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Physical Geography
For Final Test - Rio Hondo College Prof. Aimee Mindes
376
Geography
Undergraduate 1
05/17/2013
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Term
Identify the dynamic sphere that is kept in almost constant motion by solar energy and Earth's rotation.
 Definition
atmosphere
Term
Your text argues that the discipline of geography is governed by what?
 Definition
spatial analysis
Term
The outer planets are most likely composed of what?
 Definition
gas
Term
The altitudinal distance (relief) between the tallest mountain and the deepest ocean trench on Earth is about how many meters?
 Definition
20000
Term
Select the most correct statement.
 Definition
Earth's grid system is referred to as a graticule and consists of lines of latitude and longitude.
Term
Which of the following circles has a center that does not coincide with Earth's center?
 Definition
small circle
Term
At which point would you move the greatest distance in the least amount of time?
 Definition
equator
Term
The solid, inorganic portion of the Earth's system is known as what?
 Definition
lithosphere
Term
The farthest south the vertical rays of the Sun ever reach south of the equator occurs around when?
 Definition
12/21/2013
Term
Earth's change of seasons is primarily the result of what?
 Definition
tilt of Earth's axis and its constant tilt direction
Term
The constancy of Earth's rotation in the same direction causes what effects?
 Definition
all of the above
Term
The aphelion is a point in Earth's orbit where what occurs?
 Definition
Earth is farthest from the Sun.
Term
The Earth's axis of rotation is inclined ________ from being perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.
 Definition
23.5°
Term
Where is night and day equal everywhere?
 Definition
either equinox in either hemisphere
Term
Select the most correct statement.
 Definition
all of the above.
Term
Only one half of Earth can receive sunlight at any one time. Where is the area during the June solstice?
 Definition
includes the area lying equatorward of the Antarctic Circle
Term
Select the correct characteristic during an equinox.
 Definition
All of the above.
Term
On June 21 the perpendicular rays of the Sun are striking ______ at noon.
 Definition
23.5°N
Term
Pilots often fly along the arc of a _________ because it is the shortest distance between two points on Earth.
 Definition
great circle
Term
If you lived in Chicago, Illinois, your clock will read ________ than someone living in Greenwich, England.
 Definition
6 hours earlier
Term
T/F Geography is concerned with the environment as it provides a home for humankind, and with the way humans utilize that environmental home.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Earth's highest point is more than 36,000 feet above sea level, while the deepest spot in the oceans is almost 29,000 feet.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F A house in Chile would include wilndows facing north in order to have Sun all year around.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Properly described as an oblate spheroid, Earth is a true sphere.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F The way we locate ourselves on Earth through a network of intersecting lines is referred to as a grid system.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Latitude is distance measured east and west of the poles.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Longitude is a distance measured east and west on Earth's surface in the same degrees, minutes, and seconds as latitude is.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F A meridian is a great semicircle that extends from one pole to the other, crossing all parallels of latitude perpendicularly and being aligned in a true north–south direction.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Longitude is measured both east and west of the prime meridian to a maximum of 90º in each direction.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Both day length and the angle at which the Sun's rays strike Earth are principal determinants of the amount of insolation received at any particular latitude.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
The highest amount of total annual insolation is received
 Definition
over subtropical deserts.
Term
The 24 time zones are centered on meridians spaced
 Definition
15° apart.
Term
Which latitude experiences perpendicular rays of the Sun twice during the year?
 Definition
0°
Term
The Earth is closest to the Sun on
 Definition
January 3.
Term
The Earth's sphere of living things is the
 Definition
biosphere.
Term
Which of the following are true about lines of latitude?
 Definition
They have all the above characteristics.
Term
T/F The length of one degree of longitude is nearly the same from the equator to the poles.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
The Earth's axis of rotation is inclined _______ from being perdendicular to its orbital plane.
 Definition
23.5°
Term
T/F The arc of a great circle is the shortest distance between two points.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The circle of illumination always bisects (cuts in half) the equator.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F If the Earth's axis of rotation were perpendicular to the plane of its orbit, every place on Earth would experience equal day length.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
Perhelion occurs on ____ while aphelion occurs on _____.
 Definition
January 3; July 4
Term
Select the most correct statement regarding the stratosphere.
 Definition
it is warmer at the top than the bottom
Term
Pressure at a point in the atmosphere reflects
 Definition
none of the above.
Term
Most of what we call weather occurs in the
 Definition
troposphere.
