Exam 3 Flashcards
The human population is about ______ people.
7 billion
Without hydrocarbons (oil, gas, coal), the carrying capacity of the earth is about _____ people.
2 billion
When the hydrocarbons run out, the survival of some _____ people will be threatened.
5 billion
The use of hydrocarbons has exaggerated the earth’s carrying capacity by _______.
5 billion
After N half-lives, the number of daughter isotopes is ____.
1-(2^-N)
After N half-lives, the number of parent isotopes is ____.
2^-N
A body excavated in a floodplain contains about 25% (= ¼) of the atmospheric 14C concentration. Thus, it has been dead for some ____ years assuming a 14C half-life of about 6,000 years.
12,000
Your investment is doubling every 2 years. What is your investment’s rate of return.
35%
Since the beginning of 2013, some ____ species have gone extinct.
51,000
poodwaddle number: 25,775
Volcanic rocks erupted into the air.
tephra (XIII-22)
The catastrophically explosive eruptions of Mt. St. Helens in southern Washington involve ______, _______ magma.
high-viscosity?
Why are most active volcanoes associated with plate tectonic boundaries?
(1) plate tectonic boundaries are created by volcanism
(2) spreading or sinking plates interact at plate boundaries with other materials to produce magma
(3) earthquakes at plate boundaries bring large amounts of magma to the surface
(4) in reality, most volcanoes are in the plate interiors rather than at plate boundaries
(2) spreading or sinking plates interact at plate boundaries with other materials to produce magma
Volcanoes produce _____ rocks.
(1) sedimentary (2) metamorphic (3) igneous (4) evaporite
(3) igneous
Viscosity of a magma is controlled by _______.
(1) the eruptive processes at work (2) the types and amounts of gases dissolved in the magma (3) the water content of the magma (4) temperature and silicon content of the magma
(4) temperature and silicon content of the magma
Granitic magmas have densities ______ those of basaltic magmas.
(1) lower than (2) higher than (3) equal to (4) none of above
(1) lower than
Basaltic magmas have specific gravities ______ those of granitic magmas.
(1) lower than (2) higher than (3) equal to (4) none of above
(2) higher than
Magma type typically producing Pahohoe lava.
(1) basaltic (2) granitic (3) evaporite (4) none of above
(1) basaltic
Magma type typically producing Aa lava.
(1) basaltic (2) granitic (3) evaporite (4) none of above
(2) granitic
Plate margin setting where pillow lavas predominate.
(1) subduction (2) spreading (3) transform fault (4) none of above
(2) spreading
The abbreviation ‘asl’ stands for ‘________.’
(1) as little (2) above surface level (3) above sea level (4) none of above
(3) above sea level
The shape of shield volcanoes is a function of the _______.
(1) lava viscosity (2) proportion of pyroclastic debris included in the edifice (3) local variations in the tilt of the land surface (4) the explosive nature of the eruptions that produce the shield
(1) lava viscosity
Type of lava that flows most readily.
(1) Pahohoe (2) Aa (3) evaporite (4) granitic
(1) Pahohoe
Basaltic lava flows ______ granitic lava.
(1) faster than (2) slower than (3) at the rate as (4) none of above
(1) faster than
The relatively benign fluid eruptions of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii involve ______, _______ magma.
Pahohoe, basaltic?
Mid-ocean ridge volcanism produces what type of volcanic rock?
(1) basalt (2) andesite (3) rhyolite (4) tephra
(1) basalt
Why do composite volcanoes consist of alternating lava and pyroclastic layers?
(1) composite cones are created by lava composition alternating between basalt and rhyolite
(2) composite cones typically are interlayered with lava flows from nearby shield volcanoes
(3) composite cones are created by a mixture of explosive activity and lava flows
(4) the lavas in composite cones are typically rhyolitic in composition
(3) composite cones are created by a mixture of explosive activity and lava flows
________ are small volcanoes formed from tephra accumulation near a volcanic vent.
(1) composite cones (2) cinder cones (3) shield calderas (4) submarine cones
(2) cinder cones
Composite cones are typically associated with what type of plate tectonic feature?
convergent
_____ volcanoes have the greatest topographic relief.
composite volcano
The May 18, 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens began with a massive ________.
