Quiz
Earth System Science 80 Part 1 (Lectures 1- 15)
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Questions in this quiz (102)
1Which of the following is not a subcomponent of the Earth system
- ACryosphere
- BAtmosphere
- CHydrosphere
- DGeosphere
- EBiosphere
- FLithosphere
- GAsthenosphere
2An open system has an exchange of ...
- ANothing
- BEnergy
- CEnergy and matter
3Which one of the following is not a characteristic of Systems?
- ACan be found on different scales
- BHave limits
- CAre associated with processes
- DEnergy cant be created or destroyed, and transfer is never 100%
4What term describes 'where similar states of the system can be achieved in different ways'
- ADynamic equilibrium
- BQuasi equilibrium
- CEquifinality
- DFeedback
- ERelaxation time
- FThreshold
5What term describes 'where a system is regulated by intensifying (positive) or opposing (negative) the direction of the system'
- ADynamic equilibrium
- BQuasi equilibrium
- CEquifinality
- DFeedback
- ERelaxation time
- FThreshold
6Which of the following is the definition for 'relaxation time'?
- AThe time taken to reach equilibrium during the change form one equilibrium state to another
- BThe transition from one state to the system to another
7What minerals are dominant components of most rocks (Felsic- e.g. Quartz, Mafic- iron and magnesium rich- heavier and darker)?
- AGraphine
- BGraphite
- CSilicone
- DSilicates
8Silicate rocks make up what percentage of all rocks world wide?
- A70%
- B80%
- C90%
- D100%
9Extrusive igneous rocks cool slowly and form a large crystalline structure
- AFalse
- BTrue
10Contact metamorphism (as opposed to regional and dynamic metamorphism) occurs in the presence of what?
- AExtreme heat from magma
- BExtreme pressure from tectonic plates
- CBoth heat (magma) and pressure (tectonic plates)
11Which rock type is formed by geomorphological processes on the earths surface (including: rivers, coasts, deep seas, lakes, mountain sides and deserts)?
- ASedimentary (clastic and chemical)
- BIgneous (intrusive and extrusive)
- CMetamorphic (contact, regional and dynamic)
12Is this picture correct?
- AYes
- BNo
13Which of the following is not a method by which we measure geological time?
- AAbsolute (radiometric) dating
- BRelative age dating
- CAnalysis of ice cores
14Which of the following is not a principle of relative age dating?
- ASuper-positioning
- BHorizontality
- CCrosscutting
- DInclusion
- EFaunal succession
- FGeological lapping
15How long ago was the Earth formed?
- A4.1 Ga
- B4.2 Ga
- C4.3 Ga
- D4.4 Ga
- E4.5 Ga
16How do we know the internal structure of the Earth (lithosphere, upper and lower mantle, outer and inner core)?
- ADirect sampling
- BIndirect sampling
- CSeismic methods
- DAll of the above
17Which seismic wave is transverse and travels slower (and also has 103-180 degree shadow when used to identify the layers of the earth because it cannot travel through the solid core)
- AS-waves
- BP-waves
18The lithosphere is comprised of the continental/oceanic crust, moho and upper mantle
- ATrue
- BFlase
19The mantle is comprised of the lithospheric mantle and asthenosphere
- ATrue
- BFalse
20Travel times from seismic waves help to tell us about the internal structure of the earth (changes in wave velocity reflect the rheology and composition of the crust, mantle and core)
- ATrue
- BFlase
21The density and flow of material in the mantle and core is uniform
- AFalse
- BTrue
22What crust is underlain by sharp Moho, comprised of young igneous rocks (max 180 Ma) and is a 5-7km thick layered structure
- AOceanic crust
- BContinental crust
23Side-to-side movements of plates along fault is known as what?
- ARight/left lateral faults
- BDip slip faults
- CStick slip faults (elastic rebound)
24The Richter magnitude scale of measuring earthquakes uses seismometers to measure the earthquake and then processes the figure and places it on a logarithmic scale
- ATrue
- BFalse
25Foreshocks, main shock and aftershocks can all be measured using a seismometer
- ATrue
- BFalse
26Earthquakes occur at which plate boundaries?
- AConservative and constructive
- BConservative and destructive
- CConstructive and destructive
- DOnly conservative
- EAt all plate boundaries
27What were the principles of Geosyncline Theory?
- ADeepening and filling of basins were caused by crustal contraction and the Earth's heat crushed and folded land forming mountain chains
- BConsidered all continents drifted away from a single large landmass; ideas largely dismissed by scientific community until late 1950s
28Which of the following provides evidence for continental drift?