Term
The basic distribution of heat (and therefore of temperature) over the Earth is primarily a function of
 Definition
latitude.
Term
Atmospheric particles (such as dust and ash)
 Definition
do all of the above.
Term
Of the following gases, which is classified as a variable-amount gas?
 Definition
water vapor
Term
What part of the atmosphere shields Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation?
 Definition
ozonosphere
Term
The aurora borealis and aurora australis are caused by an interaction between charged particles and Earth's magnetic field. What layer of Earth's atmosphere contains these particles?
 Definition
ionosphere
Term
A molecule of ozone gas consists of
 Definition
three oxygen atoms.
Term
What is the atmosphere zone called that is characterized by gases not well mixed, which are layered in accordance with their molecular masses?
 Definition
heterosphere
Term
The layers of the atmosphere are defined by
 Definition
temperature change.
Term
Atrmospheric pressure
 Definition
decreases at a decreasing rate through the atmosphere.
Term
A deep layer of electrically charged molecules and atoms that reflects radio waves is
 Definition
the ionosphere.
Term
In terms of the controls of weather and climate, latitude
 Definition
primarily affects temperature.
Term
The tropopause
 Definition
both (1) and (3) above.
Term
Water vapor is considered a variable gas because
 Definition
the amount of water vapor varies with location.
Term
Particulates that readily absorb water are described as being
 Definition
hygroscopic.
Term
The warm zone of the stratosphere is found near the ___________ of the ozone layer.
 Definition
top
Term
Which of the following is/are considered a "thermal layer"?
 Definition
the troposphere
Term
Which of the following layers corresponds to the heterosphere?
 Definition
the thermosphere
Term
T/F Nitrogen, argon, and oxygen constitute over 98% of the gases in the atmosphere near Earth's surface.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The thermosphere contains the ozone layer.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Air density is greatest in the troposphere.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The mesosphere shields Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Temperatures generally decrease with height in the troposphere, whereas temperatures increase with height in the stratosphere.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Trace gases help to warm the troposphere.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F When the CO2 concentration decreased in the evolution of Earth's atmosphere, the ozone layer was formed.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Temperatures in the thermosphere are not comparable to those in the troposphere because of higher density in the troposphere.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The process of photosynthesis removes CO2 from the atmosphere, while the process of respiration adds CO2 to the atmosphere.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Climate is a description of aggregate weather conditions that helps describe a place or region.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
The most prevalent gas in the atmosphere is
 Definition
nitrogen.
Term
Which of the following are sources of atmospheric particulates?
 Definition
all the above
Term
____ ocean currents tend to be found on ____ coast of continents while _____ are found on the ______ coast
 Definition
Warm; east; cold; west
Term
Generally speaking, the the midlatitudes are characterized by flows of air from the ______.
 Definition
west
Term
____ lies at the bottom of the heterosphere (nearest the Earth).
 Definition
Nitrogen
Term
Air pressure decreases with increasing elevation because _____.
 Definition
the air is compressible.
Term
The troposphere is so named because______
 Definition
it is a zone of vertical mixing and turbulence.
Term
T/F The ozonosphere is known for its auroral displays.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Particulates reflect but do not absorb sunlight.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Ozone is only found in the stratosphere.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F The tropopause lies at a higher elevation during the winter.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
______ slopes of mountains tend to be moist while _____ slopes tend to be dry.
 Definition
Windward; leeward
Term
Both the Earth and Sun emit radiation, but they do so at largely different wavelengths. Why?
 Definition
The Sun is hotter than Earth.
Term
A temperature inversion is a situation where
 Definition
temperature increases with increasing altitude.
Term
Compared to a land surface subject to the same heating, an ocean surface should
 Definition
have a seasonal temperature cycle lagging behind the land's seasonal temperature cycle.
Term
Condensation ____ latent heat, which acts to ____ the air.
 Definition
releases; warm
Term
If the temperature is 12°C, what is the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit?
 Definition
about 54°F
Term
If your eyes were to mutate and become sensitive to slightly shorter wavelengths than they are now, what portion of the spectrum would become visible?
 Definition
ultraviolet wavelengths
Term
In North America, one might expect to find the greatest annual temperature range
 Definition
in eastern Alaska and northwest Canada.
Term
Objects that emit the most longwave radiation show up in infrared photographs as brighter than other objects. In an infrared image of this area, the brightest feature would be the _____________.
