How do placer deposits form?

Placer deposits can be either sediment or lithified., During transport, materials are sorted., Dense items are found in placer deposits, like gold.

A computer model of the climate system linking the atmo-, hydro-, bio-, and geospheres:

general circulation model (GCM)

How can plate tectonics affect the global climate?

Continent positions and makeup can affect albedo., Continent positions can alter wind currents., Continent positions can alter thermohaline circulation.

The "Cambrian Explosion" refers to:

The appearance of the first hard-shelled organisms., the rapid diversification of life at 542 ma

Fossil pollen can tell us about:

the climate because of the type of vegetation, the type of vegetation in that area

What "set the stage" for the Cambrian Explosion (aka Cambrian Radiation)?

nutrient-rich shallow seas, warm climate, higher atmospheric oxygen levels, UV protection because of the ozone layer

You might find one of these types of mineral deposits:

sedimentary, residual, magmatic, hydrothermal, metamorphic, placer

Why is a desert more likely to develop in the subtropics instead of the tropics?

Tropical rains are caused by rising air., Cold, dry air sinks at the subtropics.

During the K-T extinction:

A meteorite collided with Earth., The dinosaurs went extinct., 70% of all species died out. Mammals survived., Volcanic gases created toxic atmospheres.

What are the main causes of desertification and land degradation?

drought, excessive groundwater extraction, overgrazing/loss of vegetation

Projected effects of climate change (anthropogenic greenhouse effect) include

species extinctions or migrations, decrease in food supply, modified hydrologic cycle, increase in sea level

The climate has fluctuated in the past 1,000 years:

Yes, there was the Medieval Warm Period., Yes, there was the Little Ice Age.

How did finches lead C. Darwin to the idea of natural selection as a mechanism for evolution?

13 finches were on the Galapagos Islands, only 1 in Ecuador., Different beak shapes sustained different diets.

There are several different types of moraines, characterized by their location. These include:

terminal moraines - form at the end (terminus) of a glacier, recessional moraine - forms as a glacier melts or recedes, lateral moraines - form along the side of a glacier, medial moraine - form when two lateral moraines converge

Why are some mineral deposits not considered to be ores?

As market price fluctuates, so does the definition of "ore", Some mineral deposits are not economical to mine.

Why do the hard parts of organisms appear more often as fossils than do soft parts?

Hard parts are less easily destroyed during lithification., Hard parts are less easily destroyed during sedimentation.

The Younger Dryas "cold snap" occurred from 11,000-10,000 years ago as a result of

a change in thermohaline circulation

Earth's secondary atmosphere

initially did not contain high concentrations of O2., is our current atmosphere, although it has changed over time, was generated by volcanic outgassing.

What are the basic building blocks and fundamental processes that must be in place for life?

Life on Earth has a metabolism and can replicate., Life on Earth is carbon-based., UV protection, oxygen in the atmosphere, nutrients

What is the difference between evolution and natural selection?

Evolution is the what, natural selection is the how., Evolution is the process, natural selection is the mechanism

A combustable rock (50-95% carbon) formed by the diagenesis of peat:

lignite coal, anthracite coal, bituminous coal

Glacier ice is created by:

compressing snowfall, recrystallizing of snowflakes into ice

Mountain glaciers form:

aretes (2 cirques form a sharp ridge), horns (3 cirques carve a peak), cirques (bowl-shaped forms)

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Exam 4 Review Game (Glaciers, Deserts, Paleoclimatology, Earth History, and Energy)