- AContinental fit
- BGeological fit
- CTectonic fit
- DPalaeoclimatic evidence
- EPalaeontological evidence
- FAll of the above
29Which of the following evidence for continental drift was not available to Alfred Lothar Wegener when he came up with his theorem that all the continents drifted away from a single large landmass?
- AContinental fit
- BGeological fit
- CTectonic fit
- DPalaeoclimatic evidence
- EPalaeontological evidence
- FPaleaomagnetic evidence
30With regards to the theory that all the continents drifted away from a single land mass; the fact that plant and reptile species are similar in continents that are now separated by oceans suggests that these continents must have at some point been connected to allow for this movement, is classed under which of the following categories?
- APalaeoclimatic evidence
- BPalaeontological evidence
- CTectonic evidence
31What mechanism did Wegener suggest was responsible for the drifting of continents?
- AContinents moved through oceanic crust, like an icebreaker
- BThermal convection currents in the mantle moved the continents
- CMagnetic field of the earth caused the (magnetic) continental crust to move
32Atoms in minerals and rocks align to the Earth's dipole, only when heat is present. Given this information, which of the following statements is false?
- AThermoremnant magnetisation: when the high temperature of the material (magma) allows the atoms to align to the same magnetic direction as the Earth's dipole with ease
- BDetrital remnant magnetisation: when magma cools (igneous rock) its atoms might align to the same direction as the Earth's dipole, at that time because the temperature is suffice to allow for realignment
- CChemical remnant magnetisation: during a chemical reaction, heat might be given out, and atoms can realign to the Earth's dipole at that time
- DThe magnetic dipole of the Earth is fixed throughout time and atomic dipoles are only induced when there is sufficient heat
33Apparent polar wander paths are useful because...
- AThey provide evidence for continental drift
- BEnables rocks in different areas to be correlated with each other
- CCan explain presence of rock types, that were formed in different climates, in the same area
- DAll of the above
34The magnetic pole is fixed. Apparent polar wander paths uses the model of it 'wondering' to enable recordings of changes in declination of the land; thereby, all continents have their own apparent polar wondering path
- ATrue
- BFalse
35Sea floor spreading is a process thereby new oceanic crust forms at an oceanic ridge due to volcanic activity, and gradually moves away from the ridge. This theory from Harry Hammond Hess can help explain what?
- AHow the continents could actually move- mechanism
- BEnabled us to record the Earth's dipole through time because horizontal strips preserve the dipole of Earth over specific time period
- CBoth of the above
36Who proposed mantel convection?
- AHolmes
- BWilson
- CWegener
37What is currently believed to be the main driver of plate movement?
- AConvection currents in the mantle
- BRidge push and slab pull
38What did Tuzo-Wilson propose, in 1963, to explain how volcanic activity can occur away from plate boundaries (such as Hawaii)
- AHotspot and plume theory
- BContinental drift
- CApparent polar wondering paths
- DSea-floor spreading
39What creates island chains like Hawaii?
- AExtension that permits rise of partial melt from the asthenosphere
- BMantle plumes that convectively bring unusually hot mantle from the core-mantle boundary
- CThere is a debate over which one is true (perhaps both are factors)
40The magnetic field vector is parallel to the Earth's surface in equatorial regions and becomes progressively more steeply inclined towards the polar regions; therefore, if rocks preserve the orientation of magnetic field vector at the time of their formation, and can be dated, the latitude at which they formed can be inferred
- ATrue
- BFalse
41In hot magma, the dipoles change orientation rapidly, so magma can have permanent magnetisation
- AFalse
- BTrue
42Why do volcanoes erupt?
- ADue to magma buoyancy: the hot magma is less dense that the crustal rock and therefore is rises to the surface; heat source is from radioactive decay, mantle convection and residual from cooling of the earth
- BGases (volatiles): come out of solution at shallow depths and decrease the density of magma allowing it to rise faster; bubble formation is called vesiculation. Bubbles can join up and become a stream of gas with blobs of magma in it- called fragmentation.
- CGases (volatiles) can get trapped in the viscous magma, this speeds up flow towards the surface (increases pressure) and paid expansion at the vent causes an explosive eruption
- DMagma recharge is required to keep feeding a volcanic eruption/magma chamber
- EAll of the answers in combination cause volcanoes to erupt
43Where are volcanoes found?
- ASubduction zones- shield thin [basalt] volcanoes (effusive)
- BIntra-plate hotspots
- CDestructive plate boundaries- composite thick felsic [rhyolite] volcanos (explosive)
- DAt all of the above
44Which of the following definitions id incorrect?