 Definition
Carrizozo Malpais
Term
The daily range of temperature is generally larger when
 Definition
the day is cloudless and the night is cloudless
Term
The Earth–atmosphere system
 Definition
emits the same amount of energy as it absorbs from the Sun.
Term
The higher the albedo, the _____ a surface ______.
 Definition
more; reflects
Term
The largest annual amount of insolation is received
 Definition
in subtropical deserts.
Term
The largest portion of solar energy entering the atmosphere
 Definition
is absorbed by the surface.
Term
The transfer of heat from one point to another by a moving substance is called
 Definition
convection.
Term
The vegetated surface with the highest albedo is: _________________.
 Definition
the desert
Term
This space shuttle photo shows an area in southcentral New Mexico. White Sands and the Carrizozo Lava Flow are (essentially) barren of vegetation. The Sierra Blanca is a mountain region covered by evergreen forests and mountain meadows, evident in this photo because they are covered with snow. The surrounding desert has a thin cover of grasses, shrubs, and other plants. What is the permanent ground feature with the highest albedo?
 Definition
White Sands
Term
Which incidence angle produces the highest intensity of radiation?
 Definition
90 degrees
Term
Which of the following latitudes experiences a radiation surplus on an annual basis?
 Definition
20 degrees north
Term
Which of the following places is likely to have a larger daily temperature range?
 Definition
the Sahara Desert
Term
NOrthern components of Norhtern Hemisphere gyres carry warm water ___ and ___.
 Definition
north; east
Term
T/F Absorption refers to the reflectivity of a surface.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F The orange and red colors evident in this space shuttle photograph of Earth's climb at sunrise are best associated with scattering.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Examine this sounding plot from Omaha, Nebraska, which shows data collected at 1200 UTC on June 28, 1998. The local time that data was collected was at 6 p.m.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F This upper air sounding is plotted on a Skew-T diagram. Lines of constant temperature are colored in blue and are oriented diagonally from left to right. The white line on the right is the variation of temperature with height while the white line on the left shows how the amount of moisture in the atmosphere varies with height. Study how temperature varies with height. The temperature profile illustrates advectional inversion near the surface. (Hint: Look at this map of 850 mb temperatures. At Omaha during this time there was a strong wind blowing from the southwest).[Source]
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Compared to a land surface subject to the same heating, an ocean surface should have a seasonal temperature cycle lagging behind the land's seasonal temperature cycle.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The transfer of heat from one point to another by a moving substance is called subduction.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F 20º north latitude experiences a radiation surplus on an annual basis.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F A temperature inversion is where temperature increases with increasing altitude.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The Pacific coast of North America is where you would expect to find the greatest annual temperature range.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F The Earth–atmosphere system emits the same amount of energy as it absorbs from the Sun.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
The smallest temperature range should be ____ of a midlatitude continent.
 Definition
on the west coast
Term
Isotherms are ___ tightly packed in winter indicating a ____ temperature gradient.
 Definition
more; steep
Term
Cool maritime air blowing into a coastal location can produce ____.
 Definition
an advectional inversion
Term
High pressure conditions are most associated with ____ .
 Definition
subsidence inversions
Term
If the temperature at the surface is 65°F, under normal environmental lapse rate conditions the temperature at 2000 feet above the surface should be
 Definition
57.8.
Term
The capacity to do work is ____.
 Definition
energy
Term
If the temperature of the Sun were to suddenly decrease, its maximum wavelength of emission would likely
 Definition
increase
Term
T/F The wavelength of radiation changes when it reflects off a surface.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Convection comes about by molecular collisions.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F The specific heat of water is higher than land.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Air temperature always decreases with increasing height above the surface in the troposphere.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
horizontal movement of heat
 Definition
B. advection
Term
heat transfer by circulation
 Definition
D. convection
Term
energy stored during evaporation
 Definition
C. latent heat
Term
amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a gram of substance 1°C.
 Definition
E. specific heat
Term
heat transfer by molecular collisions
 Definition
F. conduction
Term
electromagnetic energy
 Definition
A. radiation
Term
____ ocean currents tend to be found of the east coast of continents while ____ocean currents are found on the west coast.
 Definition
Warm;Cold
Term
Katabatic winds
 Definition
are caused by cold air drainage off of ice sheets and other cold areas.
Term
An isobar is a
 Definition
line connecting points of equal pressure.
Term
The pressure gradient force acts in a direction
 Definition
at right angles (perpendicular) to isobars.
Term
The strength of the Coriolis force
 Definition
increases with increasing wind speed.
