Which of the following is not a subcomponent of the Earth system
Cryosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Geosphere
Biosphere
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
An open system has an exchange of ...
Nothing
Energy
Energy and matter
Which one of the following is not a characteristic of Systems?
Can be found on different scales
Have limits
Are associated with processes
Energy cant be created or destroyed, and transfer is never 100%
What term describes 'where similar states of the system can be achieved in different ways'
Dynamic equilibrium
Quasi equilibrium
Equifinality
Feedback
Relaxation time
Threshold
What term describes 'where a system is regulated by intensifying (positive) or opposing (negative) the direction of the system'
Which of the following is the definition for 'relaxation time'?
The time taken to reach equilibrium during the change form one equilibrium state to another
The transition from one state to the system to another
What minerals are dominant components of most rocks (Felsic- e.g. Quartz, Mafic- iron and magnesium rich- heavier and darker)?
Graphine
Graphite
Silicone
Silicates
Silicate rocks make up what percentage of all rocks world wide?
70%
80%
90%
100%
Extrusive igneous rocks cool slowly and form a large crystalline structure
False
True
Contact metamorphism (as opposed to regional and dynamic metamorphism) occurs in the presence of what?
Extreme heat from magma
Extreme pressure from tectonic plates
Both heat (magma) and pressure (tectonic plates)
Which rock type is formed by geomorphological processes on the earths surface (including: rivers, coasts, deep seas, lakes, mountain sides and deserts)?
Sedimentary (clastic and chemical)
Igneous (intrusive and extrusive)
Metamorphic (contact, regional and dynamic)
Is this picture correct?
Yes
No
Which of the following is not a method by which we measure geological time?
Absolute (radiometric) dating
Relative age dating
Analysis of ice cores
Which of the following is not a principle of relative age dating?
Super-positioning
Horizontality
Crosscutting
Inclusion
Faunal succession
Geological lapping
How long ago was the Earth formed?
4.1 Ga
4.2 Ga
4.3 Ga
4.4 Ga
4.5 Ga
How do we know the internal structure of the Earth (lithosphere, upper and lower mantle, outer and inner core)?
Direct sampling
Indirect sampling
Seismic methods
All of the above
Which 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)
S-waves
P-waves
The lithosphere is comprised of the continental/oceanic crust, moho and upper mantle
Flase
The mantle is comprised of the lithospheric mantle and asthenosphere
Travel 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)
The density and flow of material in the mantle and core is uniform
What crust is underlain by sharp Moho, comprised of young igneous rocks (max 180 Ma) and is a 5-7km thick layered structure
Oceanic crust
Continental crust
Side-to-side movements of plates along fault is known as what?
Right/left lateral faults
Dip slip faults
Stick slip faults (elastic rebound)
The Richter magnitude scale of measuring earthquakes uses seismometers to measure the earthquake and then processes the figure and places it on a logarithmic scale
Foreshocks, main shock and aftershocks can all be measured using a seismometer
Earthquakes occur at which plate boundaries?
Conservative and constructive
Conservative and destructive
Constructive and destructive
Only conservative
At all plate boundaries
What were the principles of Geosyncline Theory?
Deepening and filling of basins were caused by crustal contraction and the Earth's heat crushed and folded land forming mountain chains
Considered all continents drifted away from a single large landmass; ideas largely dismissed by scientific community until late 1950s
Which of the following provides evidence for continental drift?
Continental fit
Geological fit
Tectonic fit
Palaeoclimatic evidence
Palaeontological evidence
Which 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?
Paleaomagnetic evidence
With 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?
Tectonic evidence
What mechanism did Wegener suggest was responsible for the drifting of continents?
Continents moved through oceanic crust, like an icebreaker
Thermal convection currents in the mantle moved the continents
Magnetic field of the earth caused the (magnetic) continental crust to move
Atoms 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?
Thermoremnant 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
Detrital 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
Chemical remnant magnetisation: during a chemical reaction, heat might be given out, and atoms can realign to the Earth's dipole at that time
The magnetic dipole of the Earth is fixed throughout time and atomic dipoles are only induced when there is sufficient heat
Apparent polar wander paths are useful because...
