocks
*Rocks that are formed by the crystallization of new minerals in the solid state (i.e. without melting) due to heat and/or pressure are*
Metamorphic
*Rocks that are formed by the crystallization of new minerals in the solid state (i.e.without melting) due to high heat and/or pressure are*
are slower than P-waves, faster than surface waves, and do not travel through liquids or gasses
*S-waves:*
Clastic
*Sandstone is what type of sedimentary rock?*
100-200 km
*Say a 10 km diameter meteorite collided with Earth. How large would the diameter of the resulting cater be?*
two to several hours
*Say an earthquake produced an tsunami, and that tsunami begin traveling toward a coastal city some 2,000 km (1,243 mi) away. Approximately how long will the tsunami take to arrive at the city?*
0 half-lives elapsed -- 0 daughter atoms 1 half-live elapsed -- 400 daughter atoms 2 half-lives elapsed -- 600 daughter atoms 3 half-lives elapsed -- 700 daughter atoms 4 half-lives elapsed -- 750 daughter atoms 5 half-lives elapsed -- 775 daughter atoms
*Say an igneous rock sample formed with 800 radioactive parent atoms, and no daughter atoms. Match the number of half-lives on the left with the number of daughter atoms existing in the sample after than number of half-lives have elapsed.* Note: looking at your answers to the previous question, your answer to add to the corresponding number of parent atoms to yield 800 atoms total. That is to say, whatever is lost by the parent, is gained by the daughter, such that the total number of parent+daughter atoms remains the same.
0 half-lives elapsed -- 800 parent atoms 1 half-live elapsed -- 400 parent atoms 2 half-lives elapsed -- 200 parent atoms 3 half-lives elapsed -- 100 parent atoms 4 half-lives elapsed -- 50 parent atoms 5 half-lives elapsed -- 25 parent atoms
*Say an igneous rock sample formed with 800 radioactive parent atoms, and no daughter atoms. Match the number of half-lives on the left with the number of parent atoms remaining after than number of half-lives have elapsed.*
3
*Say several seismic stations record the seismic waves generated by a particular earthquake. What is the minimum number of those seismic stations required to identify the geographic location of the earthquake?* *The minimum number of seismic stations needed to locate an earthquake is*
5
*Say there is a Moment magnitude 7 earthquake, that is followed by an aftershock. Further, say we know that the energy released by the aftershock is 1,000 (= 101.5×101.5) times smaller than the energy released by the Moment magnitude 7 earthquake. What is the Moment magnitude of the aftershock?* (Hint: you do not need a calculator for this.)
older than
*The big island of Hawaii is the present-day position of a hot spot. The islands to the northwest, such as Maui, Molokai, Oahu, are ___________ the big island of Hawaii.*
6
*Say there is a major earthquake, that is followed by an aftershock of magnitude 4. Further, say we know that the energy released by the aftershock is 1,000 (= 101.5×101.5) times smaller than the energy released by the original earthquake. What is the Moment Magnitude of the original earthquake?*
clast & inclusions
*Say you find a conglomerate that contains a clast (chunk) of gneiss. Which is OLDER, the clast or the conglomerate, and what relative time principle tells us that?*
conglomerate & inclusions
*Say you find a conglomerate that contains a clast (chunk) of granite. Which is YOUNGER, the clast or the conglomerate, and what relative time principle tells us that?*
one to a few hours
*Say you live on the coastline of an ocean basin within which authorities have installed a tsunami warning system. Further, say you receive a warning that a sub-marine (below water) earthquake 600 miles (1,000 km) from your location has generated a tsunami. Approximately how much time do you have before the tsunami reaches your shore?* (Hint: you do not need a calculator for this.)
Viscosity would increase
*Say you've been driving your car on a long (several hour) road trip, and finally arrive at your destination, at which point you park your car and its engine begins to cool down. How would the viscosity of the motor oil in your car's engine change as the engine cools down over several hours?*
slower than
*Seismic, or earthquake, waves, travel _______ electronic communications.*
True
*Simple impact craters do not have a central peak, unlike complex craters.* T/F?
False
*Simple impact craters have a central peak, unlike complex craters.* T/F?
aerosols & cooling
*Sulfate _____, small liquid or solid particles which are suspended in the atmosphere, are produced by both humans (through burning of fossil fuels or wood) and volcanic eruptions. Regardless of their source, their presence in the atmosphere can produce a _____of climate.* *Both volcanic eruptions and humans (through burning of wood or fossil fuels) produce sulfate _______, small liquid or solid particles that are suspended in the atmosphere, which can produce a _____ effect on climate.*
Changes in climate
*Suppose a very large asteroid impacted on the opposite side of the earth from where you live. What characteristic of the impact is probably most threatening to your life?* A) Fireball B) Changes in climate C) Air blast
Jovian
*Suppose an extra-solar planet is discovered orbiting a nearby star. The planet is spherical, composed primarily of carbon dioxide (a gas), is 10 times larger in diameter than Earth, and orbits its star at a distance comparable to 5 AU. What type of planet has been discovered?*
jovian
*Suppose an extra-solar planet is discovered orbiting a nearby star. The planet is spherical, composed primarily of carbon dioxide (a gas), is 10 times larger than Earth, and orbits its star at a distance comparable to 10 AU. What type of planet has been discovered?*
Chemical
*Suppose you are told that the area where you lived was once a shallow sea which has since evaporated away. What kind of rock is most likely to be left behind by the evaporation of that shallow sea?*
Clastic
*Suppose you pick up a rock that consists of pieces of weathered rocks that are cemented together. What type of rock have you found?*
1-10 centimeters per year
*Tectonic plates move at approximately what rate?* *Lithospheric plates move at approximately what speed?*
True
*Temperatures on Earth would be higher if there were more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.* T/F?
