Earth Science Questions and Answers

why is the s-p interval used to determine the distance of an earthquake

what are seismic waves

Earth and Planetary Surface Processes Winter 2017 Problem set 6 Due in class Wed 8 March, 3pm. Office hours 10am-11am, Hinds 467 Monday 6 March (note change in time from 9am). Q1. Plot the expected steady-state pattern (as a function of distance from the crest) of discharge of regolith on a convex hillslope in a climate in which the production rate of regolith is 20 mm/yr. Report your answer in m2/year. If the regolith was 0.8 m thick, what would be the spatial pattern of the mean downslope velocity of the regolith? How would these numbers change if 25% of the mass loss occurred in solution (dissolved in rainwater)? (From Anderson & Anderson) Q2. From Hartley et al., Nature Geoscience, 2011: Seismic reflection profiling between Iceland and the UK shows a drowned landscape that was above sea level 55 Ma. The landscape was cut into mudstones and is now buried beneath >1 km of sediment, plus 700m of water. The landscape (black square in the below figure) was uplifted and then reburied due to the arrival of the head of mantle plume whose “stalk” now fuels volcanism at Iceland: River profiles (gray is data, black is model): What is the slope of the knickpoint marked β? What is the (range of) approximate drainage areas at β? Assuming n=1 in the streampower law (so that knickpoint shape is preserved on retreat), what is the knickpoint retreat rate vAm ? You can assume v = 2.75 Myr-1 and m = 0.5 for this question. Approximately how many years prior to the landscape becoming “drowned” (frozen in shape) was the knickpoint initiated? Refer to Figure 1. Assume the initiation of knickpoint β corresponds to the arrival of the “mushroom head” of the mantle plume, and the drowning of the landscape corresponds to the switch to the modern, narrow “plume tail” configuration. What is the area over which uplift occurred? Assuming the red-circled area was horizontal and below sea level before the plume arrived, what is the volume of uplifted rocks? Assuming the drowned landscape under investigation is representative of the fractional erosion of the uplifted landscape across the whole red-circled area, what is the volume of rocks fluvially eroded in the plume area during the plume event? What is the erosion flux in km3 yr-1? How does this compare to the Holocene pre-dam global sediment flux of 8 km3 yr-1? Q3. In lecture we discussed accumulation of a stable cosmogenic isotope in a rock undergoing exhumation, and we also discussed accumulation of a radioactive cosmogenic isotope in a rock that has no erosion. In this question we will combine exhumation and decay. Assume a production rate of 10Be of 5 atoms/(gram quartz)/yr at the surface, with an e-folding depth of 1 m (so the production rate is 1.84 atoms/(gram quartz)/yr at 1m depth). 10Be decays exponentially with a half-life of 1.4 Myr. Plot the expected concentration of 10Be at the surface, as a function of erosion/exhumation rate, for a quartzite rock. Make sure to consider the endmembers of very slow erosion/exhumation (for which the 10Be concentration will reach equilibrium between production and decay), and the endmember of very fast erosion/exhumation (for which decay is unimportant in setting the 10Be concentration).

Using map t27 b (Rome, Wl) to answers this question. 1. How far is it in miles from Hebron to Mclery Cem|Cemetery). Assume a straight line and use the Ratio Scale. 2. What do we call the brown lines on this map and what do they measure? 3. How many square miles are there shown on this map? (area is found by multiplying length x width.)

Write all of your answers on one separate sheet of paper for the following questions. SHOW YOUR WORK for the ratio conversions. Make sure to label the units. Using map t27 b (Rome, WI) to answers this question. How far is it in miles from Hebron to Mclery Cem(Cemetery). Assume a straight line and use the Ratio Scale. What do we call the brown lines on this map and what do they measure? How many square miles are there shown on this map? (area is found by multiplying length x width.) Using map T18 & T19 (they are two parts of the same map) Greasewood Spring, AZ. How many Km is it from The T in Twin Buttes to the S in Steamboat Wash. Use the Graphic Scale. Assume a straight line. Using the map and page 139 What is the latitude and longitude where Hurricane Maria was first mapped as a Tropical Depression on Sept 16th? What is the latitude where Maria was de-classified as a Hurricane?

Surface low pressure areas are usually associated with: Question 27 options: 1) diverging winds 2) descending air 3) clear or nearly clear weather 4) rainy,cloudy weather

What are some pros and cons of the Gall-Peters projection?

"Which of the following is the best example of a perceptual region?"