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Questions 189

Answers

1
How do placer deposits form?
Placer deposits can be either sediment or lithified.
They're called "placer" because a gremlin placed them there.
During transport, materials are sorted.
Dense items are found in placer deposits, like gold.
2
A computer model of the climate system linking the atmo-, hydro-, bio-, and geospheres:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
general circulation model (GCM)
World Meteorological Organization
3
The Garamantian civilization of the Sahara declined because they consumed all of their:
coconuts
water
rocks
natural resources
4
If the ice is never near its melting point throughout the interior of the glacier, it's a:
alpine glacier
convergent glacier
temperate glacier
polar glacier
5
Records of natural events that are influenced by, and closely mimic, climate, are called:
climate proxy records
ocean and lake sediments
ice core records
speleothem records
6
Deserts are defined as arid lands that receive less than _________ mm of precipitation a year.
25.0
2500.0
250.0
2.5
7
The average weather conditions of a location or region over time is known as the:
environment
weather
average
climate
8
How can plate tectonics affect the global climate?
Continent positions and makeup can affect albedo.
Friction caused by plate tectonics leads to global warming.
Continent positions can alter wind currents.
Continent positions can alter thermohaline circulation.
9
Many kinds of mineral deposits occur in groups, forming what exploration geologists call
eclogite and blueschist facies
the motherload
metallogenic provinces
sedimentary basins
10
The "Cambrian Explosion" refers to:
The appearance of the first hard-shelled organisms.
a meteorite impact, hence "explosion."
the rapid diversification of life at 542 ma
the appearance of the first soft-bodied organisms.
11
Fossil pollen can tell us about:
the temperature of the air by oxygen isotopes
the climate because of the type of vegetation
the type of animals present in the area.
the type of vegetation in that area
12
What "set the stage" for the Cambrian Explosion (aka Cambrian Radiation)?
nutrient-rich shallow seas
warm climate
higher atmospheric oxygen levels
UV protection because of the ozone layer
13
A biogenic sediment formed from the accumulation and compaction of plant remains:
lignite coal
peat
anthracite coal
bituminous coal
14
A block of ice deposited with till melts to form a ______ lake.
sinkhole
esker
iceberg
kettle
15
If a system's response to a change is in the opposite direction from the initial input, it's a
positive feedback
ablation
negative feedback
accumulation
16
You might find one of these types of mineral deposits:
sedimentary, residual
magmatic
hydrothermal, metamorphic
placer
17
Why is a desert more likely to develop in the subtropics instead of the tropics?
A desert could easily form at the tropics.
A rainforest could easily form at the subtropics.
Tropical rains are caused by rising air.
Cold, dry air sinks at the subtropics.
18
During the K-T extinction:
A meteorite collided with Earth.
The dinosaurs went extinct.
70% of all species died out. Mammals survived.
Volcanic gases created toxic atmospheres.
19
What are the main causes of desertification and land degradation?
crop rotation
drought
excessive groundwater extraction
overgrazing/loss of vegetation
20
Projected effects of climate change (anthropogenic greenhouse effect) include
species extinctions or migrations
decrease in food supply
modified hydrologic cycle
increase in sea level
21
An astronomical cycle with a period of 41,000 years:
tilt
orbitation
precession
eccentricity
22
What kinds of organisms are the source material of petroleum?
coastal grasslands
desert plants
phytoplankton
swamps
23
The climate has fluctuated in the past 1,000 years:
Not true.
Yes, there was the Younger Dryas.
Yes, there was the Medieval Warm Period.
Yes, there was the Little Ice Age.
24
If the ice is near its melting point throughout the interior of the glacier, it's a:
polar glacier
convergent glacier
temperate glacier
alpine glacier
25
A cycle in which the output from a process becomes an input into the same process:
looping
feedback
accumulation
enrichment
26
Long-term storage of material, in isolation from the atmosphere:
reservoir
sequestration
sink
storage
27
This type of glacier occupies a bowl-shaped depression on a mountainside:
ice cap
valley glacier
piedmont glacier
cirque glacier
28
How did finches lead C. Darwin to the idea of natural selection as a mechanism for evolution?
He was imagining things.
The birds told him so.
13 finches were on the Galapagos Islands, only 1 in Ecuador.
Different beak shapes sustained different diets.
29
There are several different types of moraines, characterized by their location. These include:
