SFSU EARTH 310
The Richter magnitude determination is based on measurements made on seismograms. Two measurements are needed. What are they?
The correct answer is: Maximum amplitude of the seismic waves and the S-P time interval.
How are people in surrounding areas around Mount Everest benefiting from this glacier most? (starting at 6:55)
The correct answer is: Fresh water source
The most likely season for flooding in the entire U.S. is during the winter.
The correct answer is: Glaciers
The air blast from the impact would arrive in San Francisco approximately 3 hours after impact. What is the maximum damage this air blast could create here?
The correct answer is: Glass on buildings would shatter
Where does the sand on our beaches in California primarily originate from?
The correct answer is: Granites of the Sierra-Nevada mountains
The intensity of an earthquake:
The correct answer is: Is variable depending on the distance to the epicenter.
Earth is protected from most meteorite impacts by:
The correct answer is: Its atmosphere
The only liquid layer of the Earth's interior is the:
The correct answer is: Outer core
Which statement below best compares the lithosphere to the asthenosphere according to the lecture?
The lithosphere is a brittle solid and the asthenosphere is a ductile solid
According to the lecture, what energy source is Earth using primarily for its external/surficial processes?
Solar energy
How big was the asteroid that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs?
The correct answer is: As big as Mount Everest
How big was the asteroid that created meteor crater in the Arizona desert?
The correct answer is: As big as an office building
Which of the following mass movements is the fastest?
The correct answer is: Avalanche
Which country is the world leader in Carbon Dioxide emissions today:
The correct answer is: China
What is "clean coal"? (starting at ~39:00)
The correct answer is: Coal that is mixed with pure oxygen, allowing CO2 to be captured
What type of plate boundary are deep focus earthquakes associated with?
The correct answer is: Convergent
Which type of plate boundary has an oceanic trench along it?
The correct answer is: Convergent
What type of tectonic plate boundary worldwide (not just Sumatra) causes earthquake-induced tsunami?
The correct answer is: Convergent boundary
Which type of mass wasting is occurring in the video below? Note the much more fluid nature of this landslide compared to Question 6. (Note: The video below relates only to this question, despite its title.)
The correct answer is: Debris Flow
A long, linear rise in the sea-floor with earthquakes and volcanic activity found along its ridge.
The correct answer is: Divergent Boundary
Where are mid-ocean ridges located?
The correct answer is: Divergent boundaries
Las Vegas, NV:
The correct answer is: 64 seconds
Elko, NV:
The correct answer is: 60 mm
Las Vegas, NV:
The correct answer is: 623 km
What are the key differences between a scientific theory and a scientific law/principle according to the lecture? Choose from the following:
A law explains the process of a phenomenon, but not why it occurs like a theory does.
Choose the best definition for the scientific method below:
A systematic method that scientists use to aid in understanding phenomenon better.
What are the key differences between a scientific hypothesis and a scientific theory according to the lecture? Choose from the following:
A theory is an accumulation of many well-proven and well-accepted hypotheses that explain why phenomenon occurs.
Which layer(s) from the choices below are defined by physical properties and could be considered a ductile solid?
Asthenosphere & Mesosphere
Of the choices below, which one represents 100% of the Earth's mantle?
Asthenosphere, Mesosphere and the ultramafic section of the Lithosphere
Which of the layers listed below is defined as a layer by composition?
Core
Type in your answers above into the boxes provided on the webpage and hit "Find Epicenter". The next screen will be a map showing circles. What are these circles themselves individually depicting?
c. The distance between the seismic recording station and the possible earthquake epicenter. Correct
Which statement below best compares the crust to the lithosphere according to the lecture.
he lithosphere is defined by its physical property of being brittle. The crust is defined by its composition (felsic, intermediate and mafic)
Which volcano type can have mafic lava as part of its composition?
The correct answer is: All of the above
A long, narrow linear or gently curving deep trench, earthquakes to depths of several hundred kilometers, and volcanoes paralleling the trenches on continents.
Continent-Ocean Convergent Boundary
According to the lecture, which definition below would be the best definition of Geology?
Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, Moon and other terrestrial bodies including its origin and evolution, composition, and the processes that act on them.
Which of the layers listed below is defined as a layer by its physical properties?
Lithosphere
A long, narrow linear or gently curving deep trench, earthquakes to depths of several hundred kilometers, and volcanoes paralleling the trenches as islands.
Ocean-Ocean Convergent Boundary
Which layer defined by physical properties is considered a liquid?
Outer Core
Which layer from the choices below generates Earth's magnetic field
Outer Core
According to the lecture, what energy source is Earth using primarily for its internal processes?
Radioactive decay
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center was able to alert the east coast of Africa about the incoming tsunami. How many fatalities occurred in Kenya as a result according to the film?