older than
*The Big Island of Hawaii marks the present-day location of a hot spot. The islands to the northwest of the Big Island are __________ the Big Island.*
Left
*The Coriolis effect, produced by the rotation of the planet, tends to deflect motion to the _____ in the Southern Hemisphere*
Eccentricity, which varies over a 100 thousand-year cycle
*The Earth's orbit around the Sun varies from more circular to more elliptical and back again through time. What is the name for the measure of elliptical character that the orbit possesses, and over what timescale does it vary?* *The Earth's orbit around the Sun varies from more circular to more elliptical (egg shaped) and back again through time. What is the name for the measure of elliptical character that the orbit possesses, and over what timescale (period) does it vary?*
The geocentric orbit hypothesis
*The Greek philosopher Aristotle, like many people of his time, believed that the Earth was the center of the universe and that other planets revolved around our own. What is the name given to this ancient concept?* *The Greek philosopher Aristotle, like many people at his time, believed the Earth was the center of the universe and that other planets revolved around our own. What is the name given to this ancient concept?*
Hydrogen and Helium
*The Sun is PRIMARILY made of*
focus
*The _________ of an earthquake is the point on the fault surface where seismic energy is first released.*
1,000 (=10^3)
*The amount of seismic energy released by a Moment magnitude 6 earthquake is approximately times greater than the energy released by magnitude 4 earthquake.* (Hint: this is not asking about ground motion, but rather energy.)
100
*The amplitude (size) of the ground motion (seismic waves) generated by a Moment magnitude 8 earthquake is approximately _______ times larger than the amplitude of waves produced by a magnitude 6 earthquake?* (Hint: note that you're being asked about ground motion here, not energy)
3.5%, or 35 per mil (‰)
*The average salinity of the oceans is close to*
older than
*The big island of Hawaii is the present-day position of a hot spot. The islands to the northwest, such as Maui, Molokai, Oahu, are __________ the big island of Hawaii.*
Alaska (to the northwest)
*The city of Los Angeles sits on the Pacific plate. The relative movement of the Pacific and N. American plates will move that city towards:* A) Mexico (to the south) B) Arizona (to the west) C) Alaska (to the northwest) D) Hawaii (to the southwest)
the ocean (mostly in the surface portion, but some in the deep ocean)
*The combination of fossil fuel use and deforestation has emitted approximately 480 Gigatons of carbon over the last century, but the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has only increased by approximately 190 Gigatons. About 110 Gigatons of this "missing" carbon went into which reservoir of the carbon cycle? *The combination of fossil fuel use and deforestation has emitted approximately 480 Gigatons of carbon over the last century, but the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has only increased by 190 Gigatons. About 110 Gigatons of this "missing" carbon went into which reservoir of the carbon cycle?*
weathering
*The destructive processes that, through both physical disintegration and chemical decomposition, change rock that has been exposed at Earth's surface.*
P & S
*The difference in arrival times of ________-waves & ______-waves reflects the distance of an earthquake from a seismic station.*
neutrons and protons
*The different isotopes of a particular element have different numbers of _______ and the same number of _______ in their respective nuclei.*
1,000
*The energy released by a Moment magnitude 7 earthquake is approximately _______ times larger than the energy released by a magnitude 5 earthquake.* (Hint: note that you're being asked about energy here, not ground motion)
the point on the Earth's surface directly above where seismic energy is first released.
*The epicenter of an earthquake is*
density differences, which are in turn produced by differences in temperature and salinity
*The flow of water in the deep ocean is driven by* *Deep ocean circulation is driven by*
True
*The geologic time scale was originally developed using relative time principles and fossil correlation.* T/F?
hydrograph
*The graph below is a* Y-axis --> "Daily Mean Stream Flow" X-axis --> "Time"
Stage
*The height of the upper surface of the river water, relative to a fixed elevation (or datum), is known as a river's*
S, or shear
*The lettered groups in the figure below show the arrival times of the three main types of seismic waves. Group B represents the second set of waves to arrive at each station. What type of wave does group B correspond to?*
Spring tides
*The lowest low tides occur during*
False
*The mineral grains of plutonic (or intrusive) rocks are usually small compared to those of volcanic (or extrusive) rocks.* T/F?
protolith
*The original rock from which a metamorphic rock formed.*
True
*The polarity of Earth's magnetic poles has reversed in the past.* T/F?
the rotational (spin) axis of Earth is tilted with respect to the plane ofEarth's orbit around the Sun.
*The primary reason there are seasons on Earth is because*
chlorofluorocarbons
*The primary source for the chlorine that participates in (anthropogenic) ozone destruction is from the gradual breakdown of what group of chemical compounds?* *What is the name for the class of compounds that slowly decompose in the atmosphere to generate the chlorine that participates in ozone destruction?*
the air pressure is lower, which results in a lower density of air in general, with the relative proportion of oxygen remaining the same as at lower elevations.
*The reason it is difficult to breath at high elevations is because there is less oxygen available to breath at these elevations, compared to, say, sea level. The reason there is less oxygen at high elevations is because*
a few (3-4) days
*The sun is located approximately 150,000,000 km from Earth. Solar flares travel at the speed of the solar wind, which is roughly 1,600,000 km/hr. If scientists identified a solar flare leaving the sun's surface, how long would it take to affect electrical systems on Earth?* (Hint: just divide the distance by the speed to get the time of travel.)