- AMagmatic - related to magma or magmatic gases; classification dependent on explosivity and column height or type-behaviour
- BHydrovolcanic - eruptions generated by heating of water external to magma
- CPhreatic - dry-land steam blast eruptions, no magma erupted
- DPhreatomagmatic - partially hydrovolcanic and partially phreatic
45The collapse of a lava dome (which is formed by viscous magma erupted effusively) can cause extremely dangerous pyroclastic flow
- ATrue
- BFalse
46Which of the following is not the particle name and size for materials present in pyroclastic flow?
- ABlocks/bombs| over 64mm
- BLapilli | under 64 mm
- CVolcanic ash | under 2 mm
- DVolcanic dust | under 0.063 mm
- EVolcanic micro-cloud | under 0.000064 mm
47Which of the following is the definition of pyroclastic surge (and not pyroclastic flow)?
- AA more energetic and dilute mixture of searing gas and rock fragments. Move easily up and over ridges; flows ten to follow valleys
- BHigh-speed avalanches of hot ash, rock fragments, and gas move down the sides of volcano during explosive eruptions or when the steep edge of a dome breaks apart and collapses. Can reach over 800 degrees and move at 100-150 mph
48Fill in the blank: Higher silicone dioxide content (thus viscosity and ability to trap gas) and contact with water '...' explosivity
- AIncrease
- BDecrease
- CDo not effect
49Traditional names from classic eruptions are used to describe other eruptions and volcano forms. The problem with this is...?
- AThey poorly define volcanoes and are subjective
- BIt measures the height of eruption column and degree of explosivity
50Postglacial volcanism in Iceland is dominated by which type of rock (lava)
- ASilicic
- BIntermediate
- CBasaltic
51Prediction of future volcanic activity is simple and unchallenging
- AFalse
- BTrue
52The Tibetan Plateau is an umbrella term for mountain chains including: Karakoram Mountains, Hindu Kush and Tien Shan | generally 4,000-5,000m
- ATrue
- BFalse
53How was the Tibetan Plateau formed?
- ABy continental collision (destructive plate boundary) when the Indian plate moved northwards into the Eurasian plate
- BBy continental collision (on a transition plate boundary) when the Indian plate formed a dip fault with the Eurasian plate
54The Tibetan Plateau is 5% of the Earth's land area but produces what percentage of total river sediment load?
- A10%
- B25%
- C40%
- D55%
55Which of the following are features of the Tibetan Plateau's geomorphology?
- ALand uplift and creation of relief- encouraged high chemical/physical weathering and river downcutting
- BSediment fills of more than 3km thick gravels deposited in fault-controlled sedimentary basins
- CDrainage pattern of the Brahmaputra river - drainage was diverted by rising mountains
- DAll of these
56The Tibetan Plateau casts a rain shadow on central Asia, as it's uplift acts as a topographic barrier preventing monsoons from reaching central Asia
- ATrue
- BFalse
57Winter monsoon winds blowing NW to SE transport fine sediment to central china (because summers are dry due to uplift of Tibetan Plateau) - resulting in depositions of 'loess'
- ATrue
- BFalse
58What is 'loess'
- AWind blown silt deposits, yellow to grey in colour, grains are angular, sediment comprises of: quartz, feldspar, mica and clay minerals bound together with a calcareous cement
- BRegion immediately south east of the Tibetan Plateau
59How are silt-sized particles produced (in Loess)?
- AMechanical weathering of metamorphic rocks
- BChemical weathering of metamorphic rocks
- CGlacial grinding
- DFrost action
- EFluvial erosion
- FAll of the above
60Loess covers what percentage of the Earth's land surface (mainly in periglacial areas, continental interiors, associated with major rivers and mountain ranges)?
- A0-5%
- B5-10%
- C10-15%
61Which one of the following is correct with regards to Loess records?
- AStrong winter monsoon = coarser sediments, higher sedimentation rates
- BStrong winter monsoon = finer sediments, lower sedimentation rates
- CLoess sequences contain buried soils (palaeosols), these sequences can't be dated and are, therefore, not used in geomagnetic polarity
62What term is used to illustrate the significance of the Tibetan Plateau- because it is the source of 10 major river systems that provide irrigation, power and drinking water for over 1.3 billion people in Asia?
- AThe third pole
- BThe major source
- CAsia's north pole
- DDanny Driver
63The Tibetan Plateau has shown now effects of climate change
- AFalse
- BTrue
64Which of the following is the definition of weathering (the other is the definition of erosion)?
