Quizzes 1-6
What are three ways you can melt a rock to make magma? A) Increasing the pressure on a rock B) Adding dissolved volatiles to increase the rock's melting temperature C) Decreasing the pressure on a rock D) Adding water to lower the rock's melting temperature E) Adding heat to increase the rock's temperature
1. Decreasing the pressure on a rock 2. Adding water to lower the rock's melting temperature 3. Adding heat to increase the rock's temperature
Calculate the discharge (in cubic meters/second) if a large stream's average velocity is 3 meters/second, its stage is 14 meters, and its width as measured bank-to-bank is 27 meters.
1134
You need data from a minimum of _______ seismic stations to determine the location of an earthquake's epicenter.
3
Of the ways mantle rock can melt to form magma, which is most commonly found at hotspots? A) Adding heat to increase the rock's temperature B) Adding water to lower the rock's melting temperature. C) Putting the rock under increased pressure. D) Decreasing the pressure on the rock by bringing it closer to the Earth's surface.
A) Adding heat to increase the rock's temperature
A watershed (or drainage basin) is: (Select all that apply) A) An area that drains into a specific river B) shared among 2 or more different rivers that end in the ocean C) bounded by a drainage divide D) an administrative boundary that has nothing to do with the hydrology of the river itself
A) An area that drains into a specific river C) bounded by a drainage divide
Which of the following volcanic areas are located at subduction zones and are therefore likely to be explosive? (Check all the correct answers) A) Colima and Mt. Etna B) Hawaii and Teide C) Mt. Merapi and Ulawun D) Mt. Nyiragongo
A) Colima and Mt. Etna C) Mt. Merapi and Ulawun
Delaware is most at risk from the following natural hazard: A) Flooding B) Landslides C) Tsunami D) Volcanic eruption E) Earthquake
A) Flooding
A mature soil A) Has numerous recognizable horizons. B) Is light in color. C) Is composed by a layer of organic matter sitting on top of fractured rock. D) Is usually very thin.
A) Has numerous recognizable horizons.
After a watershed is urbanized, flood discharges typically A) Increase B) Experience no change C) Decrease
A) Increase
Yellowstone is considered to be a "supervolcano" - capable of producing an eruption several thousand times the size of the Mt. St. Helens eruption. Yet, most people don't even realize it is a volcano -- it doesn't have a corporeal, pretty mountain like Mt. St. Helens. This type of volcano is known as a A) rhyolite caldera B) shield volcano C) lava dome D) cinder cone E) stratovolcano
A) rhyolite caldera
Factors affecting soil formation are: (Select all that apply) A) Parent material (the rock from which they generate) B) Time C) Climate D) Slope E) Biological action
A, B, C, D, E all apply
The next time you are in the market to buy a house, you will (select all that apply) A) make sure that you have flood insurance! B) build or renovate the house to be flood-resistant. C) understand its location with respect to the 100 year floodplain.
A,B,C all apply
The Drs. O'Neal win the Powerball and buy a McMansion just inside the 100-year flood plain of White Clay Creek. What is the chance that the Drs. O'Neal will experience a flood this year? A) The chance of flooding cannot be determined without the date of the last flood. B) 1 in 100, or 1% C) Zero, since floodwaters will only reach the house once every 100 years. D) 1 in 100,000, or 0.001%
B) 1 in 100, or 1%
A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 100 years. When a mineral with that isotope in it is 300 years old, how much of the parent isotope is left? A) 6.25% B) 12.5% C) More information is needed. D) 50% E) 25%
B) 12.5%
Life on Earth first arose: A) 65 million years ago, with the beginning of the Cenozoic Era. B) 3.5 billion years ago, with chemosynthetic microorganisms. C) 4.6 billion years ago. D) 541 million years ago, with the Cambrian explosion.
B) 3.5 billion years ago, with chemosynthetic microorganisms.