The correct answer is: 1
Las Vegas, NV:
The correct answer is: 100 mm
How wide in diameter is Apophis estimated to be?
The correct answer is: 1000 feet
At what elevation does Africa Brumfield's home in New Orleans sit at? At what elevation does Lisa Monti's home in Bay St. Louis sit at?
The correct answer is: 12 feet below sea level/20 feet above sea level
What was the height of the storm surge that entered the levee systems in New Orleans? What was the height of the storm surge that slammed into Lisa Monti's home at Bay St. Louis?
The correct answer is: 15 feet/28 feet
Eureka, CA:
The correct answer is: 285 mm
What is the minimum number of earthquake seismic stations needed to determine the epicenter of an earthquake?
The correct answer is: 3
How many magnitude 8 earthquakes does it take to equal the energy release for a magnitude 9 earthquake according to the film?
The correct answer is: 30
How deep under the earth's surface was this particular earthquake according to the film?
The correct answer is: 30 km
It takes an S-wave approximately 70 seconds to travel 300 km. How long does it take the P-wave to travel this same distance? Choose the best answer below
The correct answer is: 39 seconds
Up to how much of the glacier ice has melted from Mount Everest's north side between 1921 and 2008? (starting at 5:00)
The correct answer is: 40%
Eureka, CA:
The correct answer is: 478 km
Eureka, CA:
The correct answer is: 49 seconds
How much of rail traffic in the entire U.S. is related to coal transport according to the film? (starting at 30:45)
The correct answer is: 50%
How much of U.S. electricity consumed in the U.S. comes from coal according to the film? (starting at 33:00)
The correct answer is: 52%
A tsunami would arrive in San Francisco approximately 10 hours after impact. How tall will the tsunami be as it comes into the shoreline there?
The correct answer is: 53-107 feet
The page shows a nomogram with three lines representing the data you provided. Type in your estimate for the earthquake in the box provided on the webpage and click on "Confirm Magnitude". Choose the magnitude below that most closely represents the magnitude for this earthquake.
The correct answer is: 7.1
Elko, NV:
The correct answer is: 703 km
Elko, NV:
The correct answer is: 72 seconds
What sustained wind speeds are required for a Tropical Cyclone to reach hurricane status:
The correct answer is: 74 mph
Surface ocean temperatures need to be more than __________ degrees Fahrenheit before a hurricane can develop.
The correct answer is: 80
How large of a magnitude (energy release) does this impact create on the Richter scale?
The correct answer is: 9.8
What would happen if Apophis hits an ocean like the Pacific Ocean?
The correct answer is: A significant tsunami all around the Pacific Ocean
According to the lecture, what is the best definition of a spit from the choices given below?
The correct answer is: A spit is an elongated ridge of sand extending from a headland into the mouth of an existing bay
The accumulation of rock fragments found at the base of many cliffs is referred to as:
The correct answer is: A talus slope
Mount St. Helens is considered to be an:
The correct answer is: Active volcano
Shallow focus earthquakes are found along which type of plate boundary?
The correct answer is: All boundary types
Which type of mass wasting is occurring in the video below? Note the viscous nature and the large amount of debris within the flow itself. (Note: The video below relates only to this question, despite its title.)
The correct answer is: Earth Flow
Apophis will come very close, but not impact Earth in 2029. We may not be so lucky seven years later when Aphophis comes towards Earth again. This is because __________ may have pulled Apophis into a collision course with Earth on its first pass.
The correct answer is: Earth's gravity
Of the four causes of tsunami mentioned in the film, which produces tsunami more than any other?
The correct answer is: Earthquake
Powerful tsunami are most frequently produced by __________.
The correct answer is: Earthquake
What happens to allow the sand to be deposited and create the spit?
The correct answer is: Energy decreases within the longshore current.
A scientific theory is a method in science where scientists are in the process of trying to prove or disprove phenomenon.
The correct answer is: False
A theory can turn into a law once scientists have fully analyzed said theory.
The correct answer is: False
Comets travel at much slower velocities than asteroids do.
The correct answer is: False
Mass wasting always involves rock or soil that slides down a slope quickly.
The correct answer is: False
Solar energy is the primary energy source for earthquakes
The correct answer is: False
The San Francisco Bay Area is susceptible to hurricanes, due to its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
The correct answer is: False
The fault motion along the San Andreas fault on the sea floor can directly be the cause of a tsunami along the coast of California.
The correct answer is: False
The lithosphere and the crust are the same. There are absolutely no differences between them.
The correct answer is: False
The mesosphere is weaker than the asthenosphere because it is hotter and under less pressure.
The correct answer is: False
Tsunami can be generated by a hurricane.
The correct answer is: False
Upstream floods are:
The correct answer is: Flooding that occurs near the head of a stream
What is the dominant force that is the cause of all mass movement?