Oxygen (O), Silicon (Si), Aluminum (Al)
*The three most common elements in continental crust are, from most abundant to least:*
erosion
*The transportation of weathering products by wind, water flow, or ice flow.*
Aluminum (Al) and Iron (Fe)
*The two most common elements in continental crust are oxygen (O) and silicon (Si). What are the third and fourth most common elements in continental crust?*
*F* (middle of circle with lines close together) & *K* (middle of circle with lines farther apart)
*There is one easily discernable low-pressure center and one easily discernable high-pressure center on the map. The low-pressure center is at location ____ (indicate letter). The high-pressure center is at location ____ (indicate letter).*
Asteroids
*These objects are composed mostly of rock and/or metal.* (choose the best single answer) A) Asteroids B) Both comets and asteroids C) Potato chips D) Both comets and potato chips E) Comets
Liquefaction
*This earthquake-generated hazard can occur when seismic waves shake water-saturated soils.*
the velocity of stream 2 is four times that of stream 1
*Two rivers have the same cross sectional area. Stream 2 has four times the discharge as stream 1, which tells us that*
Stream B
*Two rivers have the same depth and discharge. Stream B is half as wide as stream A. Which stream has the greater velocity?* [Hint: remember that discharge = velocity x cross-sectional area = velocity x (depth x width). If both rivers have the same discharge and depth, but one is narrower than the other, what must be true of the narrower stream's velocity?]
All of the other answers are correct
*What evidence indicated that Mount St. Helens was going to erupt?* A) Earthquakes B) Changes in the volcano's shape C) Gas emissions D) All of the other answers are correct
Temperature decreases, pressure decreases
*What happens to air as it rises in the troposphere?*
They are formed, i.e., new lithospheric material is created.
*What happens to tectonic plates at a divergent boundary?*
The seafloor gets older and deeper as you move away from the ridge.
*What happens to the age & depth of the seafloor moving away from a mid-ocean ridge?* (FYI, depth is the distance between the seafloor and the sea surface.)
It becomes more shallow (less deep) - as the summit is eroded down, the root of the mountain floats higher (becomes more shallow).
*What happens to the depth of a mountain root as erosion removes material from the summit?*
relative humidity increases
*What happens to the relative humidity of an isolated, unsaturated parcel of air as its temperature decreases?*
The crust and underlying rigid mantle above the asthenosphere
*What is a lithospheric (or tectonic) plate?*
the lowest elevation to which a stream can flow to or erode its bed. The ultimate base level is usually sea level.
*What is a river's base level?*
Where one lithospheric plate is dragged or pushed beneath another lithospheric plate.
*What is a subduction zone?*
One associated with no exchange of energy with surrounding air
*What is an adiabatic temperature change?*
The mantle will gradually cool off to the point that its heat can no longer drive the motion of "planetwide conveyor belt" that is plate tectonics.
*What is expected to cause plate tectonics to eventually cease?*
4.54 billion years
*What is the age of our planet?*
P wave first, then S wave, then surface waves
*What is the correct order of arrival time of the three basic types of seismic waves?* *The correct order of arrival time for the three basic types of seismic waves is:*
thermosphere (highest), mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere (lowest)
*What is the correct order of atmospheric layers, from the highest (way up there) to lowest, down where we live.*
Decrease
*What is the impact on a major stream's maximum annual discharge when flood-control dams are constructed?*
single lid
*What is the name for the "regime" that Earth will enter when plate tectonics stops?*
longitudinal profile
*What is the name for the stream-related graph shown in the figure below?* Y-axis (up & down) --> "Elevation" X-axis (bottom) --> "Downstream Distance"
cyclonic
*What is the name for the type of circulation around the low-pressure center?*
Weathering (generation), transportation, and compaction & cementation (lithification)
*What is the order for these processes that form clastic sedimentary rocks?*
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
*What is the order of planets, from closest to the Sun to furthest from the Sun?*
1/16
*What is the parent to total atoms (P/T) ratio when exactly 4 half lives have elapsed?*
Global wind patterns
*What is the primary cause of the major ocean gyres, the circular patterns of flow within the upper portion of various ocean basins?* *What is the primary cause of the circular patterns of flow within the upper portion of various ocean basins, known as gyres?*
crust, mantle, core
*What is the proper order of Earth's compositional layers from the surface, where we live, down into the interior?*
1/2
*What is the ratio of parent to total atoms (P/T) when exactly one half-life has elapsed*
intraplate
*What is the term for the type of earthquakes which occur within the interior of lithospheric plates, away from plate boundaries?*
elastic rebound
*What is the theory for how earthquakes are generated by way of rocks deforming (being strained) on either side of a fault, followed by a sudden failure of the fault?*
Elastic rebound
*What is the theory for how earthquakes operate, in which rocks are strained, suddenly break, and then return to their original shape?*
Elastic rebound
*What is the theory for how earthquakes operate, in which rocks bend (or are strained), suddenly break, and then return to their original shape?*
all of the other answers are correct
*What makes up a comet?* A) ice B) all of the other answers are correct C) rock D) dust in the Greenland Ice Sheet
Diamond
*What material is 10 on the Mohs hardness scale?*
The rock unit is younger than the inclusion
*What must be true if a rock unit has an inclusion?*
The rock unit must be older than the fault
*What must be true of a rock unit that is cut by a fault?*
convergent plate boundary
*What plate tectonic setting does the figure below illustrate?* [Oceanic Plate (right) sliding UNDER continental plate (left)]
increased temperature and/or pressure
*What processes cause metamorphism in rocks?*
temperature and pressure increase
*What processes may change granite into gneiss?*
Energy released by nuclear fusion
*What produces the Sun's heat?*
Torino
*What scale predicts the potential threat posed by an asteroid impact?*
nitrogen, oxygen, argon
*What three elements make up most of the atmosphere?* *Which of the following sequences of gasses correctly lists the three most abundant gasses in the atmosphere, in order from most abundant to least abundant?*
Saturated air
*What type of air changes temperature more slowly as it rises?* Hint: saturated air is at its dew point - any further cooling will cause condensation. Unsaturated air has not yet cooled to its dew point, and thus cooling will not (yet) produce condensation.
