TEST 1 Flashcards
Why is human population growth often considered the foremost environmental problem?
Increasing population strains resources and creates additional wastes.
What is uniformitarianism?
a concept that states that present processes operated in the past, at similar rates
What is sustainability?
development that ensures that future generations will have equal access to the resources that our planet offers
How are the impacts of natural hazards linked to population growth?
Population growth concentrates people and resources, such that the impacts of an individual natural hazard can be greater.
What is a scientific theory?
a hypothesis that has withstood extensive testing
A group of individuals capable of interbreeding is called a(n)
species
What is the Gaia hypothesis?
a set of hypotheses that likens the Earth to a superorganism with interrelated, mutually adjusting systems
What percent of Earth’s history had elapsed before the first organisms appeared?
24%
As an ecosystem evolves following disturbance, it follows the path of
succession
One result of wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park is
regrowth of streamside vegetation
Which of the following does NOT describe a mineral? Naturally occurring, Inorganic, A specific chemical composition, or Always comprised of one element
Always comprised of one element
What is limestone made of?
Calcite
Which of the following minerals is a common clay mineral used for making pottery?
Feldspar
Kaolinite
The mineral property “cleavage” refers to the
the tendency for a mineral to split along planar surfaces as a result of its atomic structure
Which is the hardest of the following minerals? Calcite Gypsum Talc Quartz
Quartz
For mineral identification purposes which of the following is the least reliable physical property? Streak Cleavage Color Hardness
Color
The concept that identifies that the three basic groups of rocks are all related is called the
rock cycle
Rocks that form from the solidification of magma are called
Intrusive igneous rocks
How many cleavage planes does muscovite and biotite have?
One
The chemical formula (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 describes what mineral
Olivine
Isotopes are
atoms of the same element with different atomic masses
Which of the following is not a mineral? volcanic glass ice quartz plagioclase feldspar
Volcanic Glass
Why are silicate minerals the most common minerals in the crust?
because oxygen and silicon are the most common elements in the crust
Why are ferromagnesian minerals easily weathered?
they are prone to oxidation
Intrusive igneous rocks differ from extrusive igneous rocks primarily in their
crystal sizes
Detrital sedimentary rocks differ from chemical sedimentary rocks in that
detrital sedimentary rocks are composed of visible pieces of preexisting rocks
Some metamorphic rocks are potential environmental hazards because
foliation can represent a plane of weakness in the rock
Plastic deformation results in
permanent change in shape of the rocks
Unconformities represent
a gap in the geologic record
T of F: Porphyritic textures in igneous rocks result from two phases of crystallization.
True
Which of the following concepts was developed earliest?
continental drift,
plate tectonics,
seafloor spreading, or
All three concepts were developed at approximately the same time.
Continental Drift
How old are the fossils of the reptile Mesosaurus found in Africa and South America that suggest the two continents were once together?
300 Million Years Old
When was the theory of plate tectonics developed?
1960’s
New lithosphere is created where?
at mid-ocean ridges.
Which of the following is NOT associated with convergent plate boundaries?
spreading centers
How old are the oldest rocks on the ocean floor?
approximately 200 million years old
What drives plate tectonics?
mantle convection
What type of plate boundary are the Hawaiian volcanoes located on?
They are not located on a plate boundary
The width of seafloor isochrons is directly related to
spreading rate.
An island arc forms when there is __________ convergence.
ocean-ocean
How does earthquake magnitude differ from intensity?
Magnitude reflects energy release, while intensity reflects the amount of shaking.
On what basis are Mercalli intensity values assigned to locations?
qualitative perceptions of and structural response to the shaking
The 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes were different from most California earthquakes because
the New Madrid earthquakes were centered in a plate interior
How can injection of liquid wastes cause earthquakes?
it increases fluid pressure and reduces friction
Tsunamis are generated by
vertical displacement of ocean water
The major goal of the U.S. earthquake hazard reduction program is to
develop an earthquake warning system for southern California
reduce earthquake hazards through understanding of risks and prediction of hazards
The tsunami warning system in the region of the 2004 tsunami
did not exist
The first step in producing a timely warning of a tsunami is
detection of a possible tsunami-producing earthquake
Tsunamis can be detected on the open ocean through
measurement of changes in pressure exerted on the sea bottom by the water column
In what region did a major tsunami strike in late 2004?
Indian Ocean
What is the principal difference between the inner core and outer core?
The inner core is solid while the outer core is liquid.
The Mohorovicic discontinuity represents
the boundary between mantle and crust
How does the lithosphere differ from the asthenosphere?
The lithosphere is stronger than the asthenosphere.
Why was Alfred Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift not taken seriously by most geologists?
his mechanism for movement of the continents was faulty
How did seafloor spreading revive Alfred Wegener’s ideas about continental drift?
Sea floor spreading presented a viable mechanism for moving the continents.
At convergent plate boundaries
the plate of higher density subducts into the mantle
Transform plate boundaries are marked by
two plates sliding relative to one another
How do magnetic stripes on the ocean floor serve as evidence for seafloor spreading?
Their symmetry on either side of the mid-ocean ridge shows that new crust is created, then split.
Hot spots are recorded by
a sequence of volcanic centers younging toward the hot spot
The process of isostasy is responsible for
causing rock uplift in mountain ranges in response to erosion
Examining the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface refers to..
Physical Geology
What Seeks an understanding of the origin of Earth and its development through time?
Historical Geology
How is old is Earth?
About 4.6 billion years old
How long ago did we see multicellular life?
500 million years ago
The sudden appearance of animals with shells and skeletons refers to…
The Cambrian Radiation
How long ago were dinosaurs walking the Earth?
about 65 million
The Cenozoic Era refers to..
“Recent Life” or 65 million year until today
A Chemical composition & crystalline structure are the two most important properties of a…
Mineral
What scale is used to measure hardness in minerals?
Mohs Hardness Scale
This mineral is the worlds main source of aluminum
Bauxite