The correct answer is: Gravity
What is the only factor involved in all mass wasting events?
The correct answer is: Gravity
Where is the velocity lowest along the profile of a stream?
The correct answer is: Head
A stretch of coastline with no sand at any time of the year most likely has:
The correct answer is: High energy waves hitting it all year long.
In the interview with Dr. Ling Wen, CEO of Shenhua Energy, he was asked what kind of plans his company had to address emissions of carbon dioxide. What was his response? What was his primary concern regarding emissions and his shareholders? (starting at ~18:05)
The correct answer is: His primary concern was to his shareholders and making money for the continued growth of the company he is in charge of
In terms of temperature, mafic magma is the [hottest] [coldest] when compared to more felsic magma.
The correct answer is: Hottest
At what level is this energy release felt in San Francisco according to the Mercalli Intensity Scale?
The correct answer is: III-IV
The discharge of a stream _______________ as you move downstream.
The correct answer is: Increases
The velocity of a stream _______________ as you move downstream.
The correct answer is: Increases
What composition of magma is involved in the construction of the higher parts of a stratovolcano? Choose the best answer(s):
The correct answer is: Intermediate, Felsic
The element most abundant in the Earth's core is:
The correct answer is: Iron
Read the section on "Magnitude Explained". What is the magnitude of an earthquake? Choose the best answer from the choices below
The correct answer is: It is an estimate of the total amount of energy released by an earthquake.
What does the S-P interval represent exactly? Choose the best answer below:
The correct answer is: It is the time interval between the arrival of the P-wave and the arrival of the S-wave at a seismic station.
Of the choices given below, which one is one of the proposed ideas given at the end of the film to prevent a disaster like Katrina from happening in the future in New Orleans?
The correct answer is: Let the Mississippi River run wild once again - Remove the levees
The brittle outer layer of the Earth is called the:
The correct answer is: Lithosphere
Which layer listed below can be considered a tectonic plate?
The correct answer is: Lithosphere
Turbulent water currents that flow within the surf zone parallel to the shoreline are called?
The correct answer is: Longshore current
What transports sand to the location the spit is created in?
The correct answer is: Longshore current
Sand that is carried by turbulent water currents that flow within the surf zone parallel to the shoreline are called?
The correct answer is: Longshore transport
What viscosity must the base of a stratovolcanoes lava be, when it has broad, non-steep sides?
The correct answer is: Low viscosity
When a volcano is at least partially created by its lava flows, the viscosity of that lava can determine its steepness. What viscosity must a shield volcanoes lava be, with its broad, non-steep sides?
The correct answer is: Low viscosity
Higher temperature magmas will have a __________ viscosity.
The correct answer is: Lower
What composition of magma is primarily involved in the construction of a shield volcano?
The correct answer is: Mafic
What composition of magma makes up the base of a stratovolcano?
The correct answer is: Mafic
When hiking up most stratovolcanoes, which rock composition(s) will you see from its base to its summit?
The correct answer is: Mafic at the bottom, intermediate in the middle, and felsic at the top
A rock that enters the atmosphere from space and survives to reach the ground is a(n):
The correct answer is: Meteorite
Which two closest bodies of water does New Orleans sit between and below according to the film?
The correct answer is: Mississippi River & Lake Ponchartrain
What part of the Bay Area has a landslide hazard associated with it?
The correct answer is: Mountainous Terrain
Where is the velocity highest along the profile of a stream?
The correct answer is: Mouth
At the end of the summer season, which would you expect to see at a typical beach:
The correct answer is: Much more sand piled up on the beach relative to the end of the winter season.
Construction of dams upstream may lead to:
The correct answer is: Narrower beaches
Learning what you have about how tsunami are generated by earthquakes, can the offset (movement) along the San Andreas fault during an earthquake produce a dangerous tsunami directly? (Note: This question is not answered directly in the film)
The correct answer is: No
Can people undo the development of a hurricane or prevent a volcanic eruption from occurring?
The correct answer is: No, people have no way of preventing either of these disasters at this time
Choose from the following what major global changes could occur from an event like this:
The correct answer is: None of the above
The U.S. uses a tremendous amount of coal in producing energy. How much does it use according to the film? (starting at 29:50)
The correct answer is: Over one billion tons per year
Which type of wave below can travel through solids and liquids and is similar to a sound wave?
The correct answer is: P-waves
Which region of the continental U.S. has a Subduction Zone off its coast, and therefore is under the risk of a similar tsunami that occurred in Sumatra in 2004?
The correct answer is: Pacific Northwest
Which ocean has more chance of a tsunami than any other: (Note: This question is not answered directly in the film)
The correct answer is: Pacific Ocean
What makes a cinder cone steep-sided?