1. To calculate an average monthly temperature, you have to add up all the average daily temperatures and divide by the number of days in the month. To calculate the average annual temperature, you add up all the average monthly temperatures and divide by 12. Temperature Ranges are calculated by taking the highest temperature and subtracting the lowest temperature. Table II has average monthly temperatures, as degrees Centigrade, for both Vancouver, BC and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Determine the Average Annual Temperature and the Temperature Range for both cities from the data in Table II. **TABLE II** | MONTH | VANCOUVER | WINNEPEG | | --- | --- | --- | | Jan | 2 | -38 | | Feb | 4 | 16 | | Mar | 6 | -8 | | Apr | 9 | 3 | | May | 12 | 11 | | Jun | 15 | 17 | | Jul | 17 | 20 | | Aug | 17 | 19 | | Sep | 14 | 13 | | Oct | 10 | 7 | | Nov | 6 | -4 | | Dec | 4 | -14 | a) Avg. Apt. Temp.: Vancouver ***_***_ Winnipeg ***_*** b) Temperature Range: Vancouver ***_***_ Winnipeg ***_*** c) Plot the temperatures data for Vancouver and Winnipeg on the graphs of Figure 4. d) Explain why there is a difference in annual temperature between Vancouver and Winnipeg. e) Which city, Vancouver and Winnipeg has the most maximum temperature? **FIGURE 4**

Use the chart to determine the half-life of carbon-14 A) 5,000 years B) 5,700 years C) 10,000 years D) 11,400 years # Radioactive Decay of Carbon 14 | Years since death | $\mathrm{C}^{14}$ atoms remaining per $1.0 \times 10^{8} \mathrm{C}^{12}$ atoms | | --- | --- | | 0 | 10,000 | | 5,700 | 5,000 | | 11,400 | 2,500 | | 17,100 | 1,250 | | 22,800 | 625 | | 28,500 | 312 | | 34,200 | 156 | | 39,900 | 78 | | 45,600 | 30 | | 51,300 | 20 | | 57,000 | 10 | | 62,700 | 5 | | 68,400 | 2 |

"Which choice best describes the phosphorus cycle? A. Movement of phosphorus between the atmosphere and land. B. Movement of phosphorus in the atmosphere. C. Movement of phosphorus between land, ocean, and living organisms."

State at least five differences between solstice and equinox.

What is the difference between a convergent and divergent plate boundary?

Which description best describes a rainshadow effect? A rain shadow is a dry area on the leeward side of a mountainous area. The mountains block the passage of rain - producing weather systems and cast a "shadow" of dryness behind them. Cold, moist air is blown into the mountain where it drops all of its moisture. Cold air comes off the ocean and travels up the mountain dumping rain on the leeward side. An area having relatively vast precipitation due to the effect of a topographic barrier, especially a mountain range, that causes the prevailing winds to lose their moisture on the leeward side.

Question: In the upper 10 km of the crust, the geothermal gradient is typically about $25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ per km, but can range from $15^{\circ} \mathrm{C} / \mathrm{km}$ to $50^{\circ} \mathrm{C} / \mathrm{km}$. Plot these three... In the upper 10 km of the crust, the geothermal gradient is typically about $25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ per km, but can range from $15^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ $/ \mathrm{km}$ to $50^{\circ} \mathrm{C} / \mathrm{km}$. Plot these three geothermal gradients for the upper 10 km of the Earth. Depth (km) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 | 300 | 350 | 400 | 450 | 500 | Temperature $\left({ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\right)$ Answer the following questions based on the graphed data above: | The deepest mine on Earth extends penetrates to a depth of 2 km . How hot is it at the bottom of that mine? | | | --- | --- | | What is the range of temperatures that you could expect at a depth of 8 km ? | |

What are the three dominant colors of Earth as seen from space?

Arrange the layers of Earth's atmosphere according to the altitude. Highest altitude 口 Lowest altitude Arrange the layers of Earth's atmosphere according to the altitude.

What are the seven steps of the rock cycle? What are the five stages of the rock cycle? What are the four types of rocks in the rock cycle? What is the diagram of the rock cycle?

What are the 7 stages of the rock cycle?

"Which correctly lists the three main ocean zones? A. Deep, neritic, surface B. Intertidal, deep, surface C. Neritic, intertidal, open ocean D. Open ocean, deep, continental"

What are the 7 major ecosystems?

What roles might each layer of the atmosphere have?

Venus is almost the same size, mass, and density as Earth. True or False?

The regularity of El Niño weather events is determined by: A. the amount of gases that volcanoes create each year on the seafloor near Australia. B. changes in the size of a warm pool of water in the seas near Indonesia. C. a decrease in the frozen glaciers at Earth's poles. D. the magnetic strength of Earth's inner core.

Explain how the atmosphere and hydrosphere interact to create weather.

Identify some abiotic characteristics of the rainforest biome.