(1) pyroclastic plume (2) caldera explosion (3) landslide (4) lava flow
(3) landslide
Killer of St. Pierre and Pompeii.
Vesuvius (or pyroclastic flow)
What is one reason that ash fall is such a significant hazard?
(1) the basaltic magma that produces the ash is low in silica (2) the weight of the ash can cause structural damage to buildings (3) the pyroclastic flow that deposits the ash is a hot, glowing cloud (4) the associated lava flows can cover large areas
(2) the weight of the ash can cause structural damage to buildings
The citizens of Heimaey, Iceland were successful in stopping the lava flow that threatened their harbor because
(1) they had a ready supply of water with which to chill the lava (2) the Icelandic air force bombed the lava flows (3) a giant sea wall was constructed to stop the lava flows (4) the lava was rhyolitic in composition
(1) they had a ready supply of water with which to chill the lava
The ages of the dikes are _____ those of the rocks on both sides.
(1) younger than (2) older than (3) the same age as (4) none of above
(1) younger than
The dikes are made of _____ rocks.
(1) igneous (2) metamorphic (3) sedimentary (4) evaporite
(1) igneous
Columnar jointing results from ______ cracks that develop as the basalt ______.
(1) compression, cools down (2) tension, heats up (3) compression, heats up (4) tension, cools down
(4) tension, cools down
What is the principal difference between craters and calderas?
(1) calderas are much larger depressions created by collapse of the upper portions of the volcano (2) calderas are associated with cinder cones, while craters are associated with shield volcanoes (3) craters are created by explosive eruptions, while calderas are not (4) craters are associated only with fissure eruptions
(1) calderas are much larger depressions created by collapse of the upper portions of the volcano
Pyroclastic plumes can race down a volcano’s side at speeds approaching ______ km per hour.
(1) 150 (2) 200 (3) 250 (4) 300
(3) 250
In 1991, the eruption of Mt. ________ killed several tens of people with pyroclastic flows.
(1) St. Helens (2) Pelee (3) Unzen (4) Vesuvius
(3) Unzen
Vesuvio is a ______ volcano.
(1) shield (2) cinder cone (3) composite (4) all of above
(3) composite
The abbreviation ‘CE’ stands for _____.
(1) Common Era (2) Current Era (3) Christian Era (4) all of above
(4) all of above
The abbreviation ‘BCE’ stands for _____.
(1) Before the Common Era (2) Before the Current Era (3) Before the Christian Era (4) all of above
(4) all of above
The date ‘2014 CE’ is numerically equivalent to _____.
(1) 2014 AD (2) AD 2014 (3) 2014 Anno Domini (4) all of above
(2) AD 2014
The date ‘399 BCE’ is numerically equivalent to _____.
(1) 399 BC (2) BC 399 (3) Before Christ 399 (4) all of above
(1) 399 BC
If Vesuvio took out Naples, global human breeding would replace the population lost in about _____ month(s).
(1) 1 (2) 3 (3) 6 (4) 12
(1) 1
Montserrat’s Soufrière Hills volcano is a typical ______ plate margin volcano.
(1) subduction (2) transform fault (3) spreading ridge (4) none of above
(1) subduction
A temperature of 400ºC is ____ times the temperature of boiling water on your stove.
(1) 1 (2) 2 (3) 4 (2) 8
(3) 4
A lahar is produced when
(1) ash is blown out of a vent and onto the side of the volcano
(2) ash and other pyroclastic ejecta become saturated with water
(3) a lateral blast spreads ash across a large area
(4) a lava flow breaks apart on the steep portion of a composite cone
(2) ash and other pyroclastic ejecta become saturated with water
Most dangerous volcano.
composite volcanoes are the most explosive
Chile’s Chaiten volcano is a typical ______ plate margin volcano.
(1) subduction (2) transform fault (3) spreading ridge (4) none of above
(1) subduction
About 1,700 residents near a dormant volcano at Lake Nyos died when
(1) a sudden volcanic eruption deposited thick ash over the town (2) an unexpected lahar destroyed the village (3) a dense cloud of volcanic gas was released (4) acid rain from sulfur dioxide emissions caused widespread damage to vegetation
(3) a dense cloud of volcanic gas was released
Global human breeding made up for the fatalities at Lake Nyos in about ____ minutes.