The most common form of carbon is Carbon-12, which contains 6 protons and 6 neutrons. A tiny fraction of the carbon on earth occurs as Carbon-14, which contains: A) 8 protons, 4 neutrons, and 2 electrons B) 6 protons, 8 neutrons C) 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 2 electrons D) 8 protons, 6 neutrons
B) 6 protons, 8 neutrons
Most of the explosive magma produced on Earth is produced by the process of subduction and is andesitic to rhyolitic in composition. Which of the following processes produces the andesitic/rhyolitic magma seen at subduction zone volcanoes? A) Increase in the temperature of hot mantle rock as heat is added via a plume originating from near the outer core. B) Addition of water and volatiles to the hot rock of the mantle. C) Increase in pressure on the hot rock of the mantle as the descending/subducting slab downwells. D) Decrease in pressure on the hot rock of the mantle as it upwells toward a gap in the lithosphere.
B) Addition of water and volatiles to the hot rock of the mantle.
A landslide will start to move if: A) the inclination of the slope equals the angle of repose. B) the downslope force exceeds the resisting force on the slope. C) the friction of the weight of the rocks exceeds the pull of gravity down the slope. D) the shear stress is perpendicular to the slope surface.
B) the downslope force exceeds the resisting force on the slope.
What causes the up-and-down "wiggles" on a seismogram? A) transfer of matter from the focus to another site B) vibrations of the ground C) a tsunami D) variations in air pressure E) variations in earth materials
B) vibrations of the ground
In the following list of magmas, only one will produce a lava dome - the others will produce lava flows, or spatter to form small cinder cones, or explode to produce pyroclastics. Which one of the following magmas is most likely to produce a lava dome when it reaches the Earth's surface? A) A basaltic magma without gas B) A basaltic magma with gas C) An andesitic magma without gas D) An andesitic magma with gas
C) An andesitic magma without gas
In an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than the one above and younger than the one below. The preceding is a statement of the law of ________. A) original horizontality B) deformation C) superposition D) cross-cutting relationships
C) superposition
An earthquake of M8 causes the amplitude of ground motion to be _____ times larger than a M7 earthquake and ______ times larger than a M6 earthquake. A) 32; 4,096 B) 1; 2 C) 32; 64 D) 5; 10 E) 10; 100
E) 10; 100
The Earth is approximately ________ years old. A) 1.2 billion B) 6,000 C) 14 billion D) 100 million E) 4.6 billion
E) 4.6 billion
Which of the following signs provides evidence that a volcanic eruption may be imminent? A) An increase in ground temperature near a volcano. B) An increase in the concentration of volcanic gases near the Earth's surface. C) Earthquakes, especially swarms of earthquakes under the volcano, that change in depth and become shallower. D) Changes in the tilt or shape of the ground on the flank of a volcano. E) All of the above
E) All of the above
Which of the following is a statement involving climate rather than weather? A) Rainfall amounts were above average this month. B) The temperature will rise during the next week. C) Today it is cloudy and raining. D) It is 56 degrees F and sunny. E) The winters here are dry and warm.
E) The winters here are dry and warm.
How is NASA preparing for a possible asteroid impact? A) They are working on supercooling devices to decrease the incidence of wildfires cause by an impact. B) They are fortifying areas that might be hit. C) They aren't doing anything, since impacts aren't likely enough for scientists to be concerned. D) They are devising shielding devices that will be stationed on the Earth to reflect or deflect impacts. E) They are cataloging objects in the sky that might be dangerous.
E) They are cataloging objects in the sky that might be dangerous.
The biggest earthquakes (M8.5 and above) are most likely to occur at A) hot spots B) convergent-collision boundaries C) transform plate boundaries D) mid-oceanic ridges E) subduction zones
E) subduction zones
Andesitic magma is most commonly found at what type of plate tectonic setting? A) mid-oceanic ridges (divergent) B) continental collisions (convergent) C) oceanic hot spots (intraplate) D) strike-slip faults (transform) E) subduction zones (convergent)
E) subduction zones (convergent)
Which one of the following is NOT explained by Plate Tectonics? A) the jigsaw-like fit of the continents B) paleoclimate evidence C) fossil evidence across continents D) the presence of the mid-oceanic ridges E) the Earth's magnetic dipole
E) the Earth's magnetic dipole
The factors that determine how much energy is released by an earthquake do NOT include: A) the area (or length) of the fault that ruptures during the earthquake B) the offset or displacement of the fault during an earthquake (slip) C) the friction across the fault D) the amount of strain able to be accommodated by the earth materials involved in the fault. E) the depth of the focus
E) the depth of the focus
Whether a river is eroding or depositing is directly related to: A) the size of the floodplain B) the roughness of the river bed C) the discharge D) the stage E) the velocity of flow
E) the velocity of flow
Which of the following geologic features are NOT considered to be strong evidence of an asteroid or comet impact? A) microtectites B) shocked quartz C) iridium anomaly D) impact crater E) tsunami deposits
E) tsunami deposits
Which of the three rock groups forms when magma cools and solidifies?
