FINAL EXAM GEOLOGY 101 TAMU
subsidence - ANSWERS-excessive withdrawal of groundwater can cause the
ground surface to sink. significant in areas underlain by thick layers of
unconsolidated sediments.
contamination - ANSWERS-sewage, fertilizers, industrial chemicals and materials,
leaking landfills, household chemicals, hazardous or nuclear waste, and dissolved
natural substances.
salt water intrusion - ANSWERS-in coastal areas there is a sloping transition zone
between freshwater and saltwater underground.
do ground water supply, subsidence, contamination, or salt water intrusion face
Texas? - ANSWERS-yes
How does groundwater dissolve rock like limestone? - ANSWERS-most
groundwater is mildly acidic. carbonic acid promotes dissolution of calcite in
limestone as groundwater moves through pores and fractures.
What are speleothems and how do they form (in general)? - ANSWERS-the
general name for all dripstones features. calcium carbonate is precipitated as
dripping water evaporates.
,What is karst topography, and what are common features found in karst
landscapes? - ANSWERS-a landscape that has been shaped mainly by the
dissolving power of groundwater. common features include: sinkholes, solution
valleys, disappearing streams, and karst towers.
What is a glacier? - ANSWERS-is a thick mass of ice that forms on land by the
accumulation, compaction, and recrystallization of snow
valley glaciers - ANSWERS-glaciers that occupy pre-existing steam valleys in
mountainous areas
ice sheets - ANSWERS-very large glaciers that occupy significant portions of
continents in polar regions
When was the most recent major ice age? - ANSWERS-- Last Ice Age was 18,000-
20,000 years ago, called the Last Glacial Maximum.
How has Earth's climate changed since the most recent major ice age? -
ANSWERS-Since then, we have been in a natural phase of global warming
How do glaciers form? - ANSWERS-- They form in areas where more snow falls
than melts
- Snow hits the surface and compacts, then it recrystallizes creating a denser
version of itself called a firn, once it piles up into a depth/height of 50m, it fuses
into a solid mass of glacial ice
, How do glaciers move? - ANSWERS-- The entire glacier slides by basal slip along
the ground via melt water
How rapidly do glaciers move? - ANSWERS-- They move very slowly, but can move
in surges of several meters
What are crevasses? - ANSWERS-- Steep cracks in the ice along the upper 50m,
called the zone of fracture, this area is very brittle
What happens in the zone of accumulation and the zone of wastage in a glacier? -
ANSWERS-- Zone of Accumulation: uphill part of glacier, this is where snow lands
and adds mass to the glacier
- Zone of Wastage: the downslope side, there is a net loss of ice through ablation
(melting, evaporation, erosion)
What happens if accumulation and wastage are not balanced in the glacier? -
ANSWERS-- If not balanced there will be a loss of ice, called a glacial retreat
are glacial striations produced by glacial erosion? - ANSWERS-areas carved out by
glacial movement
are glacial troughs produced by glacial erosion? - ANSWERS-as a glacier grows and
moves they widen and deepen stream valleys
subsidence - ANSWERS-excessive withdrawal of groundwater can cause the
ground surface to sink. significant in areas underlain by thick layers of
unconsolidated sediments.
contamination - ANSWERS-sewage, fertilizers, industrial chemicals and materials,
leaking landfills, household chemicals, hazardous or nuclear waste, and dissolved
natural substances.
salt water intrusion - ANSWERS-in coastal areas there is a sloping transition zone
between freshwater and saltwater underground.
do ground water supply, subsidence, contamination, or salt water intrusion face
Texas? - ANSWERS-yes
How does groundwater dissolve rock like limestone? - ANSWERS-most
groundwater is mildly acidic. carbonic acid promotes dissolution of calcite in
limestone as groundwater moves through pores and fractures.
What are speleothems and how do they form (in general)? - ANSWERS-the
general name for all dripstones features. calcium carbonate is precipitated as
dripping water evaporates.
,What is karst topography, and what are common features found in karst
landscapes? - ANSWERS-a landscape that has been shaped mainly by the
dissolving power of groundwater. common features include: sinkholes, solution
valleys, disappearing streams, and karst towers.
What is a glacier? - ANSWERS-is a thick mass of ice that forms on land by the
accumulation, compaction, and recrystallization of snow
valley glaciers - ANSWERS-glaciers that occupy pre-existing steam valleys in
mountainous areas
ice sheets - ANSWERS-very large glaciers that occupy significant portions of
continents in polar regions
When was the most recent major ice age? - ANSWERS-- Last Ice Age was 18,000-
20,000 years ago, called the Last Glacial Maximum.
How has Earth's climate changed since the most recent major ice age? -
ANSWERS-Since then, we have been in a natural phase of global warming
How do glaciers form? - ANSWERS-- They form in areas where more snow falls
than melts
- Snow hits the surface and compacts, then it recrystallizes creating a denser
version of itself called a firn, once it piles up into a depth/height of 50m, it fuses
into a solid mass of glacial ice
, How do glaciers move? - ANSWERS-- The entire glacier slides by basal slip along
the ground via melt water
How rapidly do glaciers move? - ANSWERS-- They move very slowly, but can move
in surges of several meters
What are crevasses? - ANSWERS-- Steep cracks in the ice along the upper 50m,
called the zone of fracture, this area is very brittle
What happens in the zone of accumulation and the zone of wastage in a glacier? -
ANSWERS-- Zone of Accumulation: uphill part of glacier, this is where snow lands
and adds mass to the glacier
- Zone of Wastage: the downslope side, there is a net loss of ice through ablation
(melting, evaporation, erosion)
What happens if accumulation and wastage are not balanced in the glacier? -
ANSWERS-- If not balanced there will be a loss of ice, called a glacial retreat
are glacial striations produced by glacial erosion? - ANSWERS-areas carved out by
glacial movement
are glacial troughs produced by glacial erosion? - ANSWERS-as a glacier grows and
moves they widen and deepen stream valleys