They provide evidence for continental drift
Enables rocks in different areas to be correlated with each other
Can explain presence of rock types, that were formed in different climates, in the same area
The 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
Sea 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?
How the continents could actually move- mechanism
Enabled us to record the Earth's dipole through time because horizontal strips preserve the dipole of Earth over specific time period
Both of the above
Who proposed mantel convection?
Holmes
Wilson
Wegener
What is currently believed to be the main driver of plate movement?
Convection currents in the mantle
Ridge push and slab pull
What did Tuzo-Wilson propose, in 1963, to explain how volcanic activity can occur away from plate boundaries (such as Hawaii)
Hotspot and plume theory
Continental drift
Apparent polar wondering paths
Sea-floor spreading
What creates island chains like Hawaii?
Extension that permits rise of partial melt from the asthenosphere
Mantle plumes that convectively bring unusually hot mantle from the core-mantle boundary
There is a debate over which one is true (perhaps both are factors)
The 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
In hot magma, the dipoles change orientation rapidly, so magma can have permanent magnetisation
Why do volcanoes erupt?
Due 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
Gases (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.
Gases (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
Magma recharge is required to keep feeding a volcanic eruption/magma chamber
All of the answers in combination cause volcanoes to erupt
Where are volcanoes found?
Subduction zones- shield thin [basalt] volcanoes (effusive)
Intra-plate hotspots
Destructive plate boundaries- composite thick felsic [rhyolite] volcanos (explosive)
At all of the above
Which of the following definitions id incorrect?
Magmatic - related to magma or magmatic gases; classification dependent on explosivity and column height or type-behaviour
Hydrovolcanic - eruptions generated by heating of water external to magma
Phreatic - dry-land steam blast eruptions, no magma erupted
Phreatomagmatic - partially hydrovolcanic and partially phreatic
The collapse of a lava dome (which is formed by viscous magma erupted effusively) can cause extremely dangerous pyroclastic flow
Which of the following is not the particle name and size for materials present in pyroclastic flow?
Blocks/bombs| over 64mm
Lapilli | under 64 mm
Volcanic ash | under 2 mm
Volcanic dust | under 0.063 mm
Volcanic micro-cloud | under 0.000064 mm
Which of the following is the definition of pyroclastic surge (and not pyroclastic flow)?
A more energetic and dilute mixture of searing gas and rock fragments. Move easily up and over ridges; flows ten to follow valleys
High-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
Fill in the blank: Higher silicone dioxide content (thus viscosity and ability to trap gas) and contact with water '...' explosivity
Increase
Decrease
Do not effect
Traditional names from classic eruptions are used to describe other eruptions and volcano forms. The problem with this is...?
They poorly define volcanoes and are subjective
It measures the height of eruption column and degree of explosivity
Postglacial volcanism in Iceland is dominated by which type of rock (lava)
Silicic
Intermediate
Basaltic
Prediction of future volcanic activity is simple and unchallenging
The Tibetan Plateau is an umbrella term for mountain chains including: Karakoram Mountains, Hindu Kush and Tien Shan | generally 4,000-5,000m
How was the Tibetan Plateau formed?
By continental collision (destructive plate boundary) when the Indian plate moved northwards into the Eurasian plate
By continental collision (on a transition plate boundary) when the Indian plate formed a dip fault with the Eurasian plate
The Tibetan Plateau is 5% of the Earth's land area but produces what percentage of total river sediment load?
10%
25%
40%
55%
Which of the following are features of the Tibetan Plateau's geomorphology?
Land uplift and creation of relief- encouraged high chemical/physical weathering and river downcutting
Sediment fills of more than 3km thick gravels deposited in fault-controlled sedimentary basins
Drainage pattern of the Brahmaputra river - drainage was diverted by rising mountains
All of these
The Tibetan Plateau casts a rain shadow on central Asia, as it's uplift acts as a topographic barrier preventing monsoons from reaching central Asia
Winter 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'
What is 'loess'
Wind 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
Region immediately south east of the Tibetan Plateau
How are silt-sized particles produced (in Loess)?