Decompression melting
*What type of melting generates magma at divergent zones, such as mid-ocean ridges?*
Wet rock melting, or wet melting
*What type of melting happens at subduction zones?*
Decompression melting, wherein the reduced pressure decreases the melting temperature of the minerals in the rock, allowing partial melting to occur.
*What type of partial melting is produced by a parcel of rock experiencing a reduction in pressure?*
ocean-ocean convergence zone
*What type of plate boundary does area I (the Aleutian Islands), in figure below, represent?* (choose the best option)
Convergent
*What type of plate boundary is most likely to generate a tsunami?* (Hint: think about the plate-tectonic setting of the islands of Japan)
It is a stratovolcano that exploded when trapped gasses were suddenly released.
*What type of volcano is Mount St. Helens and what caused its 1980 eruption?*
Stratovolcano
*What type of volcano is Mount St. Helens?*
Pangea
*What was the name of the super-continent landmass proposed to have existed approximately 250 million years ago?*
Decreases due to fresh water input.
*What will happen to Arctic Ocean salinity values when sea ice melts?*
This will cause Earth's magnetic field to fail (weaken significantly), allowing the solar wind to strip away our atmosphere.
*What will happen when the liquid outer core cools off enough to stop convecting?*
Tidal ranges would be smaller
*What would happen to tidal ranges if the moon were farther away from the Earth?*
higher
*When a rock experiences partial (not complete) melting, the magma produced is ________ in silica than the original (before melt) rock.*
epicenter
*When an earthquake occurs, energy radiates in all directions from its source. The point on Earth's surface directly above this source is called the _______ of the earthquake.*
focus
*When an earthquake occurs, energy radiates in all directions from its source. This source is also called the:*
5.4 billion years from now
*When is the Sun expected to become a red giant, growing to such a size that our planet will be consumed?*
Wegener did not offer a plausible explanation for how the continents move.
*When it was first proposed, Alfred Wegener's continental drift hypothesis was heavily criticized by earth scientists. What was one of their primary objections to the continental drift hypothesis?*
nearest the mid-ocean ridges
*Where are the newest (or most young) seafloor rocks found?*
about halfway between mid-ocean ridge and the coastline
*Where are the oldest rocks on the Atlantic seafloor located?*
near subduction zones
*Where do the deepest earthquakes occur?*
at or near subduction zones
*Where is seafloor returned to the mantle?*
at subduction zones
*Where is seafloor returned to the mantle?*
Andes, on the west coast of S. America
*Where on earth do we find the specific type of plate boundary illustrated in the figure below?* [Oceanic Plate (right) sliding UNDER continental plate (left)]
Bed load
*Where would gravel normally be carried in a stream: as part of the dissolved load, suspended load, or bed load?*
Between points F and K, because of the very high pressure gradient between those points.
*Which area on the map is likely to have the highest windspeed, and why?*
They are both present in the solar system
*Which characteristics are true of both planets and asteroids?* A) They both possess moons B) They are both approximately spherical C) They are both present in the solar system D) They formed 1 to 2 billion years ago
Geosphere
*Which component of the earth system relates to the solid earth? (e.g., rocks and sediments)*
Graph A
*Which graph below (a-d) best illustrates the change in the proportion of unstable (parent) radioactive isotope with time?* Graph A : sloping downward Graph B : line straight down Graph C : line straight up Graph D : sloping upward
Graph C
*Which graph in figure 1 best shows how the bathymetry (depth) of oceanic crust changes across a mid-ocean ridge?* Graph A : Bowl Shaped Graph B : Dips down in a point Graph C : Goes up in a point
Graph 2
*Which graph in the figure below best shows how the bathymetry (depth) of oceanic crust changes across a mid-ocean ridge?* Graph 1 : U-shape Graph 2 : looks like a hill with a sharp dip in it Graph 3 : scribbles
cleavage
*Which mineral property is associated with breaking on planes?*
all of the other answers are correct, though any particular plate boundary may not have all of these features
*Which of the following are found near plate boundaries* A) all of the other answers are correct, though any particular plate boundary may not have all of these features B) earthquakes C) mid-ocean ridges D) volcanoes E) trenches
all of the other answers are correct
*Which of the following are hazards associated with earthquakes?*
Implementing policies which will encourage the use of renewal energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines.
*Which of the following is not part of earth science's role of finding and sustaining Earth's resources?* A) Examining the distribution of economically useful copper deposits across North America. B) Assessing the total global oil reserves, and how long they might last given their present rate of consumption. C) Implementing policies which will encourage the use of renewal energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines.