Term
The pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force combine to produce
 Definition
a geostrophic wind.
Term
Near the surface, the wind would most closely parallel to the isobars over
 Definition
an ocean.
Term
If the density of a gas remains constant and its temperature is lowered, the pressure of the gas will
 Definition
decrease.
Term
Surface winds in a cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere flow
 Definition
inward and clockwise.
Term
In the United States, wind speeds tend to be greatest
 Definition
during the winter in the Great Plains.
Term
Trade winds flow from the
 Definition
subtropical high to the equatorial low.
Term
The direction of the polar jet stream in the Northern Hemisphere is mostly from the
 Definition
west.
Term
During the summer of the Indian monsoon, one expects
 Definition
low pressure at the surface.
Term
Hadley circulation
 Definition
is confined to the tropics and subtropics.
Term
We measure air pressure using a(n) ___________.
 Definition
barometer
Term
Which of the following does not apply to air flow in a high pressure cell located in the Northern Hemisphere?
 Definition
rising air near the center
Term
Which of the global wind belts dominates between the Earth system between 65 degrees north and 80 degrees north?
 Definition
the polar easterlies
Term
The effect of surface friction on wind is to
 Definition
alter the air's direction and speed
Term
The force that creates wind is
 Definition
pressure gradient force.
Term
If the Earth did not rotate
 Definition
there would be no Corliolis force.
Term
A steep pressure gradent
 Definition
both a and b above.
Term
T/F The denser the gas, the greater the pressure it exerts.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Gravitational force is directly proportional to space.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F In the lower atmosphere, gas molecules are far apart with few molecular collisions.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F The gas law explains the relationship between pressure and gas.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Pressure gradient indicates the horizontal rate of pressure change.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Low-pressure centers are called cyclones.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Regardless of the initial direction of motion, any freely moving object appears to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The Coriolis effect is proportional to the speed of the object.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F In the friction layer of the Northern Hemisphere, a converging counterclockwise flow exists.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Trade winds, usually heavily laden with moisture, do not produce clouds and rain unless forced to rise.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
The general sequence of high and low pressure from the equator to the pole is _____.
 Definition
low-high-low-high
Term
Frequent and severe weather changes can be caused by ____ flow in the jet stream.
 Definition
meridonal
Term
Almost all the rising air in the tropics ascends ____.
 Definition
in thunderstorms
Term
The westerlies come from a more consistent direction ___.
 Definition
aloft
Term
Summer winds are from the ____ in the monsoon of West Africa
 Definition
soutwest
Term
The ___ contains the polar front.
 Definition
subpolar low
Term
The most reliable winds (consisently from one direction) are the ____ .
 Definition
tradewinds
Term
T/F A high-pressure center is known as a cyclone, and the flow of air associated with it is descsribed as cyclonic.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F If volume is held constant and all other conditions remain the same, an increase in the temperature of a gas produces an increase in pressure, and a decrease in temperature produces a decrease in pressure.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The Coriolis effect influences speed only and has no influence on direction of movement.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Insolation is the ultimate cause of wind.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
Air flows in a _______ into the center of an area of low pressure in the Northern Hemisphere while flowing in a _______ into the center of a cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere.
 Definition
counterclockwise; clockwise
Term
onshore flow
 Definition
D. sea breeze
Term
upslope flow
 Definition
C. valley breeze
Term
mistral
 Definition
E. katabatic wind
Term
foehn
 Definition
B. chinook
Term
wildfires
 Definition
A. Santa Ana wind
Term
Southern Hemisphere low pressure
 Definition
Clockwise, In
Term
Northern Hemisphere low pressure
 Definition
Counter-Clockwise, In
Term
Southern Hemisphere high pressure
 Definition
Counter-Clockwise, Out
Term
Northern Hemisphere high pressure
 Definition
Clockwise Out
Term
The ratio of the actual amount of water in the atmosphere to the maximum possible at that temperature is the
 Definition
relative humidity.
Term
When water changes phase, what always happens?
 Definition
latent heat heat is consumed or released
Term
Which of the following statements is true?
 Definition
Evaporation absorbs heat and thus cools the atmosphere.
Term
The saturated adiabatic lapse rate is less than the adiabatic lapse rate because
 Definition
condensation releases latent heat.
Term
Identify this cloud type.
 Definition
altocumulus
Term
Unstable air is best associated with
 Definition
convective lifting.