terminal moraines - form at the end (terminus) of a glacier
recessional moraine - forms as a glacier melts or recedes
lateral moraines - form along the side of a glacier
medial moraine - form when two lateral moraines converge
30
Why are some mineral deposits not considered to be ores?
As market price fluctuates, so does the definition of "ore"
Some mineral deposits are not economical to mine.
Not all mineral deposits are metals.
Not all mineral deposits are necessary to extract.
31
The steepest angle at which loose particles will come to rest is the:
key angle
angle of stacking
angle of cementation
angle of repose
32
Why do the hard parts of organisms appear more often as fossils than do soft parts?
Only hard parts can be fossilized.
Hard parts are less easily destroyed during lithification.
Organisms do not have soft parts to fossilize.
Hard parts are less easily destroyed during sedimentation.
33
A hill or ridge of sand deposited by winds:
butes
dunes
desert pavement
ventifacts
34
If an organism requires oxygen to release energy from food, it's a(n)
aerobic metabolizer
fermenter
anaerobic metabolizer
chemosynthesizer
35
The Younger Dryas "cold snap" occurred from 11,000-10,000 years ago as a result of
a change in eccentricity
a change in wind currents
a change in precession
a change in thermohaline circulation
36
The theory that life on Earth developed gradually, from simple to more complex organisms:
naturalism
evolution
gradualism punctuations
natural selection
37
The bottom of a glacier slides across its bed by the process of
basal sliding
striation
apparent polar wander
mass wasting
38
A resource that can be replenished or regenerated on the scale of a human lifetime:
renewable resource
nonrenewable resource
natural resource
foggara
39
The perennially frozen part of the hydrosphere is known as the:
cryosphere
poles
polar deserts
glacial ice sheets
40
A useful material that is obtained from the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, or biosphere:
foggara
renewable resource
nonrenewable resource
natural resource
41
There have been at least 5, possibly 12, mass extinctions in the past 250 million years.
True
False
42
Earth's secondary atmosphere
initially did not contain high concentrations of O2.
is our current atmosphere, although it has changed over time
was generated by volcanic outgassing.
initially contained high concentrations of O2.
43
What are the basic building blocks and fundamental processes that must be in place for life?
Life on Earth has a metabolism and can replicate.
Life on Earth is carbon-based.
UV protection, oxygen in the atmosphere, nutrients
Life on Earth is nitrogen based.
44
What is the difference between evolution and natural selection?
Evolution is the what, natural selection is the how.
They are synonyms.
Evolution is the process, natural selection is the mechanism
Who cares?
45
The remains of an organism from a past age, preserved in rock, is known as a:
trace
fossil
coprolite
mold
46
A combustable rock (50-95% carbon) formed by the diagenesis of peat:
lignite coal
anthracite coal
peat
bituminous coal
47
Criss-crossed strata in a dune are called:
cross beds
hummocky beds
unmade beds
slip beds
48
An organism composed of cells that have a well-defined nucleus and organelles is called a:
prokaryote
anaerobic metabolizer
aerobic metabolizer
eukaryote
49
Glacier ice is created by:
compressing snowfall
Elsa's fury (let it go, let it go...)
melting of snowflakes and refreezing as ice
recrystallizing of snowflakes into ice
50
Mountain glaciers form:
aretes (2 cirques form a sharp ridge)
horns (3 cirques carve a peak)
lateral moraines (4 cirques)
cirques (bowl-shaped forms)
51
A raised glacial stream bed visible after the glacier retreats:
kettle
esker
medial moraine
lateral moraine
52
Fossilized evidence of an organism's life processes, including tracks, footprints, and burrows:
scratch fossil
designer fossil
trace fossil
mold fossil
53
A typically dry riverbed that floods during desert rains is called:
a butte
an alluvial fan
an arroyo
a bajada
54
Mineral resources include:
copper
elements extracted from the Earth
petroleum
coal
55
The degree of "wobble" of the Earth's tilted axis of rotation:
orbitation
precession
tilt
eccentricity
56
Heterogeneous mixture of crushed rock, sand, pebbles, cobbles, & boulders deposited by glaciers
striation
cirque
till
kettle
57
Climate proxy records record the climate:
similarly, preserving regional trends (regionally).
regionally, where the proxy is located.
the same no matter what location (globally).
globally, because climate proxies record global climate.
58
The basic structural and functional unit of life; an enclosed grouping of chemical compounds:
polymer
nucleus
DNA
cell
59
Why are the future impacts of anthropogenic climate change hard to forecast?
We don't know how how drastically albedo will change.