Igneous
Incoming solar radiation reaches the earth as visible (mostly yellow) light. After being absorbed by the Earth's surface (heating it), this energy is radiated by the Earth at what wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum of radiation (the answer is a single word, not a number)____
Infrared
How fast is soil creep? A) 1 to 10 millimeters per hour B) 1 kilometer per year C) 1 to 10 millimeters per year D) 1 to 10 meters per year
C) 1 to 10 millimeters per year
In the following list of magmas, only one is likely to explode - the others will produce lava flows or spatter to form small cinder cones or ooze out to form lava domes. Which one of the following magmas will explode when it reaches the Earth's surface? A) A basaltic magma with gas. B) An andesitic magma without gas. C) An andesitic magma with gas. D) A rhyolitic magma without gas. E) A basaltic magma without gas.
C) An andesitic magma with gas.
According to the elastic rebound model, what causes strain in earth materials across a fault line? A) Increased stress caused by the push and pull of plate tectonic forces on earth materials B) Decreased stress caused by the release of energy in the form of seismic waves. C) Increased stress caused by humans constraining earth materials when they build fences and roads across a fault. D) Dissolved gases that seek to escape molten rock. E) Increased stress caused by blocks of earth materials at rest.
A) Increased stress caused by the push and pull of plate tectonic forces on earth materials
What is the correct relationship between faults and earthquakes? A) Movement along faults causes earthquakes. B) Earthquakes cause the ground to move along faults.
A) Movement along faults causes earthquakes.
What major factor turns a natural hazard into a natural disaster? A) People B) Its context in earth history C) Whether or not it changes the geography of Earth's surface D) Its type (i.e., whether it is a flood, an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, etc.) E) Its severity
A) People
The effect of physical weathering may enhance the action of chemical weathering because A) Physical weathering fractures the rock and offers more surface area upon which chemical reactions can occur. B) Physical weathering pulverizes the rock into softer pieces. C) Physical weathering acts to dissolve or chemically change minerals in rock, exposing minute flaws in the material that allow it to break down more quickly. D) Physical weathering produces new minerals that can subsequently be attacked by chemical weathering.
A) Physical weathering fractures the rock and offers more surface area upon which chemical reactions can occur.
Which type of fault is most associated with convergent plate boundaries? A) Reverse dip-slip faults B) Inactive faults C) Strike-slip faults D) Normal dip-slip faults
A) Reverse dip-slip faults
Measures to prevent soil erosion include: (Select all that apply) A) Runoff control B) Crop rotation C) Installing windbreaks (such as growing a mature hedge) D) Building levees or dams E) Seismic monitoring
A) Runoff control B) Crop rotation C) Installing windbreaks (such as growing a mature hedge)
The San Andreas fault forms a transform plate boundary between the Pacific and North American plates. What type of faulting likely occurs along this the San Andreas? A) Strike-slip faults B) Reverse dip-slip faults C) Inactive fault D) Normal dip-slip faults
A) Strike-slip faults
What evidences have been found to support the theory of an asteroid impact contributing to the extinction of dinosaurs? (Select all that apply) A) Tektites B) Igneous rock evidence of volcanism at that time. C) An impact crater near Chicxulub, Mexico. D) A worldwide layer of iridium that dates to 65 MYa.
A) Tektites C) An impact crater near Chicxulub, Mexico. D) A worldwide layer of iridium that dates to 65 MYa.
Convection currents occur when materials become heated and less dense -- they become buoyant. Buoyant materials, such as continents or hot rocks or hot water or hot air: A) Tend to float on denser material or to rise up through denser rock or water or air. B) Tend to resist any kind of motion. C) Tend to sink into denser materials.
A) Tend to float on denser material or to rise up through denser rock or water or air.