The correct answer is: Piling up of cinders during an eruption
What viscosity must the higher parts of a stratovolcano be, where its sides steepen up?
The correct answer is: Piling up of cinders during an eruption
Viscosity is defined as the __________ to flow.
The correct answer is: Resistance
How have the wetlands where the Mississippi River enters into the Gulf of Mexico been reduced in size?
The correct answer is: Sediment starvation due to construction of levees
What is the most common source of sand along our California beaches?
The correct answer is: Sierra-Nevada Mountains via streams
When a mass of material moves down slope along a curved surface, the process is called:
The correct answer is: Slump
Which type of mass wasting happened at this location shown below? Note the curved nature of the soil that has slid and the scarp above it in the landslide shown below.
The correct answer is: Slump
Which type of mass wasting is occurring in the image below? Note that the trees shown on this slope are bent at their base. Hint: If this image was instead a video, your eyes still wouldn't see movement.
The correct answer is: Soil Creep
How does this sand travel from its origin to a California beach?
The correct answer is: Streams
Cinder cones are a result of?
The correct answer is: Strombolian eruptions
Asteroids orbit the:
The correct answer is: Sun
When a stream pools water behind a dam wall, that stream is at:
The correct answer is: Temporary base level
What did the "Bell Science Series" TV episode "The Unchained Goddess" predict in 1958? (starting at ~11:40)
The correct answer is: That people's CO2 emissions may melt the polar ice caps and create an inland sea in the Mississippi Valley
Where do earthquake waves originate from?
The correct answer is: The Focus
When New Orleans was drained of water and levees were built to keep new water from coming in, what happened to the elevation of New Orleans over time?
The correct answer is: The elevation of New Orleans moved downwards
The movie spends some time talking about how a tsunami is generated. Listen to the scientists describe this process and choose the best answer from the following below:
The correct answer is: The sea floor moves vertically, which in turn moves the water vertically, generating the tsunami.
What happens to soil when it has been drained of water?
The correct answer is: The soil shrinks
The storm surge during a hurricane gains its height primarily by:
The correct answer is: The wind
Paula Dobriansky, the U.S. Negotiator assigned to the 2007 Bali, Indonesia Climate Change Conference made a bold statement that the U.S. would implement policy reducing greenhouse gas emissions if the developing countries would also make the same step. What was the response from the developing nations? (starting at ~24:10)
The correct answer is: They agreed to reduce their emissions
The correct answer is: Sierra-Nevada Mountains via streams
The correct answer is: Tombolo
What type of plate boundary is located here in the San Francisco Bay Area?
The correct answer is: Transform
A land or seafloor region with many quakes right along the boundary line. Depth of the earthquakes are shallow and the topography is not impressive (no real large mountains or valleys). Volcanic activity is not common along this boundary.
The correct answer is: Transform Boundary
The general term used for all circulating weather systems over tropical waters is referred to as:
The correct answer is: Tropical cyclone
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for approximately 100 years.
The correct answer is: True
Earthquake intensity varies with distance from the epicenter, but magnitude does not.
The correct answer is: True
Earthquakes only happen in the Earth's lithosphere.
The correct answer is: True
Per molecule, methane absorbs more long-wave radiation than carbon dioxide.
The correct answer is: True
The Earth is currently in the interglacial period of an ice age right now.
The correct answer is: True
What type of water flow does a stream possess near the head?
The correct answer is: Turbulent flow
Deep Focus Earthquakes
The correct answer is: U
Island or Continental Volcanic Arc
The correct answer is: U
When a stream flows into the ocean, that stream is at:
The correct answer is: Ultimate base level
Why did the levy's fail at the lower 9th ward?
The correct answer is: Undermining
When intense rainfall has caused flooding in a localized area of the mountains, we call that a:
The correct answer is: Upstream flood
What is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States? (starting at 47:50)
The correct answer is: Vehicles
Transform Plate Boundary
The correct answer is: W
Shallow Focus Earthquakes
The correct answer is: W, X, Y
Why does the reduction of wetlands along the Gulf Coast put New Orleans at greater risk from storm surge? Choose the best answer:
The correct answer is: Wetlands soak up water, thereby lowering the surge level
What season will it most likely flood in here in the Bay Area?
The correct answer is: Winter
Divergent Boundary
The correct answer is: X
Convergent Plate Boundary
The correct answer is: Y
Ocean Trench
The correct answer is: Y
Are asteroid impacts preventable? Can people stop them from occurring?
The correct answer is: Yes
Spits form off of a headland due to:
The correct answer is: decreased energy along the longshore current and deposition of sand.
At the bend in a stream, the main deposition is _______________.
The correct answer is: on the inside of the bend.
How large would wave heights reach at Santa Monica Beach if Apophis hits the Pacific Ocean?
The correct answer is: ~55 feet