Mechanical weathering of metamorphic rocks
Chemical weathering of metamorphic rocks
Glacial grinding
Frost action
Fluvial erosion
Loess covers what percentage of the Earth's land surface (mainly in periglacial areas, continental interiors, associated with major rivers and mountain ranges)?
0-5%
5-10%
10-15%
Which one of the following is correct with regards to Loess records?
Strong winter monsoon = coarser sediments, higher sedimentation rates
Strong winter monsoon = finer sediments, lower sedimentation rates
Loess sequences contain buried soils (palaeosols), these sequences can't be dated and are, therefore, not used in geomagnetic polarity
What 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?
The third pole
The major source
Asia's north pole
Danny Driver
The Tibetan Plateau has shown now effects of climate change
Which of the following is the definition of weathering (the other is the definition of erosion)?
Processes of the breakdown of rocks and minerals in situ (in place)
Process of breakdown of rocks and minerals and the transport of the products
Which of the following are internal forces acting on a rock?
Heating, cooling, chemical reactions, circulation of air/water (weathering)
Loading and interaction with the outside environment (erosion)
Which one of the following the definition of 'stress' with regards to weathering (the other is strength)
Forces that act to pull a rock apart- tensile (cracking), compressive (squashing), shear (sliding) plus gravity
Forces that act to keep a rock together- atomic, chemical, cohesion and friction
What is physical weathering?
Where rocks break down into smaller compenents by mechanical processes (e.g. pressure, temperature, ice salt crystal growth; frost shattering, granular disintegration, exfoliation)
Break 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
Physical weathering is more likely to occur at lower temperatures and lower precipitation rates
Limestone is chemically weathered via carbonation and this dissolution can create distinctive karstic topographies and river drainage patterns
Mechanics of airflow are similar to water-flow, but different fluid densities (viscosity)
Which of the following is true for the comparison between air and water?
For a given sediment grain size, air needs to be travelling more quickly than water in order to facilitate transport
Air is more efficient at sediment sorting than water
Airflow is affected by air temperature (cold air is able to carry sediment more easily than warm air because it is more dense)
Which of the following is true for a high pressure system in deserts?
Descending air, low precipitation, low vegetation and high chemical/mechanical weathering
Ascending air, low precipitation, low vegetation and low chemical/mechanical weathering
Loess deposits in... (i.e. not dust transport)
Cold deserts
Hot deserts
What is deflation (the other is threshold velocity)?
General term describing all the processes by which sediment is moved by wind
Minimum wind speed needed to move a sediment grain of a certain size
Which of the following is impact threshold (the other is fluid threshold)?
The minimum wind speed needed to move a particular grain that is already in motion
The minimum wind speed needed to move a particular grain that is stationary
Which of the following does not influence sediment transport in air?
Wind speed
Wind direction
Sediment availability
Vegetation cover
Temperature
Carbon dioxide concentrations
What is an erosional landform (examples include: lag gravels, ventifacts, yardangs, deflation hollows)?
Where capacity for transport is lower than sediment supply
Where capacity for transport is higher than supply
Wind erosion causes an accumulation of large pebbles in deposit site, creating a desert pavement
Which of the following statements is not true?
Sand dune size increases in this order: ripples, dunes, mega-dunes, sand seas)
Dunes may be superimposed on one another
Dunes are always fixed (stable) and never free (unstable)
Dunes can be active at the present time or relict (inactive)
Presence or size of dunes can indicate climate changes
What type of sand dune is this and under what conditions does it form?
Barchan dune (flat landscape, one direction wind, little or no vegetation, limited sand supply
Longitudinal dune (when barchan dunes join together and form ridges perpendicular to the wind direction; sand supply is abundant)
Star dunes (controls include wind strength, vegetation cover and sediment supply- this controls all dunes)
Parabolic 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)
Desert varnish is dark coating on rocks found in arid regions, dominantly composed of fine-grained clay minerals)
What evidence is there that wind activity occurs/occurred on Mars?