A jetty is a structure: (Select all that apply) A) That interferes with longshore drift. B) Designed to cause waves to break again/around it and deposit sand. C) That removes sand from the shore. D) That protects its beach from erosion.
A) That interferes with longshore drift. B) Designed to cause waves to break again/around it and deposit sand. D) That protects its beach from erosion.
Delaware (and the rest of the US Atlantic margin) is more or less located in the middle of a plate and is therefore not at an active plate boundary. A) True B) False
A) True
If the discharge of a river is constant and the river channel suddenly narrows or is restricted, then the velocity of the river will increase. A) True B) False
A) True
In any given year there are 10-20 earthquakes in the world of M7 or greater. A) True B) False
A) True
Meandering rivers migrate over time across their floodplain and actually create their floodplains by eroding and depositing sediment over time. A) True B) False
A) True
Minerals that form last in the Bowen series tend to be generally more stable at Earth's surface and better resist weathering. A) True B) False
A) True
Plate motion is a geologically fast process. A) True B) False
A) True
The greatest threat of mass movement in the Mid-Atlantic would occur during a wet spring before vegetation grows. A) True B) False
A) True
There is always a lag time between the time of peak precipitation and the time of peak discharge of a stream. A) True B) False
A) True
Measures that can be taken to mitigate against landslide hazards do NOT include: A) Using pipes to make sure the slope is completely saturated with water. B) Anchoring rock cliffs using rock bolts. C) Spraying the slope with concrete. D) Being careful where you build. E) Planting grasses, shrubs, and trees on the slope.
A) Using pipes to make sure the slope is completely saturated with water.
Minerals: A) have a distinct crystal structure B) belong to one of three groups: sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic C) of the same chemical formula are always found in the same crystal form D) Are naturally occurring organic chemical compounds
A) have a distinct crystal structure
Understanding the plate tectonic setting of Iceland, what kinds of geologic hazards would you expect to see there? A) mild earthquakes, mild volcanism B) strong earthquakes, possible tsunamis, explosive volcanic eruptions C) strong earthquakes that cause landsliding, no volcanism D) mild earthquakes, explosive volcanism
A) mild earthquakes, mild volcanism
The Geologic Time Scale was determined using which of these? Pick as many as apply: A) relative dating methods B) radiometric dating of U-238 and U-235 C) radiometric dating of K-40 D) fossil evidence E) Biblical history
A) relative dating methods B) radiometric dating of U-238 and U-235 C) radiometric dating of K-40 D) fossil evidence
Chapter 1 of your textbook compares and contrasts two powerful earthquakes in 2010 -- one in Haiti and one in Chile -- that caused much devastation. The main reason that so many more people died in Haiti (100,000+) than in Chile (523) is: A) There was a larger population in Haiti and therefore more people were exposed to the shaking from the earthquake. B) Buildings in Haiti were not built to withstand earthquakes and therefore collapsed whereas buildings in Chile are built to a strict earthquake resistance code. C) The Haiti earthquake had a higher magnitude than the Chile earthquake. D) The Haiti earthquake generated a tsunami whereas the Chile earthquake did not.
B) Buildings in Haiti were not built to withstand earthquakes and therefore collapsed whereas buildings in Chile are built to a strict earthquake resistance code.
In an undisturbed environment, soils A) Do not evolve through time and their thickness remains constant. B) Evolve through time and increase in thickness. C) Do not evolve through time and decrease in thickness. D) Evolve through time, but their total thickness remain constant.
B) Evolve through time and increase in thickness.