We don't know if species will be able to adapt.
Some feedback loops are still poorly understood.
We don't know if thermohaline circulation will shut down.
60
The soft-bodied (jellyfish-like) fauna that appeared about 630 million years ago are called:
notochords
trilobites
dinosaurs
Ediacaran fauna
61
Present-day concentration of CO₂ in our atmosphere is about ____, up from 280 ppm around 1700.
400 ppm
500 ppm
600 ppm
300 ppm
62
Combined influences of astronomical-orbital factors that produce changes in Earth's climate:
Precession Cycles
Glacial Cycles
Milankovitch Cycles
Koppen Cycles
63
Petroleum migrates from the ____ to the ____ and is trapped by the ____.
reservoir rock, cap rock, source rock
cap rock, reservoir rock, source rock
source rock, reservoir rock, cap rock
source rock, cap rock, reservoir rock
64
Nuclear energy:
consumes petroleum.
is limited by several drawbacks.
harnesses the energy of radioactive decay of uranium.
could potentially replace petroleum.
65
Ground that is perennially below the freezing point of water is known as:
wedged
frost wedged
periglacial
permafrost
66
What does the term "hydrocarbon" mean?
Molecules composed of water and carbon.
Carbon molecules that behave like water.
Molecules composed of hydrogen and carbon.
You could surf on it.
67
Energy generated by running water
nuclear energy
biomass energy
hydroelectric energy
photovoltaic cells
68
When a glacial valley is partly filled by an arm of the sea, the valley is called a:
valley glacier
ice cap
piedmont glacier
fjord
69
How does the current global warming trend compare with previous climatic fluctuations?
Anthropogenic climate change can happen in a lifetime.
CO2 and CH4 emitted by human activity have altered climate.
CO2 is higher now than any time in the last 100,000 years.
Non-human induced climate changes happen less rapidly.
70
A delta-like deposit that forms when a stream exits a desert valley is:
an arroyo
a bajada
a butte
an alluvial fan
71
A sediment or sedimentary rock in which the pores are filled by dense, viscous oil:
tar sands
kerogen
anticline trap
oil shale
72
Gouges left behind on exposed bedrock by glaciers are called:
grooves
abrasion
striations
lineations
73
A place in the Earth system where a material is stored for a period of time:
sequestration
sink
storage
reservoir
74
The middle grade of coal is:
peat
anthracite coal
lignite coal
bituminous coal
75
Scientists refer to the realm of human activity as the:
anthroposphere
geosphere
lithosphere
mesosphere
76
What is the origin of the energy in a fossil fuel?
coal
ultimately, the answer is sunshine
vegetation produced by photosynthesis
dinosaur blood, sweat, and tears
77
The reflectivity of a surface, as a percentage of the total reflected radiation:
reflectivity
albedo
dark index
aureole index
78
We can see climate change in action by looking at:
decrease in sea ice versus historical records
rise in sea level compared to historical records
old photographs of glaciers that show rapid retreat
animal migrations toward the poles
79
Flood basalts, massive outpourings of volcanic material, seem to induce
Mass extinctions
hydrothermal pools
neat geologic features
warmed climates
80
Organisms that live in areas of extreme pressure, temperature, salinity, or darkness are called
aerobic metabolizers
extremophiles
fermenters
adrenaline junkies
81
Below the "oil window", vegetative matter is not converted to petroleum.
False
True
82
What is the role of wind in shaping desert landforms?
Wind is the major erosive feature in non-polar deserts.
Wind can abrade exposed bedrock.
Wind can physically weather exposed bedrock.
Wind picks up sediment not held in place by vegetation.
83
The combination of oxygen and hydrogen to produce water:
is not a viable energy source
releases a tremendous amount of energy
is still in development; it's hard to store the gases
is done in "fuel cells"
84
What do scientists mean when they use terms like probable and likely regarding climate change.
This accounts for parameters not fully understood.
Several outcomes are possible, and we don't know which one.
This shows that we cannot say with 100% certainty.
Anthropogenic climate change is a hoax.
85
How do astronomical cycles control Earth's climate?
Astronomical cycles do not impact climate.
Increased solar radiation causes higher temperatures.
The closer the Earth is to the sun, the warmer the climate.
Astronomical cycles determine glacial periods.
86
An example of a renewable resource is:
wind
petroleum
sunlight
copper
87
A resource that cannot be replenished or regenerated on the scale of a human lifetime:
nonrenewable resource
natural resource
foggara
renewable resource
88
Regarding past glaciations:
Earth has only had 4 glacial periods, ever.
the oldest glacial period we know about was 2.4 ga.
Earth has had at least 30 in the past 1.8 million years.
