GEOG 2300 Exam 2

• From which direction do most winds and weather systems come between about 30- and 60-degrees latitude? 

• West  

• North  

• South  

• East  

• Variable 

West

Which of the following best describes how a sea breeze works? 

• Wind blows from sea to land because warm land has low pressure and cooler sea has higher pressure  

• Wind blows from land to the sea because it is darker 

• Wind blows parallel to the coastline because of the Coriolis effect 

• Wind blows from sea to land because there is more flat distance over which wind can blow in the ocean  

• Wind blows from land to sea because wind blows down from higher elevation 

Where is the majority of fresh water in Earth system stored? 

• Ice  

• Oceans 

• Rivers, lakes, and streams 

• Groundwater  

• Atmosphere 

Ice

In which direction does the frictional force work? 

• opposite the motion of the wind, slowing it down 

• to the right of the pressure gradient  

• to the left of the pressure gradient 

• in the same direction as the pressure gradient, causing it to speed up  

• opposite the pressure gradient, slowing it down 

Opposite the motion of wind, slowing it down.

According to the book, which of the following contributes to the formation of acid deposition?  

• Fossil fuel burning releases sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide into the air which leads to acid deposition downwind  

• Desert dust getting into the atmosphere and bringing acid to locations downwind  

• Carbon dioxide mixing with rain water to form a strong acid solution  

• Sunlight reacts with pollution in the atmosphere to form smog and acid particles 

• Particles ejected from volcanoes react in the atmosphere to form acid deposition downwind 

Fossil fuel burning releases sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide into the air which leads to acid deposition downwind  

Which of the following conditions characterize the Asian monsoon?  

• Intense rainfall in the summer in tropical South Asia  

• Wet winters in Central India  

• Mild winters in places like Nepal and Tibet 

• Dry summers in Bangladesh  

• Cool summers in Malaysia 

Intense rainfall in the summer in tropical South Asia

At what latitudes does air rise and fall, respectively, in the typical Hadley cell model? 

• Equator (0) and Sub-tropics (30)  

• Equator (0) and Poles (90)  

• Equator (0) and Tropics (23.5) 

• Tropics (23.5) and Poles (90)  

• Tropics (23.5) and Mid-latitudes (40) 

Equator (0) and sub-tropics (30)

On average, over the course of the year, where on Earth would you expect to see the highest specific humidity?  

• The Equator 

• The Tropic of Cancer  

• The Tropic of Capricorn  

• The International Date Line  

• The Prime Meridian 

The equator

Based on the Coriolis effect, how are winds changed from flow driven by the pressure gradient in the northern hemisphere?  

• Winds bend to the right  

• Winds bend to the left  

• Winds slow down  

• Winds speed up  

• Winds bend upward 

Winds bend to the right

An anticyclone in the northern hemisphere is associated with which of the following? 

• High pressure and wind moving in a clockwise outspiral  

• Low pressure and wind moving in a counterclockwise inspiral  

• Low pressure and wind moving in a clockwise inspiral 

• High pressure and wind moving in a counterclockwise outspiral  

• Steady pressure and linear breezes 

High pressure and wind moving in a clockwise outspiral.

Which of the following factors does NOT influence wind speed and direction? 

• Radiation  

• Pressure gradient 

• Coriolis effect 

• Friction  

• High to low pressure difference 

Radiation

According to the book, how do pressure gradients usually develop? 

• Unequal heating of the atmosphere 

• Differences in outgoing longwave radiation 

• Seismic waves produced by earthquakes 

• Winds blowing waves across the ocean 

• Winds blowing sand across the landscape 

Unequal heating of the atmosphere.

In which of these scenarios would relative humidity likely not change? 

• You measure relative humidity on your front lawn and at a golf course down the street when the temperature is the same at both locations  

• A cold front passes, decreasing the specific humidity and cooling the temperature 

• A warm front passes, increasing the specific humidity and warming the temperature 

• Night falls, cooling the air after the Sun sets 

• At dawn, the Sun rises, warming the air 

You measure relative humidity on your front lawn and at a golf course down the street when the temperature is the same at both locations  

The northeast trade winds occur because 

• Diverging air from the subtropical high flows south and is bent to the right by the Coriolis Effect.  

• High pressure systems often occur to the northeast of low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere and the pressure gradient force drives winds from high to low pressure. 

• European sailors used these winds to transport slaves and goods from Africa to the Americas during the colonial period. 

• Wind flows from continents to oceans in the winter when continents are cooler and the east-west orientation of Eurasia sets up a flow off of the continent which is bent by the Coriolis Effect.  

• Air moves away from the intertropical convergence zone and is bent by the Coriolis Effect. 

Diverging air from the subtropical high flows south and is bent to the right by the Coriolis Effect.  

The zone where air rises near the Equator is called: 

• The Intertropical Convergence Zone  

• The Sub-Tropical High-Pressure Belt  

• The Tropical High-Pressure Belt  

• The Horse Latitudes  

• The Trade Winds 

The Intertropical Convergence Zone  

Which of the following is used to measure air pressure?  

• Barometer   

• Anemometer  

• Thermometer 

• Sphygmometer  

• Psychrometer 

Barometer

How does air pressure change as you go up in altitude? 