A river below flood stage can erode and transport more materials than the same river above flood stage. A) True B) False
B) False
Delaware is unlikely to experience significant flooding in the future. A) True B) False
B) False
Human activity cannot cause earthquakes, which are only powered by the internal force of plate tectonics. A) True B) False
B) False
In first-world nations (like Japan in 2011), tsunamis predominantly cause high numbers of deaths, whereas higher economic losses are typical of tsunamis that affect third-world nations (like Indonesia in 2004). A) True B) False
B) False
Of the three classes of tephra -- ash, lapilli, and bombs -- bombs pose the greatest danger. A) True B) False
B) False
The Hawaiian Islands are an example of a volcanic island chain formed from a subduction zone. A) True B) False
B) False
Water from UD's campus drains into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. A) True B) False
B) False
Variations in the geometry of the Earth's orbit, first described by the Yugoslavian astronomer Milankovitch, occur over time periods of tens to hundreds of thousands of years. Which of the following events in the Earth's history are attributed to these "Milankovitch" cycles? A) Plate tectonics B) Glacials and interglacials of the last two million years C) Increased volcanic activity 12 million years ago D) Extinction of the dinosaurs
B) Glacials and interglacials of the last two million years
Both Delaware beaches and the Jersey Shore are managed with extensive, ongoing beach nourishment projects. Which of the following is NOT a drawback to using beach nourishment? A) The replenished sand will eventually erode again. B) It is less aesthetically pleasing than other solutions. C) It can be expensive and difficult to transport the large amounts of sand necessary. D) The sand used for beach nourishment must be chosen carefully to determine if it will fit the ecology of the beach.
B) It is less aesthetically pleasing than other solutions.
The principle of original horizontality states that: A) Rocks of the same age are always found in the same horizontal rock layer. B) Layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally under the action of gravity. C) In a stratigraphic column, oldest horizontal rocks are found at the bottom. D) Fossils of the same age will always be found in the same horizontal rock layer.
B) Layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally under the action of gravity.
In which 'reservoir' of the Earth's hydrological cycle is most of the world's water? A) Lakes B) Oceans C) Atmosphere D) Streams E) Glaciers F) Groundwater
B) Oceans
In a meandering stream, water velocity is fastest A) None of these; velocity is the same everywhere B) On the outside of a bend C) In the center of a channel D) On the inside of a bend
B) On the outside of a bend
Which rivers have the highest gradient? A) Rivers near the ocean B) Rivers near their headwaters C) Rivers near their base level D) Rivers in gentle valleys
B) Rivers near their headwaters
Most people who die in an earthquake die because: A) of the ensuing tsunami. B) a building falls or collapses on them. C) of heart attacks. D) they fall into a crack that opens in the ground.
B) a building falls or collapses on them.
The low temperature, low pressure crust experiences ______ deformation, analogous to ________. A) ductile; a piece of gum bending B) brittle; a piece of chalk breaking C) elastic; a hair elastic stretching D) yield a piece of chalk breaking
B) brittle; a piece of chalk breaking
List the order of the compositional layers of the Earth from inside to out. A) crust, mantle, inner core, outer core B) inner core, outer core, mantle, crust C) outer core, inner core, crust, mantle D) inner core, outer core, crust, mantle
B) inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
If levees are built along a river to protect a town such as St. Louis, then: A) St. Louis will always be protected from floods, even if the level of the Mississippi rises. B) narrowing in the width of the channel between the levees can cause the floodwater to back up, and increase the level of flooding upstream. C) people can expect a uniform levee height to completely surround all flood-prone areas. D) the floodplain next to St. Louis will widen and flatten over time.
B) narrowing in the width of the channel between the levees can cause the floodwater to back up, and increase the level of flooding upstream.
When looking at some land in California and trying to decide whether to buy the land for your new dreamhouse, you are well aware that the region is at risk for mass wasting and coastal erosion. Evidence might include: (Select all that apply) A) a flat, evenly vegetated lawn B) telephone poles or trees tilted at an angle C) suspiciously arcuate but vegetated steep parts of a slope D) drainage pipes E) If a beach house, artificial structures such as jetties or seawalls. F) talus piles (or large boulders) at the base of a slope G) a setting at low elevation
B) telephone poles or trees tilted at an angle C) suspiciously arcuate but vegetated steep parts of a slope E) If a beach house, artificial structures such as jetties or seawalls. F) talus piles (or large boulders) at the base of a slope
Why are mudflows and debris avalanches common on volcanic slopes? A) Because volcanoes always form tall mountains, which tend to create rivers to carry meltwater away from their snowy peaks. B) Because there is abundant unconsolidated sediment at the foot of any volcanic mountain. C) Because volcanic eruptions trigger melting of ice and snow. D) Because tsunamis associated with volcanic eruptions can trigger mass movements.
C) Because volcanic eruptions trigger melting of ice and snow.