(1) 5 (2) 10 (3) 20 (4) 30
(2) 10
The growing magma chamber splits the surrounding country rock apart as the magma’s pressure exceeds the country rock’s ______ strength.
(1) shear (2) compressive (3) tensile (4) torque
(1) shear
Seismic activity serves as a tool of volcanic forecasting because
(1) moving magma causes earthquakes (2) earthquakes and dangerous volcanoes are both associated with subduction zones (3) seismic activity indicates emission of volcanic gases (4) earthquake usually cause the volcanic summit to collapse, setting off an eruption
(1) moving magma causes earthquakes
Why is the geologic history of a volcano important to hazard prediction?
(1) the geologic history helps to determine whether evacuation is necessary (2) the geologic history reflects the history of subduction beneath a volcano (3) the geologic history is an important indicator of seismic activity (4) the geologic history reveals the frequency and style of eruptions
(4) the geologic history reveals the frequency and style of eruptions
Why is topographic monitoring sometimes useful in forecasting a volcanic eruption?
(1) a volcano sometimes swells as lava moves into the edifice (2) volcanic eruption is more likely as an area undergoes tectonic uplift (3) seismic activity occurs as the volcano rises (4) topographic monitoring reveals the likelihood of lahar generation
(1) a volcano sometimes swells as lava moves into the edifice
As magma moves into the magma chamber, the tiltmeter’s air bubble moves ______ the vent.
(1) right (2) left (3) back and forth (4) none of above
(2) left
As magma moves out of the magma chamber, the tiltmeter’s air bubble moves ______ the vent.
(1) right (2) left (3) back and forth (4) none of above
(1) right
A volcanic eruption warning can be triggered by _______.
(1) topographic inflation alone (2) enhanced earthquake activity alone (3) both topographic inflation and enhanced earthquake activity (4) all of above
(4) all of above
A volcanic gas associated with acid rain and fog.
(1) sulfur dioxide (2) carbon dioxide (3) sodium chloride (4) iron sulfide
(1) sulfur dioxide
The specific gravity of carbon dioxide is _____ that of water.
(1) less than (2) more than (3) the same as (4) none of above
(1) less than
When a sufficient amount of carbon dioxide has accumulated on the lake bed, it rises ______ to the lake’s surface.
(1) tectonically (2) isostatically (3) hydrostatically (4) isothermally
(2) isostatically
Mitigation of volcanic disasters in densely populated areas requires an emergency plan designed to wait for an eruption and manage the _____.
(1) evacuation (2) shelters (3) hospitals (4) access to clean air and water
(1) evacuation
Composite volcanoes consist of alternating lava and pyroclastic layers because they are
(1) composite cones are created by lava composition alternating between basalt and rhyolite
(2) composite cones typically are interlayered with lava flows from nearby shield volcanoes
(3) composite cones are created by a mixture of explosive activity and lava flows
(4) the lavas in composite cones are typically rhyolitic in composition
(3) composite cones are created by a mixture of explosive activity and lava flows
A meteor is _______.
1) a small comet (2) a large meteoroid (3) a meteoroid that has entered the Earth’s atmosphere (4) a meteoroid that strikes the Earth’s surface
(3) a meteoroid that has entered the Earth’s atmosphere
In 1908, the Tunguska River valley, Siberia experienced
(1) a nuclear explosion (2) an aerial burst of a meteor (3) a major earthquake (4) a volcanic eruption
(2) an aerial burst of a meteor
A meteoroid is
(1) a small particle of an asteroid (2) a giant asteroid (3) a streak of light across the sky (4) a meteor that has struck the Earth’s surface
(1) a small particle of an asteroid
A meteorite is
(1) a small comet (2) a large meteoroid (3) a meteoroid that has entered the Earth’s atmosphere (4) a meteoroid, asteroid, or comet that strikes the Earth’s surface
(4) a meteoroid, asteroid, or comet that strikes the Earth’s surface
In 1994, the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 collided with _____.
