Lecture 2 & 3

Question 1

What are the differences between oceanic and continental crust?

Answer 1

Continental crust: has a p=2.7 and is made of mostly granite, it’s thick (30-40km) and is >1500 mya
Oceanic crust: has a p=3.0 and is made of basalt, is 6km thick and is <200 mya

Question 2

What are the 3 types of rock?

Answer 2

Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.

Question 3

What part of the ocean bottom is the youngest?

Answer 3

The area closest to the ridge.

Question 4

In the subduction zone, which plates have trenches?

Answer 4

Oceanic plates have trenches.

Question 5

What characteristic causes continental depressions in the subduction zone?

Answer 5

Volcanic activity.

Question 6

What is the atmosphere made of?

Answer 6

N2, O2, CO2 and Ar

Question 7

What are the two layers of the atmosphere?

Answer 7

1) Stratosphere - contains 2/3 of the ozone layer

2) Troposphere- causes natural greenhouse effect

Question 8

What is the coriolis effect?

Answer 8

A force acting perpendicular to the direction of motion to the axis of rotation, affecting weather systems.

Question 9

With respect to solar radiation, what part of the world has low pressure vs. high pressure?

Answer 9

The equator has low pressure and the poles have high pressure.

Question 10

Due to solar radiation pressure changes, what parts of the world have warm and cold temperatures?

Answer 10

Due to high pressure in the north pole and south pole, these areas have cold temperatures. Whereas the equator has low pressure and warm temperatures.

Question 11

What is the ekman layer?

Answer 11

The layer in a fluid where flow is a result of a balance between pressure gradient and drag forces.

Question 12

In the system-design process, when would you use the criterion approach?

Answer 12

When 1 objective is more important than the others, you’d head straight from structuring the problem to evaluation.

Question 13

In the system-design process, when would optimization be used?

Answer 13

This is a feedback loop resulting from a bad analysis, causing the person to start over.

Question 14

What are the 7 steps for decision analysis?

Answer 14

1. Structure the problem
2. Alternative solutions
3. Analysis and tests
4. Evaluation
5. Decision
6. Implementation
7. Monitoring

Question 15

What are decision elements?

Answer 15

Decisions and uncertain events to create total satisfaction

Question 16

What is a basic, risky decision structure?

Answer 16

When you have a primary decision, uncertain event and a primary objective. (all points to objective) A choice in face of uncertainty. You have a primary decision, uncertain event and primary objective.

Question 17

What is a basic, risky policy?

Answer 17

When you have a primary decision, uncertain event and a primary objective. (triangle) It’s used to influence probabilities of outcomes with uncertain events.

Question 18

What is a basic, risky decision with multiple objectives?

Answer 18

When you have a primary decision, uncertain event, multiple objectives that create total satisfaction. It’s used to insure against one risk results.

Question 19

What’s a multiple-objective, no-risk decision?

Answer 19

When you have a primary decision, multiple objectives that create total satisfaction. This is a tradeoff between objectives when risk isn’t a major issue.

Question 20

What’s multiple-objective, multiple-approach, no-risk decision?

Answer 20

A hierarchical decomposition. Made of primary decisions, multiple objectives to create total satisfaction.

Question 21

What’s a multiple-period, sequential decision?

Answer 21

Use this when there’s changing conditions. Total satisfaction is influenced by each time period.

Question 22

What’s a prototype decision?

Answer 22

Dealing with long-term problems, with uncertainty regarding the success of larger problems.