Which of the following is FALSE about caldera eruptions? A) Caldera eruptions are very rare. B) Caldera eruptions have occurred in the United States in geologic history. C) Caldera eruptions result in towering mountains. D) Caldera eruptions generate enough ash to potentially alter global climate. E) Caldera eruptions are extremely violent in nature.
C) Caldera eruptions result in towering mountains.
Once hard stabilization of any coastline is initiated by the construction of structures such as groins and breakwaters, why is it often necessary to continue building more of these structures? A) Construction of additional groins will prevent the need for beach nourishment. B) More structures are needed because an active coastline, as opposed to a passive coastline, can cause the development of bars at the mouths of rivers on the downcurrent side of the groin. C) Construction of groins and breakwaters disrupts the natural flow of sediments along the coast. D) Once the coast is stabilized, more people move to the area and additional structures are necessary.
C) Construction of groins and breakwaters disrupts the natural flow of sediments along the coast.
Which one of the following is NOT mechanical weathering? A) Exfoliation B) Biologic action C) Dissolution D) Frost wedging
C) Dissolution
What are volatiles? A) Silica tetrahedra in magma B) Viscous magmas C) Gases trapped in magma D) Small, abrasive particles such as volcanic ash that can make it difficult to breathe E) Thin fibers of lava extruded from a volcano
C) Gases trapped in magma
When the Earth warms, won't the areas that we lose to agriculture (like the U.S. Midwest) just be replaced by new areas that are now too cold for farming (like Northern Canada)? A) No. The areas that will warm will still be too cold to farm. B) Yes. The amount of land that we gain will exactly replace the amount that we lose. C) Maybe. But there is more to farming than just climate and more needs to be known about the soil characteristics in those areas. D) Yes. There really won't be any problems for agriculture once the Earth warms. E) No. There aren't enough people in those areas to farm the land.
C) Maybe. But there is more to farming than just climate and more needs to be known about the soil characteristics in those areas.
There are several ways to describe the "size" of an earthquake. The method that describes the amount of damage caused by an earthquake and what is felt at each location is called A) Richter Magnitude B) Moment Magnitude C) Modified Mercalli Intensity
C) Modified Mercalli Intensity
From your book -- which of the following large historical earthquakes did not occur at an active plate boundary? A) San Francisco, 1906 B) Chile, 1960 C) New Madrid, 1811-1812 D) Tohoku, Japan, 2011
C) New Madrid, 1811-1812
Which gas is NOT a greenhouse gas? A) Water B) Methane C) Oxygen D) Carbon dioxide
C) Oxygen
Sliding occurs along a _______ surface, whereas slumping occurs along a ________ surface. A) Rock fall; creeping B) Earthflow; landslide C) Planar; curved D) Curved; planar
C) Planar; curved
If an asteroid hit the Earth today that was the same size as the one whose impact caused the Chicxulub crater 65 Mya, would it mean a mass extinction that includes humans? A) No. Asteroids aren't strong enough to cause a mass extinction. B) Yes, if the impact was in the ocean. Humans could not survive the tsunami. C) Possibly. Humans are resourceful, but are also at the top of the food chain which makes them vulnerable. D) No. The highly developed technology of humans will enable us to survive any catastrophe. E) Yes. Humans cannot survive the heat and shock waves of an asteroid impact.
C) Possibly. Humans are resourceful, but are also at the top of the food chain which makes them vulnerable.
Which of the following seismic waves will cause the most destruction? A) P-wave B) S-wave C) Rayleigh wave D) shock wave
C) Rayleigh wave
Is the risk of disaster from asteroid impacts or high or low? A) Low, because because there are only two documented large asteroid impacts in the Earth's entire geologic history. B) High, because large asteroid impacts are fairly common. C) Relatively high, because although large asteroid impacts are rare, when they do occur, they can cause catastrophic effects such as mass extinction. D) Low, because an asteroid impact only causes damage in a very local region. E) No one really knows, because asteroid impacts are completely unpredictable.
C) Relatively high, because although large asteroid impacts are rare, when they do occur, they can cause catastrophic effects such as mass extinction.