Term
Which of the following is true of the collision–coalscence process?
 Definition
water droplets merge and grow in size
Term
An air parcel experiences a buoyant force when its
 Definition
temperature is greater than the surrounding air.
Term
Low precipitation amounts are typical of
 Definition
polar latitudes.
Term
Why might condensation occur below 100% relative humidity?
 Definition
hygroscopic nuclei present
Term
If water droplets and ice crystals are both present in the same cloud,
 Definition
the ice crystals will grow while the drops shrink.
Term
When raindrops fall through a shallow layer of subfreezing air near the surface, what type of precipitation occurs?
 Definition
glaze
Term
If the amount of water vapor in the air stays the same and the air temperature decreases, the relative humidity will
 Definition
increase.
Term
Which place is likely to experience the highest frequency of advection fog?
 Definition
San Francisco, California
Term
Which of the following is not a form of precipitation?
 Definition
dew
Term
Which of the following requires the most heat energy?
 Definition
sublimation
Term
Which of the following is likely to suppress the development of precipitation?
 Definition
the subtropical highs
Term
The rain shadow of a mountain is found on the
 Definition
leeward side
Term
As the amount of water vapor in the air increases the dew point temperature
 Definition
increases.
Term
The highest relative humidity during the day usually occurs
 Definition
at dawn
Term
Although the subarctic and tundra climates generally have small precipitation totals, they are considered humid climates. Why?
 Definition
Low temperatures mean only a small loss to evaporation.
Term
Deserts like the Gobi (central Asia) and Great Basin (Utah) are produced by
 Definition
a rain shadow effect.
Term
In tropical wet climate (Af) zones,
 Definition
daily temperature ranges usually exceed the annual temperature range.
Term
The marine west coast climate (Cfc, Cfb)
 Definition
has no pronounced dry season.
Term
In which of these climates is rainfall scarce, unreliable, and intense?
 Definition
subtropical desert climate (BWh)
Term
The Köppen system of climate classification is based on _____ data.
 Definition
temperature and precipitation
Term
Of the main Köppen climatic zones, _____ is the only one which does not occur in the Southern Hemisphere.
 Definition
D
Term
The main reason for the occurrence of subtropical deserts around the world is
 Definition
locations of subtropical high-pressure systems.
Term
In Australia, the maximum precipitation in the Csa climate type occurs in the month of
 Definition
June.
Term
With coastal climates, isotherms tend to
 Definition
parallel the coast.
Term
Which of the following climate types does not have a summer that is wetter than winter?
 Definition
Mediterranean
Term
Winter precipitation in the Mediterranean climate is largely a result of
 Definition
migrating cyclones.
Term
In tropical humid climates, precipitation is largely a result of
 Definition
convection.
Term
The "tree line" closely corresponds to the equatorward boundary of the
 Definition
tundra climate.
Term
The Köppen system of climate classification is based on
 Definition
temperature and precipitation.
Term
Which of the following has the least total annual precipitation?
 Definition
ice cap
Term
In which of the following climates does the daily temperature range exceed the annual temperature range?
 Definition
tropical rainforest
Term
The dry season of the tropical savanna is due to the influence of
 Definition
the subtropical high.
Term
The steppe climate is a transitional climate between deserts and
 Definition
humid climates.
Term
The Cs-type climates are located
 Definition
on the west side of continents.
Term
T/F A climograph is a simple graphic representation of monthly temperature and precipitation for a specific weather station.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Daily temperature variations are NOT similar to annual ones.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F The largest areas of Af climate occur in the upper Amazon basin of South America, the Congo basin, and the East Indies.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The tropical monsoonal climate (Am) is NOT most extensive on the west-facing coasts of China. (China only has eastern coasts)
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F During the low-Sun season, Am climates are dominated by offshore winds.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The Aw climate is the most extensive of the A climates and is known as tropical savanna climate.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Most desert areas do not lack precipitable moisture; rather, they lack mechanisms for the upward air motion necessary for cloud formation and precipitation.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Marine west coast climates are among the wettest of the midlatitudes.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F D climates are known for their continentality.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Humid continental climates are NOT known for their high rainfalls.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
The Mohorovicic discontinuity refers to what?
 Definition
the change in rock composition and density bewteen the crust and the mantle
Term
The inner core of the Earth is believed to be what?
 Definition
solid
Term
Extrusive (volcanic) igneous rocks have smaller mineral crystals than intrusive (plutonic) igneous rocks because
 Definition
extrusive rocks cool faster.