List 5 disadvantages of soil erosion. Also, list 5 advantages of soil erosion. Disadvantages: Loss of fertile topsoil. Decreased agricultural productivity. Increased sedimentation in waterways. Damage to infrastructure such as roads and buildings. Loss of plant and animal habitats. Advantages: Creation of new landforms and landscapes. Redistribution of soil nutrients. Formation of sedimentary layers beneficial for fossil studies. Natural process contributing to soil renewal in some areas. Potential to expose mineral deposits.

Complete this sentence: All the weather occurs in the ________ layer of the atmosphere. A. stratosphere B. troposphere C. mesosphere D. thermosphere

Place the layers in order from highest to lowest altitude. A. Outer space B. Ionosphere C. Ozone layer D. Coldest layer E. Weather layer

Which of these best describes the asthenosphere inside of the Earth's mantle? A. It is not quite liquid or solid, similar in texture to toothpaste. B. It is molten liquid metal. C. It is solid due to the extreme pressure of the Earth's other layers smashing down on it. D. It is a firm, rocky outer layer.

What percentage of fresh water is trapped in glaciers or underground aquifers? A. 99% B. 15% C. 75% D. 40%

A group of white wispy clouds often found at high altitudes are _____.

How does latitude affect climate? A. Latitude controls the angle of tilt for Earth’s axis. B. Latitude determines the duration of daylight hours. C. Latitude causes air temperatures to remain cool at higher elevations. D. Latitude causes ocean currents to move in a certain direction.

What is the difference between a gorge and a ravine? How does a canyon fit in?

Which best describes how fossil fuels form? A. Over a period of millions of years B. When nuclear reactions occur C. At the end of each agricultural season D. Quickly and efficiently

What percentage of Earth's freshwater is found in lakes, rivers, and streams as surface water? A. 71% B. 30% C. 1% D. 69%

Part 3: The Geothermal Gradient. An exporiject skill in any career is reading graphi. In this exercise, you will practice this skill by reading the graph that describes how temperature changes with depth in Earth's interior. The curve that describes this change is known as the Geothermal Gradient. The graph below shows the Geothermal Gradient down to about 300 miles. Remember that Earth's center is almost 4,000 miles down, so you are looking at just the very thin eatermost part of the Earth. However, that is where we live and experience all the wild consequences of living on the surface of a planet that is still very hot inside. These consequences include earthquakes and volcanoes. 1. The temperature shown by the arrow under number 1 is _____ degrees Fahrenheit. 2. The depth shown by the arrow next to number 2 is _____ miles below the surface. 3. The temperature shown by the arrow under number 3 is _____ degrees Fahrenheit. 4. Point 4 is a point on the geothermal gradient. This tells us that at 60 miles below the surface, the temperature is _____ degrees Fahrenheit. 5. Point 5 is also a point on the geothermal gradient. It tells us that 100 miles below the surface, the temperature is _____ degrees Fahrenheit. 6. The arrow labelled 6 points to which compositional layer of the Earth? _____ 1. The temperature shown by the arrow under number 1 is _____ degrees Fahrenheit. 2. The depth shown by the arrow next to number 2 is _____ miles below the surface. 3. The temperature shown by the arrow under number 3 is _____ degrees Fahrenheit. 4. Point 4 is a point on the geothermal gradient. This tells us that at 60 miles below the surface, the temperature is _____ degrees Fahrenheit. 5. Point 5 is also a point on the geothermal gradient. It tells us that 100 miles below the surface, the temperature is _____ degrees Fahrenheit. 6. The arrow labelled 6 points to which compositional layer of the Earth? _____ 7. The arrow labelled 7 points to which compositional layer of the Earth? _____ 8. The layer labelled 8 is the _________ the rigid eutermost mechanical layer of the Earth. 9. The layer labelled 9 is the _________ the ductile mechanical layer of the Earth beneath layer 8. 10. Layer 8 is made up of two compositional layers. They are the _____ and the eutermost _____. 11. Layer 9 lies entirely within which layer? _____ 12. Funn though Earth's interior is very hot, the Munde is solid. It malls partially in its uppermost region and only under special conditions. That's why volcanoes occur only in certain regions (you never have to worry about a volcano popping up in Miami!). The layer where the Munde malls partially and has small pockets of magma is the _________. 13. In the graph, this layer corresponds to number _____.

Compare and contrast absolute dating and relative dating.

Fossil fuels are an important natural resource used by society. Which of the following best describes fossil fuels? A. They are any liquid fuel derived from once-living matter. B. They are organic fuels derived from ancient plants and animals. C. They are fuels in which dinosaur fossils are commonly found. D. They are naturally occurring inorganic fuels like coal and petroleum.

Compared to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean is which of the following? A. Warmer, more saline B. Colder, less saline C. Colder, more saline D. Warmer, less saline