Gwyn went fishing and caught 12 smallmouth bass with minnows, and only 2 with worms. Gwyn concludes that most fish prefer eating minnows instead of worms.
*Which of the following scenarios is an example of inductive reasoning?*
Neptune, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter Mars, Jupiter, Mercury
*Which of the following sequences of planets is out of order?* A) Neptune, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter B) Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune C) Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars D) Jupiter, Mars, Earth, Venus, Mercury *Which of the following sequences of planets is out of order?* A) Mercury, Venus, Earth B) Earth, Mars, Jupiter C) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus D) Mars, Jupiter, Mercury
Hypotheses are only as good as the observations on which they are based.
*Which of the following statements is most accurate?* A) Hypotheses are only as good as the observations on which they are based. B) Observations are only as good as the hypotheses on which they are based.
Image D
*Which of the images below best represents the boundary between the Nazca and South American plates, on the western side of South America? Importantly, say our perspective is looking to the north, with the Nazca plate to the left (west), and the South American plate to the right (east).* Image A : arrows up & down Image B : <-- --> Image C : --> <-- (going under) Image D : (going under) --> <--
Image A
*Which of the images below best represents the plate boundary between the North American and Pacific plates along the San Andreas Fault?* Image A : arrows up & down Image B : <-- --> Image C : --> <-- (going under) Image D : (going under) --> <--
Image B
*Which of the images below would most likely be associated with the creation of new oceanic crust?* Image A : arrows up & down Image B : <-- --> Image C : --> <-- (going under) Image D : (going under) --> <--
Granite
*Which one of these is a high silica rock that cooled slowly, likely having visible crystals?*
Gabbro
*Which one of these is a low silica rock that cooled slowly, likely having visible crystals?*
Weathering (generation), transportation, deposition, and lithification
*Which process would change an igneous rock to a sedimentary rock*
Melting and crystallization
*Which processes would change a metamorphic rock to an igneous rock?*
Increased temperature and pressure
*Which processes would change a sedimentary rock to a metamorphic rock?*
Weathering, transport, deposition, and lithification
*Which processes would convert a metamorphic rock into a sedimentary rock?*
The Pacific northwest because of the convergent plate boundary there.
*Which region in the continental U.S. has the highest hazard associated with volcanoes and why?*
Protecting against natural hazards
*Which role of earth scientists most directly relates to forecasting hurricane paths?*
Modified Mercalli scale
*Which scale reflects an earthquake's impact (e.g., shaking, damage) on a particular location?*
GSC
*Which seismic station (labeled GSC and NEE) in the image below, is closer to the earthquake epicenter.* A) NEE : Starts later B) GSC : Starts sooner
Location B
*Which site is the location of continent-continent collision, a type of convergent plate boundary?*
Science is the process of discovery.
*Which statement best describes science?* A) Science is the quest for ultimate truth. B) Science is a large static (unchanging) body of factual knowledge. C) Science is the process of discovery.
Jovian planets are LARGER and LESS dense than terrestrial planets. Terrestrial planets are SMALLER and MORE dense than Jovian planets
*Which statement comparing terrestrial and Jovian planets is most accurate?* *Which statement comparing terrestrial and Jovian planets in our solar system is most accurate?* A) Jovian planets are larger and less dense than terrestrial planets. B) Jovian planets are smaller and more dense than terrestrial planets. C) Jovian planets are smaller and less dense than terrestrial planets. D) Jovian planets are larger and more dense than terrestrial planets.
Rainforest
*Which surface would have the lowest albedo?*
Continental drift and seafloor spreading
*Which two ideas were eventually combined to form the theory of plate tectonics?*
One that lived in many environments, which was present for only a few million of years.
*Which type of organism would be the best index fossil species?*
sedimentary
*Which type of rocks typically show beds?*
Surface Waves
*Which type of seismic wave is the slowest, and thus the last to arrive at a location that is some distance from the epicenter of an earthquake?*
P or Primary Waves
*Which type of seismic wave travels the fastest, and thus arrives first at a location some distance from the epicenter of an earthquake?*
Wegner
*Who proposed the idea of continental drift?*
Their half lives do not change over time or with changing environmental conditions
*Why are radioactive isotopes useful for determining the ages of rocks?*
Insolation varies annually because of the Earth's rotational tilt
*Why are there seasons on Earth?*
Their half-lives do not change over time. Their half lives do not change over time, and do not change with changing conditions
*Why can radioactive elements be used to determine the ages of rocks?* *What characteristic of the half-lives of radioactive isotopes makes them so useful for determining the ages of rocks?*
Due to Earth possessing a liquid outer core
*Why does Earth have a magnetic field?*
Temperatures decrease, causing condensation.
*Why does precipitation form when air is forced to flow up a mountain slope?*
Due to Earth possessing a liquid outer core
*Why does the Earth have a magnetic field?*
Water from the descending slab lowers the melting temperature of the minerals in the wedge of mantle rock, allowing some of the rock to melt.
*Why does this type of melting occur at subduction zones?*
The earth has interacting components like any system.
*Why is Earth a "system?"*
Rock Y has had water added to it; this lowers the melting temperature of the minerals in the rock, allowing partial melting to occur.
*Why is one rock melting, while the other is solid at the same depth and temperature?*
Because humans are causing significant changes to the planet.