Term
The most common extrusive (volcanic) igneous rock is what?
 Definition
basalt
Term
Marble is related to limestone in the same way
 Definition
slate is related to shale.
Term
Which of the following lists is in the correct chronological sequence from oldest to youngest?
 Definition
Pennsylvanian—Cretaceous—Eocene
Term
Which of the following landforms is an example of first-order relief?
 Definition
continental platform
Term
Which of the following is not an example of an internal process?
 Definition
mass wasting
Term
All of the following are part of the Earth's cross section except what?
 Definition
hydrosphere
Term
Metamorphic rocks are formed by what?
 Definition
heat and pressure
Term
The Pleistocene is part of the _____ period.
 Definition
Quaternary
Term
_______ are formed from skeletal remains of coral and other lime-secreting sea animals.
 Definition
Limestones
Term
Which of the following is not a property of minerals?
 Definition
They can be man-made.
Term
In terms of Earth history, single-celled life appeared
 Definition
almost directly after the beginning.
Term
Marble forms from
 Definition
the metamorphism of limestone.
Term
Quartz is a member of the
 Definition
silcates.
Term
Granite, gabbro, and diorite are all ____ rocks.
 Definition
intrusive igneous
Term
Uniforminatarism states:
 Definition
The present is the key to the past.
Term
The majority of crustal rocks are composed of minerals that belong to the ___ family.
 Definition
silicate
Term
Which of the following is not a category in a descriptive approach to landform study?
 Definition
plateaus
Term
The crust is the Earth's outermost shell.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The uppermost mantle zone plus the crust are together called the asthenosphere.
 Definition
FALSE - Uppermost mantle zone plus lower crust is the LITHOSPHERE
Term
T/F The initial formation of the planet involved only igneous rocks.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Pressure and chemical cementation consolidates and transforms sediments to sedimentary rock.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Sedimentary rocks are classified by how they were formed: mechnical, chemical, or organic.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Metamorphic rock was significantly changed from its original rock in structure, texture, composition, and appearance.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The most common metamorphic rocks are schist and quartzite.
 Definition
FALSE - Most common metaporphic rocks are schist and GNEISS
Term
T/F A landform is a collection of topographic features of a certain size.
 Definition
FALSE - A landform is a collection of topographic features of WHATEVER size.
Term
T/F External processes are largely subaerial.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Plate tectonics refer to pieces of the lithosphere that are slowly moving over the asthenosphere.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
The rock in this photo is _____. [Photo Source]
 Definition
obsidian
Term
Intrusive igneous rocks are ______ grained while extrusive igneous rocks are ____ grained.
 Definition
coarse; fine
Term
The banding characteristic of this metamorphic rock is called _____.
 Definition
foliation
Term
The lithosphere is comprised of
 Definition
the crust and upper mantle.
Term
In which of the following environments would you most expect metamorphic rocks to form?
 Definition
area where mountain building (orogeny) is occurring
Term
Lithification is common to
 Definition
sedimentary rocks.
Term
The lava flow in this photo will cool to form _____, which is a(n) _______ igneous rock. [Photo Source]
 Definition
basalt; extrusive
Term
T/F The asthensosphere is the most rigid portion of the Earth.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Plutonic rocks are metamorphic rocks.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Slate is metamorphosed into shale when exposed to heat and pressure.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Gneiss is a foliated igneous rock.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
The outer core is thought to be ___ while the inner core is thought to be ___.
 Definition
molten; solid
Term
coarse grained intrusive igneous rock
 Definition
F. granite
Term
nonfoliated metamorphic derived from sandstone
 Definition
B. quartzite
Term
organic sedimentary
 Definition
D. limestone
Term
foliated metamorphic
 Definition
C. gneiss
Term
extrusive igneous
 Definition
E. basalt
Term
clastic sedimentary
 Definition
A. sandstone
Term
Plate tectonic processes include all of the following, except what?
 Definition
subduction of heavier (more dense) continental crust under lighter (less dense) oceanic crusts
Term
An anticline is what?
 Definition
a geologic structure in which rock strata dip outward from a common central linear area of uplift
Term
A batholith is what?
 Definition
a massive pluton that cools slowly
Term
Divergent plate boundaries are characteristic of what?
 Definition
seafloor spreading centers
Term
The Himalayas and the Alps are the result of what?
