Geology 1113 Exam #3 Questions With
Answers
Which of the following statements describe what happens to sediment when a longshore current
meets a jetty?
Sediment is deposited on the up-current side of a jetty and eroded on the down-current side of a
jetty.
Which of the following describes the general pattern of movement of sand on a shoreline?
The incoming waves push the sand onshore at an angle and the outgoing wave pulls the sand out
perpendicular to the shore, resulting in a net movement that is parallel to the shore.
Of the following options, which is the most common type of chemical weathering in a desert?
Oxidation, iron-bearing silicates can produce a rust-colored stain tinting the desert landscape.
What size sediment can be transported by wind?
Sand, clay, silt
What does the term saltation refer to?
The skipping and bouncing of sand grains along the surface
Most of the erosional work in a desert is done by
running water
What characteristic defines deserts?
a dry climate, more evaporation than precipitation
At what latitudes do the large-scale, atmospheric convection cells bring dry air downward toward the
Earth's surface?
Between 20-30° north and south
Deserts that lie outside of 20-30° north and south are most likely the result of
the presence of a rainshadow
Precipitation occurs on the __________ of the mountain range, while the __________ is dry.
windward side; leeward side
When air __________, it is compressed and warmed.
sinks
Which of the following describes favorable conditions for transverse dune formation?
Areas with steady prevailing winds and abundant sand
Which of the following is a difference between barchan and parabolic dunes?
The tips of a parabolic dune point into the wind, while the tips of a barchan dune point downwind.
, Barchanoid dunes are an intermediate form of
barchan and transverse dunes
What are cross beds?
Inclined layers in sediment or sedimentary rocks that reveal the direction of wave or wind transport
What do cross beds represent?
The moving front of a ripple or dune
Why do desert dunes migrate?
Wind erodes material on the back side of the dune and deposits it on the front side of the dune.
What size sediment can be transported by glaciers?
All sediments sizes can be transported by glaciers
Which two regions currently contain the world's last remaining ice sheets?
Antarctica and Greenland, Climate conditions support a glacier's growth
When was the last time North America had major ice sheets?
18,000 years ago, the Wisconsin Episode Glaciation.
Which landform marks the furthest extent of an advancing glacier?
Terminal moraine, This ridge of glacial debris will be the furthest one from the glacier's source.
What feature is responsible for creating eskers?
Streams that flowed below, in, or on the glacier, glacial ice acts like a mold, trapping the stream's
sediments to preserve the shape.
Which of the following is a characteristic of glacial till?
The particles are often scratched and polished.
What is the term used for the pulverized rock produced by the grinding power of glacial ice?
rock flour
Where do glaciers develop?
on land only
Which part of a glacier will see the build-up of ice and snow over the course of a full year?
The Zone of Accumulation is where ice and snow will build up over time.
How does a glacier lose ice through sublimation?
Sublimation will convert solid ice to water vapor, particularly in dry regions, changes from solid to gas
Answers
Which of the following statements describe what happens to sediment when a longshore current
meets a jetty?
Sediment is deposited on the up-current side of a jetty and eroded on the down-current side of a
jetty.
Which of the following describes the general pattern of movement of sand on a shoreline?
The incoming waves push the sand onshore at an angle and the outgoing wave pulls the sand out
perpendicular to the shore, resulting in a net movement that is parallel to the shore.
Of the following options, which is the most common type of chemical weathering in a desert?
Oxidation, iron-bearing silicates can produce a rust-colored stain tinting the desert landscape.
What size sediment can be transported by wind?
Sand, clay, silt
What does the term saltation refer to?
The skipping and bouncing of sand grains along the surface
Most of the erosional work in a desert is done by
running water
What characteristic defines deserts?
a dry climate, more evaporation than precipitation
At what latitudes do the large-scale, atmospheric convection cells bring dry air downward toward the
Earth's surface?
Between 20-30° north and south
Deserts that lie outside of 20-30° north and south are most likely the result of
the presence of a rainshadow
Precipitation occurs on the __________ of the mountain range, while the __________ is dry.
windward side; leeward side
When air __________, it is compressed and warmed.
sinks
Which of the following describes favorable conditions for transverse dune formation?
Areas with steady prevailing winds and abundant sand
Which of the following is a difference between barchan and parabolic dunes?
The tips of a parabolic dune point into the wind, while the tips of a barchan dune point downwind.
, Barchanoid dunes are an intermediate form of
barchan and transverse dunes
What are cross beds?
Inclined layers in sediment or sedimentary rocks that reveal the direction of wave or wind transport
What do cross beds represent?
The moving front of a ripple or dune
Why do desert dunes migrate?
Wind erodes material on the back side of the dune and deposits it on the front side of the dune.
What size sediment can be transported by glaciers?
All sediments sizes can be transported by glaciers
Which two regions currently contain the world's last remaining ice sheets?
Antarctica and Greenland, Climate conditions support a glacier's growth
When was the last time North America had major ice sheets?
18,000 years ago, the Wisconsin Episode Glaciation.
Which landform marks the furthest extent of an advancing glacier?
Terminal moraine, This ridge of glacial debris will be the furthest one from the glacier's source.
What feature is responsible for creating eskers?
Streams that flowed below, in, or on the glacier, glacial ice acts like a mold, trapping the stream's
sediments to preserve the shape.
Which of the following is a characteristic of glacial till?
The particles are often scratched and polished.
What is the term used for the pulverized rock produced by the grinding power of glacial ice?
rock flour
Where do glaciers develop?
on land only
Which part of a glacier will see the build-up of ice and snow over the course of a full year?
The Zone of Accumulation is where ice and snow will build up over time.
How does a glacier lose ice through sublimation?
Sublimation will convert solid ice to water vapor, particularly in dry regions, changes from solid to gas