*Why might the era we live in today one day be called the "Anthropocene"?* *Why do some scientists refer to the era we live in today as the "Anthropocene"?*
No valid mechanism for how the continents move was offered.
*Why were the ideas regarding continental drift not readily accepted by scientists in the early 20th century?*
Higher
*With the concept of isostasy in mind, how would the elevation of mountains differ if Earth's crust were composed of less dense rocks? Mountains would be*
The density increases
*Within most of the temperature range that we find liquid water on Earth, what happens to the density of that water as its temperature decreases?*
Biosphere
*Within which component of the Earth system do plants and animals belong?*
Very cold (close to 0 ºF, -18ºC)
*Without the greenhouse effect, Earth's average temperature would be*
No
*Would volcanic activity (volcanism) stop when plate tectonics stops?*
The composition of the magma from which this rock formed is felsic.
*You examine an igneous rock that has mineral grains which are 2.5 cm in size (large), and are primarily dark green and black color. Which statement concerning the rock is not accurate?*
Proxy
*______ indicators provide indirect records of past climate change that extend well beyond the historical record* *What type of evidence provides an indirect record of past climate change that extends well beyond the modern instrumental record?*
Asteroids; small chunks of rock knocked loose from a belt between Mars and Jupiter.
*_______ is the name given to NEOs composed of rock and or metallic material that are best described as*
normal
*___________ faults are most common at divergent plate boundaries.*
Hydrogen
*_____________ is the most abundant element in the Sun.*
Intrusive
*______________ igneous rocks cool slowly, deep beneath Earth's cool surface.*
mid-ocean ridge
Decompression melting produces partial melting of rock as that experiences a decrease in pressure (i.e., decompression). This occurs as the rock is being brought closer to Earth's surface, lowering the pressure and thereby lowering the melting temperature of some of the minerals in the rock. *Which plate tectonic setting produces such decompression melting?*
200 m
During mountain building the crust thickens. A portion of the added thickness goes into deepening the root, and the rest adds to the height (or elevation) of the mountain range. By approximately how much do mountains rise in elevation with each addition of 1000 m of crustal thickness?
1,000 meters
During mountain building, as crustal thickness increases, some of the added thickness goes into deepening the root, and some adds to the height of the mountain range. *Approximately how much of an increase in crustal thickness is required to add 200 meters to the elevation of a mountain range?*
Oxygen
Early marine (ocean-dwelling) photosynthetic organisms caused the amount of _____ in the atmosphere to increase gradually over time.
Infrared (Earth) & Visible (Sun)
Earth emits the most of its electromagnetic radiation (light energy) in the _______ band, while most of the incoming radiation from the Sun is in the ________ band.
Obliquity, which varies over a 41 thousand-year cycle
Earth's rotational axis is presently tilted by approximately 23.5º relative to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. However, this angle of tilt gradually varies from 22º to 25º over time. What is the name for this amount of tilt that the planet possesses, and over what timescale (period) does it vary?
All of the other choices are correct
How do we know the recent rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide is due primarily to human use of fossil fuels? A) The 13C/12C ratio of carbon dioxide declined, indicating a plant based source for the carbon, rather than volcanic degassing B) All of the other choices are correct. C) A decrease in 14C in the atmosphere, indicating that the carbon source is very old (many 14C half-lives old). This suggests burning of fossil fuels, rather than young vegetation. D) The increase in carbon dioxide coincides with a decrease in oxygen concentration, implying the cause involves burning, not volcanic degassing.
It will increase
How does cooling a parcel of air change its relative humidity?
Captured carbon dioxide is dissolved in water and then pumped into basalt, where it reacts with metals in the rock to form solid minerals.
How does the "Carbfix" method of carbon dioxide removal work?
10
How many gigatons of carbon are burned every year, according to Colorado State University's Scott Denning?
37
How many gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) are generated by burning 10 gigatons of carbon?
205
How many gigatons of carbon does ETH Zurich'sTom Crowther suggest 1 trillion trees could potentially store?
Atmospheric CO2 concentration will increase
If global respiration exceeds global photosynthesis during a particular time of the year, how should we expect the atmospheric carbon-dioxide (CO2) concentration to change in response?
Ensuring the Future of Human Life
In 2005 the United States Congress mandated that NASA find 90 percent of large Near Earth asteroids (NEAs)-those that have the potential to impact Earth-by the year 2020. This mandate was created in response to recent scientific data indicating that large and devastating impact events were common in Earth's geologic past and therefore will likely occur again in the future. Many new NEAs have been discovered as a result of NASA's efforts and research is under way to find ways to stop such impact events from occurring. *Which of the earth scientist's roles is best illustrated in this paragraph?*
soil carbon
In the composting solution that UC Berkeley's Whendee Silver is researching, in what form is carbon stored?
observation
In the context of science, how would you classify the following statement? *Iridium is present in relatively high concentrations in 65 million year old rock layers in several different locations on Earth.*
*II* (middle of circle with lines close together) & *III* (middle of circle with lines farther apart)
In the figure below, which points (identified using roman numerals) represent low and high pressure centers, respectively?
inward and clockwise, or cyclonic
In what direction do winds tend to travel around a low pressure center, such as the one you just identified? [Hint: this is for the southern hemisphere]
30 years
In what duration of time do developed nations need to have moved to a zero-emission energy system, according to Princeton University's Steve Pacala?
*between II & I* II --> in circle with lines close together I --> outside of that circle but close to it, pressure increasing in that direction
In which area in the figure below should you expect the wind speeds to be highest?