The chemical weathering process known as hydrolysis affects mostly which type of minerals? A) Salts B) Oxides C) Silicates D) Carbonates
C) Silicates
Which of the following components of the hillslope hydrological cycle, if reduced, can help reduce flooding? A) Evapotranspiration B) Interception C) Surface runoff D) Infiltration
C) Surface runoff
The earth's layers can also be classified according to their rheology, based on their ability to deform and flow. This is especially important in the upper mantle when describing the relationship between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere. Which of the following is true regarding the lithosphere and asthenosphere? A) The lithosphere carries the higher-riding continental crust, while the asthenosphere carries the denser, heavier oceanic crust. B) The lithosphere is made of basalt and granite, while the asthenosphere is made of iron and nickel. C) The cool, brittle lithosphere floats atop the weak asthenosphere. D) The asthenosphere flows because it is liquid.
C) The cool, brittle lithosphere floats atop the weak asthenosphere.
If the sediment that makes up the berm of Rehoboth Beach were to lithify, what kind of rock would it become? A) shale B) limestone C) sandstone D) halite E) basalt
C) sandstone
Subduction zones are able to produce M9 earthquakes (unlike transform or divergent) plate boundaries because A) the volcanic activity at subduction zones makes the fault plane stickier and therefore they release more energy when they reach their elastic limit. B) many people live along the coast of subduction zones, making a large segment of the population vulnerable. C) the length of the rupture can be so large (up to 1200 km in a megathrust event) and the amount of slip is large. D) these types of faults typically have frequent earthquakes (every year or so), just so there isn't a lot of stress that builds up along the fault contact zone.
C) the length of the rupture can be so large (up to 1200 km in a megathrust event) and the amount of slip is large.
____________ are composed of metal, rock, or rock-metal mixtures, while ___________ have a layer of ice and carbon-rich dust that create a glowing tail. A) Meteors; meteoroids B) Asteroids; meteors C) Comets; asteroids D) Asteroids; comets
D) Asteroids; comets
Landslides are common around Pittsburgh, PA. The area has lots of relief due to hilly igneous and metamorphic rocks. Many landforms in the area contain a red layer of clay, colloquially termed the "Red Beds". What weathering process formed the Red Beds? A) Mechanical; exfoliation B) Mechanical; frost-wedging C) Chemical; dissolution D) Chemical; oxidation
D) Chemical; oxidation
Which of the following does NOT cause ground subsidence? A) Thawing of permafrost B) Earthquakes C) Dissolving rocks below Earth's surface D) Creation of permanently frozen ground where no thawing ever occurs E) Compaction of loose sediment
D) Creation of permanently frozen ground where no thawing ever occurs
Most of the magma produced on Earth is produced at mid-oceanic ridges (divergent plate boundaries) to form the oceanic crust and is basaltic in composition. Which of the following processes is responsible for all this basaltic magma at the ridges? A) Addition of water and other volatiles to the hot rock of the mantle. B) Increase in the temperature of hot mantle rock as heat is added via a plume originating from near the outer core. C) Increase in pressure on the hot rock of the mantle as the descending/subducting slab downwells. D) Decrease in pressure on the hot rock of the mantle as it upwells toward a gap in the Earth's surface.
D) Decrease in pressure on the hot rock of the mantle as it upwells toward a gap in the Earth's surface.
Which of the following factors contributes the most to the large flood hazards in North and South Dakota, along the Red River? A) Extensive urban development B) Deforestation C) Steep slopes D) Ice and ice dams that create impervious surfaces
D) Ice and ice dams that create impervious surfaces
Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was rejected in his time, and in fact, he died long before it was accepted by the geological community. His theory was unpopular for many reasons. Which of the answers listed below was NOT one? A) Wegener was German, and presented his theory immediately after WWI. B) Wegener was not a persuasive speaker. C) Much of his evidence came from South America. D) It failed to explain why similar Permian-age fossils were found across South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica. E) It failed to explain a mechanism to power continental drift.
D) It failed to explain why similar Permian-age fossils were found across South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica.
Uniformitarianism states that: A) One action causes others, to create a chain of events. B) Sedimentary rocks form in layers. C) Earth is a static, uniform system. D) Natural processes we observe happening today have similarly happened throughout Earth's history.
D) Natural processes we observe happening today have similarly happened throughout Earth's history.