 Definition
continental plate/continental plate collision
Term
Volcanic activity in the Hawaiian Islands
 Definition
results from magma intrusion through ocean crust that has been moving across the top of a hot-spot magma convection flow.
Term
Pangaea
 Definition
is the name for the former super continent thought to have broken apart into several crustal plates (representing the modern continents).
Term
A laccolith
 Definition
usually cools more rapidly than a batholith.
Term
In a strike-slip fault, the movement
 Definition
is entirely horizonal.
Term
Diastrophism
 Definition
refers to the deformation of Earth's crust by bending or breaking in response to great pressures exerted either from below or from within the crust.
Term
Horst and graben topography is associated with _____ faults.
 Definition
normal
Term
_____ is the technique used to date and study the ocean floor, which was fundamental in leading to the general acceptance of plate tectonics.
 Definition
paleomagnetism
Term
The youngest rocks at the Earth's surface tend to be located _______.
 Definition
near the midocean ridge
Term
The feature in the foreground of this photograph is a(n) _____. [Photo Source]
 Definition
anticline - The "simplest relationship between structure and topography"
Term
The Black Hills, South Dakota, is a dome-shaped feature formed over a ____.
 Definition
laccolith
Term
Shiprock, New Mexico, formed from lava solidifying in the "throat" of a volcano. Today, the exposed sharp spire is called _____.
 Definition
a volcanic neck
Term
Mount Fuji, Mount Rainier, and Mount Shasta are all
 Definition
composite volcanoes.
Term
A caldera forms
 Definition
from the collapse of a volcanic crater.
Term
A block uplifited between two parallel faults is a
 Definition
horst.
Term
The Columbia plateau
 Definition
was built of flood basalts.
Term
T/F The maintenance of hydrostatic equilibrium in the crust is referred to as plasticity.
 Definition
FALSE - Maintenance of hydrostatic equilibrium is isostasy.
Term
T/F The concept of continental drift is a relatively new theory dating from the late nineteenth century.
 Definition
FALSE - Idea of a supercontinent existed in 1590 with Abraham Ortelius and 1620 with Francis Bacon
Term
T/F A thermal convection system appears to operate within the planet, bringing deep-seated magma slowly to the surface and pulling remelted crustal rocks into the depths.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Seafloor spreading is the theory that says that oceanic ridges are formed by currents of magma rising up from the mantle and spreading laterally.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F When magma is expelled onto Earth's surface while still molten, the activity is called volcanism.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F All volcanoes are temporary features of the landscape.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The term "flood basalt" is applied to the vast accumulations of lava that build up, sometimes covering tens of thousands of square miles and hundreds of feet deep.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Lava domes have masses of very viscous lava such a rhyolite that are too thick and pasty to flow very far.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Stocks are even larger than batholiths
 Definition
FALSE - Batholiths are larger than stocks
Term
T/F When rock is broken with accompanying displacement, the action is called faulting.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
A small-to-medium mass of lithosphere carried a long distance by a drifting plate that eventually converges with another plate is known as a
 Definition
terrane.
Term
This photo depicts a _______ - type volcano. [Photo Source]
 Definition
composite
Term
Volcanoes are found
 Definition
all the above.
Term
This photo depicts a _______ - type volcano. [Photo Source]
 Definition
shield
Term
The youngest island in the Hawaiian Island chain is located
 Definition
on the southeast end of the chain.
Term
This photo depicts a _____ - type volcano. [Photo Source]
 Definition
cinder cone
Term
Alternating flows of viscous lava and ash, accompanied by loud explosions of noxious gases are typical of
 Definition
composite volcanoes.
Term
T/F Valleys never form on anticlines.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F A batholith is a subterranean igneous body that forms when magma cools in a near-vertical fracture.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F A pyroclastic flow is sometimes called a nuee ardente.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F A monocline is a simple symmetrical upfold.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
An up-turned fold is a _______ while a down-turned fold is a ______.
 Definition
anticline; syncline
Term
East African Rift
 Definition
A. divergent boundary
Term
Himalya mountains
 Definition
E. continental–continental convergence
Term
Andes range
 Definition
C. oceanic–continental convergence
Term
San Andreas fault
 Definition
D. transform boundary
Term
Aleutian volcanic island arc
 Definition
B. oceanic–oceanic convergence
Term
The last Pleistocene glaciers melted about
 Definition
10,000 years ago.
Term
In areas covered by thick Pleistocene ice sheets,
 Definition
the land was depressed by the weight of the ice, and is still rebounding.