- AProcesses of the breakdown of rocks and minerals in situ (in place)
- BProcess of breakdown of rocks and minerals and the transport of the products
65Which of the following are internal forces acting on a rock?
- AHeating, cooling, chemical reactions, circulation of air/water (weathering)
- BLoading and interaction with the outside environment (erosion)
66Which one of the following the definition of 'stress' with regards to weathering (the other is strength)
- AForces that act to pull a rock apart- tensile (cracking), compressive (squashing), shear (sliding) plus gravity
- BForces that act to keep a rock together- atomic, chemical, cohesion and friction
67What is physical weathering?
- AWhere rocks break down into smaller compenents by mechanical processes (e.g. pressure, temperature, ice salt crystal growth; frost shattering, granular disintegration, exfoliation)
- BBreak down of chemical bonds holding rocks together, or a process that causes changes in the composition of minerals within rocks (solution, hydrolysis, oxidation and reduction, carbonation plus biological processes- enhance chemical weathering by production of organic acids
68Physical weathering is more likely to occur at lower temperatures and lower precipitation rates
- ATrue
- BFalse
69Limestone is chemically weathered via carbonation and this dissolution can create distinctive karstic topographies and river drainage patterns
- ATrue
- BFlase
70Mechanics of airflow are similar to water-flow, but different fluid densities (viscosity)
- ATrue
- BFalse
71Which of the following is true for the comparison between air and water?
- AFor a given sediment grain size, air needs to be travelling more quickly than water in order to facilitate transport
- BAir is more efficient at sediment sorting than water
- CAirflow is affected by air temperature (cold air is able to carry sediment more easily than warm air because it is more dense)
- DAll of the above
72Which of the following is true for a high pressure system in deserts?
- ADescending air, low precipitation, low vegetation and high chemical/mechanical weathering
- BAscending air, low precipitation, low vegetation and low chemical/mechanical weathering
73Loess deposits in... (i.e. not dust transport)
- ACold deserts
- BHot deserts
74What is deflation (the other is threshold velocity)?
- AGeneral term describing all the processes by which sediment is moved by wind
- BMinimum wind speed needed to move a sediment grain of a certain size
75Which of the following is impact threshold (the other is fluid threshold)?
- AThe minimum wind speed needed to move a particular grain that is already in motion
- BThe minimum wind speed needed to move a particular grain that is stationary
76Which of the following does not influence sediment transport in air?
- AWind speed
- BWind direction
- CSediment availability
- DVegetation cover
- ETemperature
- FCarbon dioxide concentrations
77What is an erosional landform (examples include: lag gravels, ventifacts, yardangs, deflation hollows)?
- AWhere capacity for transport is lower than sediment supply
- BWhere capacity for transport is higher than supply
78Wind erosion causes an accumulation of large pebbles in deposit site, creating a desert pavement
- ATrue
- BFalse
79Which of the following statements is not true?
- ASand dune size increases in this order: ripples, dunes, mega-dunes, sand seas)
- BDunes may be superimposed on one another
- CDunes are always fixed (stable) and never free (unstable)
- DDunes can be active at the present time or relict (inactive)
- EPresence or size of dunes can indicate climate changes
80What type of sand dune is this and under what conditions does it form?
- ABarchan dune (flat landscape, one direction wind, little or no vegetation, limited sand supply
- BLongitudinal dune (when barchan dunes join together and form ridges perpendicular to the wind direction; sand supply is abundant)
- CStar dunes (controls include wind strength, vegetation cover and sediment supply- this controls all dunes)
- DParabolic dune (strong winds erode section of vegetated sand a.k.a. blowout- vegetation hold the 'arms' of the dunes in place as the leeward 'nose' of the dune migrates forward)
81Desert varnish is dark coating on rocks found in arid regions, dominantly composed of fine-grained clay minerals)
- ATrue
- BFalse
82What evidence is there that wind activity occurs/occurred on Mars?
- ASand dunes all over the place
- BStrong winds
- CSand dunes present
- DLoose sediment located on lee-sides of boulders
- EPresence of ventifacts
- FAll of the above
83Sand dunes have been found on Titan (Saturn 's moon), this provides evidence for what?
- AThere is or has been air flow
- BThere is presence of water
84What is the difference between desertification and drought/aridification?
- ADesertification is a long-term process, whereas drought/aridification is short term
- BDesertification is directly related to human activity (e.g. overgrazing, over-cultivation, deforestation, salinisation)
- CDesertification does no affect semiarid areas, whereas drought/aridification are important processes that affect semi-arid areas
85Soil is a mixture of weathered mineral grains and organic matter
- ATrue
- BFalse
86What are colloids (ref. soil)?