Which of the chemically distinct layers of the Earth is liquid? A) Crust B) Mantle C) Inner core D) Outer core
D) Outer core
In the presence of layered bedrock, the local geology can influence and favor landslides when: A) The rocks are horizontally stratified B) Never. Local geology has no influence on landslide. As long as there is a weak layer of rocks, landslides will happen. C) Planes of weakness in the rocks are inclined toward the inside of the mountain D) Planes of weakness in the rocks are inclined in the direction of the slope
D) Planes of weakness in the rocks are inclined in the direction of the slope
Which volcanic hazard is responsible for the greatest number of deaths? (Ex: Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD; Mount Unzen in 1991) A) Poisonous gases B) Volcanic mudflows C) Ash falls D) Pyroclastic flows. E) Lava flows
D) Pyroclastic flows.
Which physiographic features are associated with the highest level of hazard from lahars? (Think of the communities surrounding Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens) A) Earthquakes B) Hillslopes C) Mountain peaks D) River valleys E) Beaches
D) River valleys
Your buddy is an adventurous type who insists you come with her to summit Mt. Everest. You, in turn, insist that, given the plate tectonic settings that generated the world's largest mountain, you both need to be prepared for what types of geologic hazards at base camp? A) strong earthquakes, possible tsunamis, explosive volcanic eruptions B) mild earthquakes, explosive volcanism C) mild earthquakes, mild volcanism D) Strong earthquakes, landslides, minimal (or no) volcanism
D) Strong earthquakes, landslides, minimal (or no) volcanism
An eruption in Iceland in 2011 injected large amounts of ash into the atmosphere and caused major problems for flights within and to Europe. Given Iceland's tectonic setting, you wouldn't typically expect all that pyroclastic ash. What is the most reasonable explanation for the formation of the pyroclastic ash cloud? A) The basaltic magma came up from the mantle with an unusually large amount of water produced by subduction. B) The basaltic magma had evolved beneath Iceland into rhyolite. C) The basaltic magma encountered a large supply of governmental explosives (used in the construction of hydrothermal energy power plants) when it reached the surface. D) The basaltic magma encountered a glacier when it reached the surface. The hot magma melted the glacier to steam, which made the magma explode to form ash.
D) The basaltic magma encountered a glacier when it reached the surface. The hot magma melted the glacier to steam, which made the magma explode to form ash.
Why is the rim of the Pacific Ocean often referred to as the 'Ring of Fire'? A) The rim represents a single, continuous subduction zone, and subduction zones produce volcanism. B) Interactions between the plates at the rim produces many earthquakes, which are known to cause fires when gas lines rupture. C) The rim is known to produce enormous tsunami, which put out fires. D) The rim represents many different subduction zones, and subduction zones produce volcanism.
D) The rim represents many different subduction zones, and subduction zones produce volcanism.
Earthquakes at transform plate boundaries *typically* don't trigger tsunami. The recent tsunami at Palu was a notable exception. Why? A) The question is misleading; any type of earthquake might cause a tsunami if its magnitude is high enough. B) Seismic waves from these earthquakes don't move fast enough. C) These earthquakes don't horizontally displace water in the ocean. D) These earthquakes don't vertically displace water in the ocean. E) Transform faults don't typically occur in the ocean.
D) These earthquakes don't vertically displace water in the ocean.
As a tsunami wave approaches the coast, its _________ increases. A) wavelength B) speed at the front of the wave C) period D) amplitude E) water depth
D) amplitude
Urbanization has several impacts on the natural processes of flooding along a river. Building or paving over land creates an impervious or impermeable surface that A) increases the interception, thereby decreasing the flooding. B) increases the infiltration, thereby decreasing the flooding. C) traps water, keeping it from reaching the river, thereby creating mini-lakes. D) increases the runoff directly into the river, thereby increasing the flooding.
D) increases the runoff directly into the river, thereby increasing the flooding.
Which of the following options are currently being explored by NASA and world governments in anticipation of the possibility of a large asteroid heading directly towards Earth? A) Do nothing; our atmosphere will vaporize it. B) Send the space shuttle up to tow it out into space. C) Divert it so that it doesn't collide with Earth. D) Anticipate areas that will be impacted and evacuate them. E) Blow it up in space before it enters our atmosphere. F) All of these
F) All of these