Sand dunes all over the place
Strong winds
Sand dunes present
Loose sediment located on lee-sides of boulders
Presence of ventifacts
Sand dunes have been found on Titan (Saturn 's moon), this provides evidence for what?
There is or has been air flow
There is presence of water
What is the difference between desertification and drought/aridification?
Desertification is a long-term process, whereas drought/aridification is short term
Desertification is directly related to human activity (e.g. overgrazing, over-cultivation, deforestation, salinisation)
Desertification does no affect semiarid areas, whereas drought/aridification are important processes that affect semi-arid areas
Soil is a mixture of weathered mineral grains and organic matter
What are colloids (ref. soil)?
Aggregates of fine particles
Small weathered rock fragments
Organic matter in soil
Soil water which helps translocation of chemical constituents and fine particles through the soil
What soil percentage composition is correct?
Air 45%, water 25%, mineral particles 25%, organic matter 5%
Organic matter 45%, water 25%, mineral particles 25%, air 5%
Mineral particles 45%, water 25%, air 25%, organic matter 5%
Which form of soil water is available to plants?
Hydroscopic water (held atomically to mineral grains)
Capillary water (free water that can move in any direction)
Gravitational water (moves only downwards under gravity)
Which of the following is how we categorise soils?
Texture, structure, chemistry and colour
Texture, smell, grain size and colour
Absorption ability, atomic structure, chemical composition, colour
Which one of the following is incorrect in terms of the chemical process that occurs at each level of soil?
Horizon- zone of plant/organic life
Organic horizon- zone of decomposition of non-organic matter
Topsoil- zone of leaching/eluviation
Subsoil- zone of accumulation illuviation
Regolith- zone of parent material
What chemical process occurs in topsoil?
Leaching: 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
Eluviation: translocation of fine particles downwards in the soil profile in regolith zone
The 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)
What quantifying measuring system is used to determine soil colour?
Mundane dips
Mushy chips
Munsell dips
Munsell chips
Which of the following is not a control on soil formation?
Climate- weathering, ecosystems and vegetation type
Wind speed and direction
Parent material
Topography (and slope)
Soil organisms
Time
Choose the soil type that not correct and has a bogus definition
Podzols (acidic, strongly leached, low in nutrients= boreal- white/grey horizon)
Laterites (humid sub/tropics, high chemical weathering and leaching, low organic matter, high eluviation, deep soil, deep red in colour)
Gleys (waterlogged soils, high clay content, blue/grey in colour)
Calcified (arid areas, gentle leaching and eluviation, light soil colour)
Salinised (salt accumulation, upwards translocation)
Conservation (shallow/contour ploughing, high vegetation cover, mulching, fallowing, intercropping)
Which of the following are erosivity factors and not erodibility factors
Rainfall and run-off factors
Soil properties, vegetation type, topography and land-use practices
Soil erosion processes and conservation methods should minimise translocation eluviation leaching( translocation, eluviation, leaching ) and maintain a surface vegetation cover parent material contour ploughing( surface vegetation cover, parent material, contour ploughing )
Mass 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?
Slope angle
Weathering and climate
Water content
Overloading
Fill in the blank: Shear strength of a slope is determined by '...' this gives the angle of repose (of loose debris)
The material strength and cohesion of the sediment on the slope
The internal friction of the slope
Both of the above could be used
Mass movement takes place when gravity is weaker than resistance of the slope to failure
Which of the following id the definition of mass movement via flows?
Mixtures of particles of different sizes, plus water/ice that cohesively move down a slope; rate determined by viscosity e.g. sandrun
Movement of intact blocks along planes of weakness e.g. avalanche slide
Individual detached blocks e.g. rubble fall
Generally viscous material moving down slope in a creep process e.g. frost heave - periglacial
Human activity can increase frequency of mass movement (e.g. building on steep slopes, changes in land use, land drainage, mine spoil heaps)
Prevention of mass movements include drainage, cut and fill hill slopes ,rock bolts