Earth has had at least 8 in the last 800,000 years.
89
A broad alluvial apron composed of several merged alluvial fans is called:
an alluvial fan
a bajada
a butte
an arroyo
90
What processes remove oxygen (O₂) from the atmosphere?
Reptile and mammal respiration.
Plant photosynthesis.
Free oxygen binds with elements (like BIFs).
O2 can be converted to ozone (O3).
91
Humans emit about ____ billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year.
8
4
2
6
92
Some drawbacks to nuclear energy include:
we don't know how to store the radioactive waste long term.
people are scared of radiation.
it produces less energy than petroleum.
possibility of an uncontrolled chain reaction, or meltdown.
93
Is water a nonrenewable or renewable resource?
It depends on the recharge rate, but generally nonrenewable.
Nonrenewable
Renewable
It depends on the recharge rate, but generally renewable.
94
What are the main signs or symptoms of desertification?
lower water tables and higher levels of salt in water & soil
invasion of cacti
soil erosion & destruction of vegetation
reduction in surface water supplies
95
A ridge or pile of debris that has been transported by a glacier
cirque
moraine
striation
kettle
96
The highest grade of coal is:
peat
anthracite coal
lignite coal
bituminous coal
97
Which of the following is true about evolution:
It can be facilitated with an intervention with your family.
It depends on random genetic variations, or mutations.
Some genetic mutations are advantageous, others are not.
It depends on an individual's willingness to change.
98
Earth's primary atmosphere
still exists.
did not contain a large amount of O2.
might have been destroyed by solar winds.
might have been destroyed by a meteorite impact.
99
Present-day warming of the world's climate caused in part by human activities:
ozone hole
weather patterns
greenhouse effect
global warming
100
Above the "oil window", petroleum is baked off, leaving graphite behind.
True
False
101
A long-term or underlying pattern in a time series of data is called a
feedback
trend
certainty
pattern
102
This is an example of a surface with low albedo:
open water
vegetation
pavement
ice
103
Energy resources include:
coal
copper
elements extracted from the Earth
petroleum
104
Wind-transported sediment is known as:
suspended sediment
loess
eolian sediment
saltated sediment
105
Sediment transport in which particles move in a series of short jumps along arc-shaped paths:
suspension
surface creep
saltation
abrasion
106
Naturally occurring gas, liquid, and semisolid substances that consist of hydrocarbon compounds
kerogen
oil
gas
petroleum
107
A single-celled organism with no distinct nucleus is called:
eukaryote
aerobic metabolizer
prokaryote
anaerobic metabolizer
108
Annual growth rings, a useful paleoclimate proxy record, can be found in:
the Giant Sequoia and Bristlecone pine of California
speleothems
corals and coralline red algae
amber
109
Ice that forms by the direct freezing of seawater:
ice sheet
sea ice
glacier
iceberg
110
The last glaciation:
started about 70,000 years ago.
had sea levels 120 m lower than present.
induced land changes, like Glacial Lake Bonneville.
ended about 10,000 years ago.
111
Portion of greenhouse warming that results from human activities rather than natural processes:
anthropogenic effect
greenhouse gas effect
anthropogenic greenhouse effect
unnatural effect
112
If a system's response to a change is in the same direction from the initial input, it's a
negative feedback
ablation
positive feedback
accumulation
113
International panel of scientists established to keep society updated on climate science.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
World Meteorological Organization
general circulation model (GCM)
114
A relatively cold period, when Earth's ice cover greatly exceeded its present extent:
glacial period
interglacial period
interglaciation
glaciation
115
Solar panels are made of ___________ cells.
biomass
prokaryotic
photovoltaic
eukaryotic
116
Extremely fine suspended particles in the atmosphere, including volcanic ash, dust, and ice:
albedo
pyroclasts
aerosols
greenhouse gases
117
Loose ice that has broken off of an ice shelf:
ice sheet
glacier
sea ice
iceberg
118
This is a deposit of large clasts left behind by eolian transport of smaller clasts:
deflation
desert pavement
ventifacts
butes
119
In order to live on land, organisms adapted to:
contain their water
exchange gases with air instead of water
have structural support
eat land food
120
The story of human evolution includes being "bipedal." What does this mean?
Humans can pedal bicycles.
Humans walk upright, on two feet.
The oldest human ancestors were quadrapeds (walked on 4)
Humans can walk either on two feet or all fours.
121
These are places that you might find petroleum:
pinch-out trap, salt dome trap
stratigraphic trap, reef trap