Transform boundary
Looking at the figure below, what plate-tectonic setting does feature E represent? E --> along edge of California
superposition
Looking at the figure below, which relative time principle assumes that rock layer B is olderthan rock layer F?
cross-cutting relationships
Looking at the figure below, which relative time principle assumes that rock layers I, B, F, and M are older than the igneous intrusion H?
Observation
Luis and Walter Alvarez suggested the dinosaurs became extinct when an asteroid collided with the earth. In support of this suggestion *they noted that the rare element iridium was present in 65 million year old rock layers around the world.* The text between the asterisks (*'s) is an example of a(n)
23 thousand years --> precession, or axial wobble 41 thousand years --> obliquity, or the amount of axial tilt 100 thousand years --> eccentricity, or how elliptical the orbit is
Match the orbital characteristics with their respective period of variation.
more & lower
Methane (CH4) is a _________ powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO2), for the same mass of each gas. Relatedly, the atmosphere has a much _________ concentration of methane relative to carbon dioxide.
18O/16O decreases
Over the last 2.75 million years, periods of major northern hemisphere glaciation (glacial times) have alternated with periods of relatively reduced glaciation (interglacial times). As recorded by foraminifera found in ocean sediments, what happens to the ratio of 18O to 16O in the oceans as Earth goes from a glacial (lots of ice on land) to interglacial (less ice on land) state?
Science is limited by technology.
Pluto was discovered in 1930, becoming the 9th planet in the solar system. As telescopes improved, other Sun-orbiting objects were discovered. Some of those were even larger than Pluto. By 2005, it was becoming apparent that many more objects would soon be discovered and that the number of planets in the Solar System could swell to as many as 50. After much debate, scientists in the International Astronomical Union (IAU) concluded that Pluto and the other similar celestial bodies orbiting the Sun should be classified as "dwarf" planets. Since a "planet" must clear the space surrounding its orbit, our Solar system now has 8 planets. *Why weren't the other Pluto-like objects discovered earlier?*
amplify (or strengthen)
Positive feedbacks in the climate system tend to _________ changes in climate produced by climatic forcings.
Clastic
Rocks that are made of up weathered or broken up pieces of pre-existing rock are called
Igneous
Rocks that crystallize from a magma are
increased
Say it's early winter and the first major snowfall event of the season has just covered a local forest. The albedo of this forest has
P=125, D=875
Say that when a particular igneous rock sample formed (solidified) it contained 1,000 (=103) radioactive parent atoms and zero daughter atoms. After three half lives, how many parent (P) and daughter (D) atoms are there, respectively?
3
Say we have another igneous rock sample which presently has 75 radioactive parent atoms and 525 daughter atoms. Also say that the radioactive parent isotope has a half-life of 20 million years., i.e., there are 20 million years/half-life for this particular isotope. Assuming that this rock sample formed with only parent radioactive parent atoms, how do we go about calculating it's age? *Assuming that the sample formed with only parent atoms, and no daughter atoms, how many half lives must have elapsed since the sample's formation, in order to get the parent to total ratio you arrived at above?* [Hint: this is the number of times you must half the total number of atoms to get to the present number of parent atoms.].
60 million years
Say we have another igneous rock sample which presently has 75 radioactive parent atoms and 525 daughter atoms. Also say that the radioactive parent isotope has a half-life of 20 million years., i.e., there are 20 million years/half-life for this particular isotope. Assuming that this rock sample formed with only parent radioactive parent atoms, how do we go about calculating it's age? *Given the number of half lives that have elapsed (from the question immediately above), and given that the radioactive parent isotope has a half-life of 20 million years/half-life, how old is this sample?* [Hint, this is simply multiplying the number of half-lives found immediately above by the time per half life, which, in this case, is 20 million years/half-life.]
1/8
Say we have another igneous rock sample which presently has 75 radioactive parent atoms and 525 daughter atoms. Also say that the radioactive parent isotope has a half-life of 20 million years., i.e., there are 20 million years/half-life for this particular isotope. Assuming that this rock sample formed with only parent radioactive parent atoms, how do we go about calculating it's age? *What is the parent to total ratio?* [Hint: this is literally just the present number of parent atoms, 75, divided by the correct answer to the question immediately above.]
600
Say we have another igneous rock sample which presently has 75 radioactive parent atoms and 525 daughter atoms. Also say that the radioactive parent isotope has a half-life of 20 million years., i.e., there are 20 million years/half-life for this particular isotope. Assuming that this rock sample formed with only parent radioactive parent atoms, how do we go about calculating it's age? *What is the total number of atoms?* [Hint: simply add the number of daughter and parent atoms together.]
Precession
Say you are analyzing reconstructed temperature variations derived from oxygen isotope measurements in planktonic foraminifera shells found within ocean sediment cores. Further, say you notice a regular variation in the temperatures, with cold periods happening every 23,000 years. Which natural climate change cycle is most likely responsible for those temperature variations?
The salinity of the surrounding water would increase rapidly
Say you are descending in a mini-sub from sea level to the top of a mid-ocean ridge some 2 km below the surface. What would you observe on the submersible's instrument panel as you descended through the halocline?
Protecting Against Natural Hazards
Scientists at the National Weather Service are tasked with issuing tornado watches and warnings to the public. *This is an example of which of the following roles of an earth scientist?*
46 mb
Suppose we look up the temperature and humidity for Oxford on a hot summer day, and find it is 32ºC (89.6ºF) and 50% relative humidity. Using the graph above, what is the approximate saturation vapor pressure, in millibars (mb) for Oxford, if the temperature is indeed 32ºC? In other words, based the graph above, how much water vapor would need to be in our 32ºC for that air to be at 100% relative humidity?