(1) Earth (2) Mars (3) Moon (4) Jupiter
(4) Jupiter
A meteorite impact crater can be distinguished from a volcanic crater through the presence of
(1) volcanic rock (2) high pressure metamorphic minerals (3) dust surrounding the crater (4) a raised crater rim
(2) high pressure metamorphic minerals
Impact craters are more common on the Moon and Mars than on Earth because the
(1) Moon and Mars have thinner atmospheres (2) More meteoroids approach the Moon and Mars (3) The Moon and Mars consist of stronger rock that preserves craters better (4) Meteorites striking Earth are typically larger
(1) Moon and Mars have thinner atmospheres
An astronomical unit is about ______ miles.
(1) 94×10^3 (2) 94×10^4 (3) 94×10^5 (4) 94×10^6
4) 94×10^6
The Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction was apparently caused by a meteorite that struck
(1) Yucatan Peninsula (2) Pacific coast of Canada (3) Europe (4) Australia
(1) Yucatan Peninsula
The probability of dying from a meteorite impact is greater than that of dying in an automobile accident because
(1) because fatal meteorite impacts are likely to occur very frequently (2) because there is a high probability that any person will be hit directly by a meteorite (3) because a large meteorite impact would cause a very high number of fatalities (4) because there are millions of meteoroids in near-Earth orbit
(3) because a large meteorite impact would cause a very high number of fatalities
A thin clay layer marking the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary at several sites around the world is enriched in ______ which is found predominantly in meteorites.
(1) calcium (2) uranium (3) iridium (4) niobium
(3) iridium
How big was the meteorite that apparently caused the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction?
(1) 1 km (2) 10 km (3) 60 km (4) 100 km
(2) 10 km
The greatest known mass extinction of life occurred at the ________ boundary.
Permian-Triassic (most killed)
Cretaceous (most famous [dinosaurs])
Some asteroids leave the asteroid belt and cross the orbits of Earth and other solar system bodies because
(1) the gravity of Earth and other bodies pull the asteroids out of the asteroid belt (2) asteroids collide in the asteroid belt and some asteroids are diverted into other orbits (3) comets passing through the asteroid belt pull asteroids away (4) the asteroid belt is slowly expanding with time, into orbits of Earth and other bodies
(2) asteroids collide in the asteroid belt and some asteroids are diverted into other orbits
Halley’s comet will visit earth again in _____ CE.
(1) 2023 (2) 2063 (3) 2083 (4) 2123
(2) 2063
In a day, the earth experiences roughly _____ shooting stars.
(1) 29×10^1 (2) 29×10^2 (3) 29×10^3 (4) 29×10^4
(2) 29×10^2
What element was found to be enriched in a thin clay layer marking the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary at several sites around the world?
(1) calcium (2) uranium (3) iridium (4) niobium
(3) iridium
The meteorite that extinguished the dinosaurs struck the earth at ___ Ma.
(1) 65×10^3 (2) 65×10^4 (3) 65×10^5 (4) 65×10^6
(4) 65×10^6
The Permian-Triassic meteorite struck the earth at ___ Ma.
(1) 250×10^3 (2) 250×10^4 (3) 250 (4) 250×10^6
(1) 250×10^3
** this answer was given on the pre-lecture quiz, but this is wrong.
It was actually 250 million years ago. So choice (3) if it says Ma, or (4) if it just says years.
In the Antarctic map, geographic north is ______.
(1) to the top (2) to the left (3) to the bottom (4) all of above
(4) all of above
Antipodal volcanism for the K/T meteorite impact that extinguished the dinosaurs.
(1) Deccan Traps of India (2) Siberian Traps of Russia (3) Snake River Traps of USA (4) Edinburgh Traps of Scotland
(1) Deccan Traps of India
At roughly 250 Ma, India was connected to ______.
(1) Antarctica (2) Australia (3) Africa (4) all of above
(4) all of above
The presumed P/T bolide was roughly ____ times the size of the K/T bolide.
(1) 2 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4) 6
(4) 6
The ejecta basted out of the crater falls back onto the surface with ages that generally ______ with depth.
(1) increase (2) decrease (3) are uniform (4) none of above
(2) decrease
Arizona’s Meteorite Crater is a ______ crater.
(1) simple (2) complex (3) Permian (4) Precambrian
(1) simple