fault trap
anticline trap
122
By overlaying multiple climate proxy records, we can see:
global trends (where the signal matches)
a jumbled line
regional variability (where the records are not the same)
123
The concentration of CO₂ in our atmosphere before the Industrial Revolution was ____ ppm.
380
480
280
180
124
A reservoir that takes in more of a given material than it releases:
storage
sequestration
reservoir
sink
125
A population of genetically and or morphologically similar individuals that can interbreed:
selection
species
fungi
population
126
How circular or elliptical the Earth's orbit about the sun is:
orbitation
precession
tilt
eccentricity
127
When well-adapted individuals pass their favorable traits on to their offspring:
speciation
photosynthesis
natural selection
gradual punctuation
128
What kinds of organisms are the source material of coal and petroleum?
Oil is only found in the desert.
Coal comes from swamps.
Petroleum comes from phytoplankton.
Both coal and petroleum are found in sedimentary rocks only.
129
When wind picks up small particles and leaves larger ones behind, this process is called:
saltation
deflation
abrasion
ventifactation
130
Wind erosion in which airborne particles chip away at surface features:
saltation
abrasion
suspension
surface creep
131
Sediment transport in which the wind causes particles to roll along the ground:
saltation
surface creep
abrasion
suspension
132
A cold, treeless landscape that forms next to glacial landscapes:
tundra
prius
highlander
corolla
133
If ablation exceeds accumulation, the glacier:
grows
stays the same
shrinks
134
A thick sheet of floating ice that is connected to an ice sheet
ice shelf
iceberg
sea ice
glacier
135
The Rapa Nui civilization of Easter Island declined because they consumed all of their:
natural resources
coconuts
palm trees
rocks
136
When solid ice changes directly into a vapor (without melting), it's a process called:
evaporation
condensation
precipitation
sublimation
137
What processes and characteristics distinguish temperate glaciers from polar glaciers?
Polar glaciers are near the melting point of water.
Temperate glaciers are near the melting point of water.
Temperate glaciers fully melt each summer.
Polar glaciers accumulate because of low melting rates.
138
This glacier flows down valleys and are fed from cirque glaciers or ice caps:
piedmont glacier
fjord
ice sheet
valley glacier
139
What do economic geologists do?
They trade on the stock exchange.
They set the market price.
They locate ore deposits.
They determine how easily (cheaply) an ore can be extracted.
140
These deserts are located at high latitudes. Precipitation falls as snow here:
subtropical deserts
rainshadow deserts
continental interior deserts
polar deserts
141
The "oil window" refers to the temperature where oil and gas is formed.
False
True
142
What is responsible for the high concentrations of oxygen (O₂) in Earth's atmosphere?
volcanic outgasing
organisms that photosynthesize
the ozone layer
organisms that ferment
143
The following are hydrocarbon energy resources:
oil, natural gas
nuclear/uranium
wind, water, solar
peat, coal
144
Fossils can include:
mineralized or permineralized bones, shells, or vegetation
molds
fossilized poop, called coprolites
traces of life, like worm burrows, eggshells, and tracks
145
How does a cirque glacier differ from a valley glacier?
Cirque glaciers are fed by valley glaciers.
Cirque glaciers occur at the head of valleys.
Valley glaciers are fed by cirque glaciers.
Valley glaciers flow through valleys.
146
These deserts are associated with two belts of rainfall near 30ºN and 30ºS latitudes:
rainshadow deserts
subtropical deserts
continental interior deserts
polar deserts
147
Some examples of climate proxy records include:
lake and seafloor sediments
fossil pollen and speleothems (cave formations)
oral and written human records, also artwork
glacial ice, tree rings, and corals
148
When a glacier flows all the way out of the mountains and onto the surrounding lowlands it's:
a valley glacier
a fjord
an ice cap
a piedmont glacier
149
Sediment transport in which the wind carries very fine particles over long distances:
surface creep
suspension
abrasion
saltation
150
A semi-permanent or perennially frozen body of ice consisting of recrystallized snow:
glacier
sea ice
iceberg
ice shelf
151
Local geography and/or oceanic currents create deserts known as:
coastal deserts
rainshadow deserts
continental interior deserts
polar deserts
152
The lowest grade of coal is:
bituminous coal
peat
lignite coal
anthracite coal
153
A deposit from which one or more minerals can be extracted profitably:
the motherload
mineral energy deposit
ore
mine
154
Why is it inaccurate to say that humans descended from apes?
Humans can't climb trees very well.
Humans and apes had a common ancestor.