The temperature of the surrounding water would decrease rapidly
Suppose you are traveling in a submersible that is diving from the ocean surface toward the seafloor at a depth of 4000 meters. *What would you observe on the submersible's instrument panel as you descended through the thermocline?*
Growth of leaf material on deciduous trees in the northern hemisphere
The Keeling curve, show in the figure below, shows an overall rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since 1958. However, on top of this decadal-scale trend are seasonal variations in atmospheric carbon-dioxide concentration. What produces the drop in carbon dioxide during the boreal (northern hemisphere) spring and summer?
Visible (Sun) & Infrared (Earth)
The Sun emits the most of its electromagnetic radiation (light) in the ________ band, while the outgoing radiation from Earth is in the ______ band.
2-4
The assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is that over the next century we should expect a globally averaged temperature rise of approximately _____ oC.
increases
The age of oceanic crust _____________ with increasing distance from a mid-ocean ridge.
4
The average depth of the ocean is approximately ________ km
Melting
The following diagram illustrates the rock cycle. *Match the item below to step number 1 on the diagram. Example: If you believe that metamorphic rock is converted to magma by cementation and compaction then choose that answer for Step 1.*
Cooling and solidification
The following diagram illustrates the rock cycle. *Match the item below to step number 2 on the diagram. Example: if you believe that heat and pressure convert magma to igneous rock then choose that answer.*
Heat and pressure
The following diagram illustrates the rock cycle. *Match the item below to step number 3 on the diagram. Example: if you believe that compaction and cementation convert igneous rock to metamorphic rock, then choose that answer.*
Weathering (generation), transportation, and deposition
The following diagram illustrates the rock cycle. *Match the item below to step number 4 on the diagram. Example: if you believe that compaction and cementation convert metamorphic rock to sediment then choose that answer.*
Weathering (generation), transportation, and deposition
The following diagram illustrates the rock cycle. *Match the item below to step number 5 on the diagram. Example: if you believe that compaction and cementation convert igneous rock to sediment then choose that answer.*
Heat and pressure
The following diagram illustrates the rock cycle. *Match the item below to step number 6 on the diagram. Example: if you believe that compaction and cementation convert sedimentary rock to metamorphic rock then choose that answer.*
Weathering (generation), transportation, and deposition
The following diagram illustrates the rock cycle. *Match the item below to step number 7 on the diagram. Example: if you believe that compaction and cementation convert sedimentary rock to sediment then choose that answer.*
Compaction and cementation (lithification)
The following diagram illustrates the rock cycle. *Match the item below to step number 8 on the diagram. Example: if you believe that melting converts sediment to sedimentary rock then choose that answer.*
True
The key idea behind solar geoengineering is that reflective particles are purposely put into the atmosphere to reflect incoming sunlight, thereby cooling the planet.
410 ppm (modern) & 280 ppm (pre-industrial)
The modern (2020-2021) atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide is approximately ____ , and the concentration prior to the beginning of the industrial revolution in the mid- nineteenth century was approximately _____.
280 ppm (pre-industrial) & 405 ppm
The pre-industrial (prior to 1850 AD) and present (2019 AD) atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide are approximately
discharge
The volume of water flowing past a point along a stream over a specified length of time is the _____ of the stream.
Stratovolcanoes
These volcanoes are the most likely to explode violently.
Both new and full moon
What phase or phases of the moon correspond to spring tides? Choose the best single answer
Modified Mercalli Intensity
What scale reflects the variation in shaking experienced at different locations for the same earthquake?
sea salt
What substance is Sarah Doherty of the Marine Cloud Brightening Project trying to use to increase the brightness (or reflectivity) of clouds?
basalt
What type of igneous rock makes up Iceland?
It will shrink/recede
What will happen to a glacier or ice sheet in negative mass balance?
Obliquity (tilt angle)
When analyzing temperature anomaly data from a set of climate proxies you notice a change in temperatures over a 41,000 year cycle. Which natural climate change cycle is most likely responsible for such a change?
catalyst
When chlorine participates in the destruction of ozone, there is a loss of ozone but no loss of chlorine. In other words, chlorine is not consumed by the reaction. What is the term for a chemical that participates in, but is not consumed by a chemical reaction?
Hydrosphere
Which component of the earth system includes the ice in the Greenland Ice Sheet?
magma c
Which magma below would, if it cooled slowly, would most likely form granite?
decreasing latitude (moving from the poles toward the tropics)
Which of the following does not cause the Coriolis force to be stronger?
An umbrella is to rain as the STRATOSPHERIC ozone is to ultraviolet radiation.
Which of the following statements is the best analogy?
point b
Which point in the figure below represents a magma that, if cooled quickly, would most likely form andesite?
More carbon enters the atmosphere than leaves the atmosphere.
Which statement about the global carbon cycle is most accurate?
simple
Which type of crater is smaller in diameter and does not posses a central peak.
There is more solar insolation near the equator.
Why are ocean surface temperatures higher near the equator?
The expected growth in the demand for food will make it hard to take land for growing new trees.
Why might growing new trees not be a feasible carbon-storage solution, according to Princeton University's Steve Pacala?
Saturated (or wet) air
________ air changes temperature more slowly as it rises in the troposphere.