- AAggregates of fine particles
- BSmall weathered rock fragments
- COrganic matter in soil
- DSoil water which helps translocation of chemical constituents and fine particles through the soil
87What soil percentage composition is correct?
- AAir 45%, water 25%, mineral particles 25%, organic matter 5%
- BOrganic matter 45%, water 25%, mineral particles 25%, air 5%
- CMineral particles 45%, water 25%, air 25%, organic matter 5%
88Which form of soil water is available to plants?
- AHydroscopic water (held atomically to mineral grains)
- BCapillary water (free water that can move in any direction)
- CGravitational water (moves only downwards under gravity)
- DAll of the above
89Which of the following is how we categorise soils?
- ATexture, structure, chemistry and colour
- BTexture, smell, grain size and colour
- CAbsorption ability, atomic structure, chemical composition, colour
90Which one of the following is incorrect in terms of the chemical process that occurs at each level of soil?
- AHorizon- zone of plant/organic life
- BOrganic horizon- zone of decomposition of non-organic matter
- CTopsoil- zone of leaching/eluviation
- DSubsoil- zone of accumulation illuviation
- ERegolith- zone of parent material
91What chemical process occurs in topsoil?
- ALeaching: where anions, formed from the breakdown of humans, attach to clay particles, and are then replaced by H+ ions; which are washed through soil and redeposited in the subsoil
- BEluviation: translocation of fine particles downwards in the soil profile in regolith zone
- CThe rate of H+ translocation down soil is a measure of the organic matter, and therefore potential fertility, there is in the soil (cation exchange capacity)
92What quantifying measuring system is used to determine soil colour?
- AMundane dips
- BMushy chips
- CMunsell dips
- DMunsell chips
93Which of the following is not a control on soil formation?
- AClimate- weathering, ecosystems and vegetation type
- BWind speed and direction
- CParent material
- DTopography (and slope)
- ESoil organisms
- FTime
94Choose the soil type that not correct and has a bogus definition
- APodzols (acidic, strongly leached, low in nutrients= boreal- white/grey horizon)
- BLaterites (humid sub/tropics, high chemical weathering and leaching, low organic matter, high eluviation, deep soil, deep red in colour)
- CGleys (waterlogged soils, high clay content, blue/grey in colour)
- DCalcified (arid areas, gentle leaching and eluviation, light soil colour)
- ESalinised (salt accumulation, upwards translocation)
- FConservation (shallow/contour ploughing, high vegetation cover, mulching, fallowing, intercropping)
95Which of the following are erosivity factors and not erodibility factors
- ARainfall and run-off factors
- BSoil properties, vegetation type, topography and land-use practices
96Soil erosion processes and conservation methods should minimise [blank_start]translocation[blank_end] and maintain a [blank_start]surface vegetation cover[blank_end]
- Atranslocation
- Beluviation
- Cleaching
- Dsurface vegetation cover
- Eparent material
- Fcontour ploughing
97Mass movement is related to slope stability. Stability is determined by the interplay between material strength on a given slope, and gravity. What else determines slope stability?
- ASlope angle
- BWeathering and climate
- CWater content
- DVegetation cover
- EOverloading
- FAll of the above
98Fill in the blank: Shear strength of a slope is determined by '...' this gives the angle of repose (of loose debris)
- AThe material strength and cohesion of the sediment on the slope
- BThe internal friction of the slope
- CBoth of the above could be used
99Mass movement takes place when gravity is weaker than resistance of the slope to failure
- AFalse
- BTrue
100Which of the following id the definition of mass movement via flows?
- AMixtures of particles of different sizes, plus water/ice that cohesively move down a slope; rate determined by viscosity e.g. sandrun
- BMovement of intact blocks along planes of weakness e.g. avalanche slide
- CIndividual detached blocks e.g. rubble fall
- DGenerally viscous material moving down slope in a creep process e.g. frost heave - periglacial
101Human activity can increase frequency of mass movement (e.g. building on steep slopes, changes in land use, land drainage, mine spoil heaps)
- ATrue
- BFalse
102Prevention of mass movements include drainage, cut and fill hill slopes ,rock bolts
- ATrue
- BFalse
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- Description
- Quiz on Earth System Science 80 Part 1 (Lectures 1- 15), created by Monty Leaman on 16/05/2017.
- Author
- Monty Leaman
- Language
- English
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- History
- Created on 16 May 2017 · updated on 18 May 2017
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