Term
Which of the following was not an indirect effect of the Pleistocene glaciation?
 Definition
erosion at the Earth's surface
Term
Which of the following are not characteristics of ice sheets?
 Definition
Ice is thick at the edges of ice sheets and thinner in the middle.
Term
The persistence of glaciers depends on which of the following?
 Definition
the balance between accumulation and ablation
Term
The following are true statements concerning glacier movement, except which one?
 Definition
All parts of a glacier move at the same rate.
Term
Glacial "flour" is
 Definition
finely ground rock from glacial erosion.
Term
Glacial till
 Definition
is rock debris deposited directly by moving or melting ice.
Term
A landform composed of unsorted till with its long axis aligned parallel to the direction of ice movement is a
 Definition
drumlin.
Term
The landform resulting from the intersection of three or more cirques is a (an)
 Definition
horn.
Term
The most recent stage of Pleistocene glaciation in traditional terminology is known as the
 Definition
Wisconsin.
Term
Sorting and stratification would be most prominent for which one of the following?
 Definition
outwash plain
Term
The Pleistocene glaciation first began about how many years ago?
 Definition
2–3 million
Term
What is this famous glacial feature from Switzerland called? It forms when two or more of the following intersect.
 Definition
horn/cirques
Term
The dark stripes running the length of the glacier in this picture ptl00629_USGS.jpg (source) are called
 Definition
medial moraines.
Term
Glacial striations are generally aligned
 Definition
in the direction of (parallel to) ice flow.
Term
Which of the following is a product of glacial erosion?
 Definition
roche moutonnée
Term
A till plain forms ______ of a terminal moraine, while an outwash plain forms _____ of a terminal moraine.
 Definition
ahead; behind
Term
A glacier that "spills" out of a valley onto a flat area at a mountain front is a(n)
 Definition
piedmont glacier.
Term
Glacial striations are produced by
 Definition
abrasion.
Term
T/F About 7 percent of all contemporary erosion is accomplished by glaciers.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The dominant environmental characteristic of the Pleistocene was the refrigeration of high-latitude and high-altitude areas.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F About 10 percent of Earth's land surface is covered with ice today.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F In the conterminous United States, most glaciers are in the northeast.
 Definition
FALSE - Mostly in west, by the Rockies and in Alaska
Term
T/F About 30 percent of the total area of Alaska is glacial ice.
 Definition
FALSE - Only 4% of Alaska's total area
Term
T/F Ice sheets are vast blankets of ice that completely cover the underlying terrain to depths of hundreds or thousands of feet.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The upper portion of a glacier is called the accumulation zone.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F The general term for all material moved by glaciers is drift.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F Continental ice sheets are the most extensive features ever to appear on the face of the planet.
 Definition
FALSE - Continents and Oceans beg to differ.
Term
T/F Eskers are composed largely of glaciofluvial gravel.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
The cross-sectional profile of valleys eorded by alpine glaciers tend to be
 Definition
U-shaped
Term
____ is composed of sorted and layered material laid down by meltwater from a glacier.
 Definition
Stratified drift
Term
This photo taken in Yosemite National Park shows what type of glacial landform?
 Definition
roche moutonnée
Term
As shown in this photo from Yellowstone National Park, a huge boulder resting on a competely different type of bedrock is called a(n)
 Definition
erratic
Term
Scouring the surface with rock embedded in the base of a glacier is called
 Definition
abrasion.
Term
The glacial landforms in this photo taken in Wisconsin are called
 Definition
kames
Term
The "tails" of a drumlin
 Definition
point in the direction a glacier was going to.
Term
T/F Only the Northern Hemisphere was affected by Pleistocene glaciation.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F When ice attains a thickness of several dozen yards, the entire mass begins to move.
 Definition
FALSE
Term
T/F Outwash plains are smooth, flat alluvial aprons deposited beyond terminal moraines by streams under the ice.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
T/F As long as a glacier exists, the ice in it is flowing.
 Definition
TRUE
Term
The upper portion of a glacier is the zone of _____ while the lower portion is the zone of ______.
 Definition
accumulation; ablation
Term
a triangular-shaped peak
 Definition
F. horn
Term
formed in an ice tunnel
 Definition
D. esker
Term
spoon-shaped hill
 Definition
C. drumlin
Term
sharp, linear mountain ridge
 Definition
A. arete
Term
pit formed by the melting of an ice block
 Definition
E. kettle
Term
conical hill
 Definition
B. kame
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