The human and ape branches of the tree of life diverged.
The ape species did not evolve into the human species.
155
A fine-grained sedimentary rock with a high content of kerogen:
oil shale
oil well
tar sands
anticline trap
156
The invasion of desert conditions into non-desert areas is known as:
land dessication
land degradation
aridification
desertification
157
A relatively warm period, when Earth's ice cover and climate resembled those of the present day
interglacial period
glacial period
interglaciation
glaciation
158
This covers a mountaintop completely and displays a radial-outward flow pattern:
fjord
ice cap
piedmont glacier
valley glacier
159
More snow melts than falls in the zone of _____; this is where glaciers lose mass.
accumulation
ablation
snow line
160
The anthropogenic greenhouse effect is caused by:
thermal emissions from greenhouses
human emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2)
human emissions of oxygen (O2)
human emissions of methane (CH4)
161
An example of a nonrenewable resource is:
petroleum
sunlight
wind
copper
162
Infrequently, glaciers can move quickly. These events are called:
surges
ice skating
accelerated basal slips
163
More snow falls than is melted in the zone of _____; this is where glaciers grow.
snow line
ablation
accumulation
164
An astronomical cycle with a period of 100,000 years:
orbitation
tilt
eccentricity
precession
165
The 20 carbon-based molecules known as the "building blocks" of life are called:
mRNA
amino acids
RNA
DNA
166
A catastrophic episode in which a large fraction of living species become extinct quickly
genetic filter
bolide impact
a bad day
mass extinction
167
The set of processes by which carbon cycles between reservoirs within the global environment:
carbon cycle
petroleum window
global warming
astronomical cycle
168
Glaciers move:
downslope
either because they have a wet or dry bottom
by creep, or very slow movements
not at all
169
This is the name of abraded rocks that show wind-polished sides (faces):
crystal faces
butes
ventifacts
deflation
170
The type of dune that forms in an area will depend on:
Amount of Vegetation
Amount of Wind
Amount of Sand
Amount of Water
171
Geothermal energy:
is carbon-neutral.
can be used on residential and municipal scales.
harnesses the energy of the Earth's interior.
nearly completely powers volcanically active Iceland.
172
Land damage or loss of productivity caused by human activity is known as
land degradation
aridification
desertification
land dessication
173
Arid and semi-arid lands are characterized by a lack of available water. These are known as:
drylands
tropics
divergence zones
desolate lands
174
An astronomical cycle with a period of 26,000 years:
tilt
eccentricity
orbitation
precession
175
The atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, geosphere, and biosphere interact to control:
tectonic activity
the Earth's climate
bolide impacts
176
The scientific study of ancient climates is called
history
paleoclimatology
paleoseismology
historical geology
177
Chemical reaction: plants use light energy to synthesize H₂O and CO₂ to produce sugar and O₂.
synthesis
photosynthesis
dissociation
photodissociation
178
The degree of deviation from vertical of the Earth's axis of rotation:
orbitation
precession
eccentricity
tilt
179
The gaseous form of petroleum
oil
petroleum
kerogen
natural gas
180
Cracks in the brittle zone of a glacier, that are up to 60 m deep, are known as:
caves
canyons
crevasses
cracks
181
Any form of energy that is derived more-or-less directly from plant life:
photovoltaic cells
renewable mineral resources
bioWillie energy
biomass energy
182
The liquid form of petroleum
gas
kerogen
oil
petroleum
183
Stanley Miller synthesized amino acids using an electric spark (to simulate lightning) and:
carbon dioxide (CO2)
hydrogen (H2)
methane (CH4)
ammonia (NH4)
184
The first life on Earth formed
in the ocean
somewhere, we don't know, but it was delivered by a stork.
in hydrothermal vents
on the land
185
The largest type of glacier; a continent-sized glacier that covers land:
alpine glacier
temperate glacier
ice sheet
ice shelf
186
What are some ways that farmers and others can address the problem of land degradation?
low-till and no-till farming
terraced farming and planting vegetation to control erosion
reforestation of vulnerable lands
crop rotation, windbreaks, contour plowing
187
Humans are genetically related to fish because we both have
teeth
fins
spinal cords
gills
188
The Cambrian Explosion occurred at:
1 ga
542 ma
3.5 ga
630 ma
189
Ice core climate proxy records
are collected from polar and alpine glaciers
can extend hundreds of thousands of years into the past.
use stable isotopes of oxygen to determine air temperature
usually contain annual layers of ice.

Exam 4 Review Game (Glaciers, Deserts, Paleoclimatology, Earth History, and Energy) Flashcards | StudBud