• It decreases exponentially with altitude 

• It stays constant 

• It increases linearly 

• It decreases to the top of the troposphere, then increases in the stratosphere 

• It increases to the top of the troposphere, then decreases in the stratosphere 

It decreases exponentially with altitude

Which of the following is NOT a component of the hydrologic cycle, according to the book? 

• Defenestration 

• Condensation 

• Precipitation  

• Transpiration 

• Evaporation 

Defenestration

When water transitions directly from ice to vapor, it is called  

• Sublimation  

• Condensation  

• Melting  

• Freezing  

• Evaporation 

Sublimation

When does precipitation occur? 

• When moist air is cooled in the atmosphere and forms liquid droplets or solid ice particles  

• When clouds become too large to hold water  

• When moisture in the air is heated by the Sun and turns into a cloud  

• When winds blow moist air into dry air  

• When dawn causes moist air to react with sunlight and form water droplets 

When moist air is cooled in the atmosphere and forms liquid droplets or solid ice particles  

The actual quantity of water vapor contained within a parcel of air is 

• Specific humidity 

• Relative humidity 

• Actual humidity 

• Real humidity 

• Dew point humidity 

Specific humidity

Based on Figure 4.7, if a parcel of air has specific humidity of 10 grams of water per kg of air, what will its relative humidity be at 20 degrees Celsius?  

• 66%  

• 10%  

• 25% 

• 33% 

• 100% 

66%

Which of the following is not a part of the Earth system where fresh water is stored? 

• A) Pores in bedrock 

• B) Soils 

• C) Streams  

• D) Oceans  

• E) Ice sheets 

Oceans

Which of the following pathways of water is the largest, based on the magnitude of the arrow in the book? 

• A) Surface runoff 

• B) Evaporation from oceans 

• C) Infiltration to soil 

• D) Transpiration from vegetation 

• E) Vapor returned to land 

Evaporation from oceans

The water table is best described as 

• A) The upper limit of the saturated zone 

• B) A table on which hydrologists perform experiments with flowing water 

• C) A surface location that is suitable for drilling a well  

• D) The zone where percolation occurs 

• E) Streams and ponds where water is at the surface 

The upper limit of the saturated zone 

A layer of rock that is porous and permeable enough that water can easily be pumped from it is known as a(n) 

• A) soil water belt. 

• B) cavern. 

• C) well. 

• D) aquiclude. 

• E) aquifer. 

Aquifer

Limestone caverns are formed through the process of 

• A) stalagmitification. 

• B) acid groundwater flowing slowly through the saturated zone. 

• C) carbonation of surface limestone. 

• D) travertine deposition. 

• E) rapid downcutting. 

acid groundwater flowing slowly through the saturated zone. 

Which of the following is NOT found in karst landscapes, based on the description in the book? 

• A) Limestone caverns 

• B) Sinkholes 

• C) Aquiclude layers 

• D) Lack of small, surface streams 

• E) Steep-sided, conical hills or towers 

Aquiclude layers

When water is removed from the saturated zone through a well, the lowering of the water table near the well is called a 

• A) pump hole. 

• B) dry well. 

• C) unsaturated drop. 

• D) cone of depression. 

• E) subsidence impact. 

Cone of depression

When too much water is pulled from coastal aquifers, which of the following is a possible effect? 

• A) Fertilizer pollution 

• B) Saltwater intrusion 

• C) Coastal erosion 

• D) Chemical pollution 

• E) Artesian wells 

Saltwater intrusion

Which of the following best describes the angle of repose? 

• The maximum angle that loose material forming a slope can maintain without slipping  

• The angle that is optimal for taking a nap 

• The angle at which trees are propped up after falling, because of branches holding them up 

• The angle of a snowy slope at which a skier begins to slide due to gravity 

• The angle of slope of a stream above which gravel and larger sediments can be moved by the faster water flow 

The maximum angle that loose material forming a slope can maintain without slipping  

_______ occurs on the inside of a bend in a graded stream and __________ occurs on the outside. 

• Deposition, decreased stream velocity 

• Erosion, decreased stream velocity 

• Deposition, erosion 

• Erosion, deposition 

• Erosion, increased stream velocity 

Deposition, erosion

Stream laid sediment is called 

• Alluvium 

• Colluvium 

• Regolith 

• Sandstone 

• Soil 

Alluvium

Which of the following is NOT a feature of karst landscapes? 

• Caves 

• Limestone towers 

• Sinkholes 

• Meanders 

• Stalagmites 

Meanders

According to the theory of landscape evolution and the geographic cycle, which of the following is NOT true? 

• High mountain streams are erosive 

• Lowland rivers are generally aggradational 

• Lowland rivers are slow and have high sediment load  

• Tributary streams in youthful landscapes usually have high gradients 

• Large waterfalls are associated with graded rivers 

Large waterfalls are associated with graded rivers 

Which is the correct sequence of soil erosion in cultivated regions with a water surplus? 

• Rain splash, sheet erosion, rill erosion, gullies 

• Sheet erosion, rain splash, rill erosion, gullies 

• Rain splash, gullies, sheet erosion, rill erosion 

• Gullies, rill erosion, sheet erosion, rain splash 

• Rill erosion, gullies, rain splash, sheet erosion 

Rain splash, sheet erosion, rill erosion, gullies 

Limestone caverns are formed through a process of: 

• stalagmitification. 

• acid groundwater flowing slowly through the saturated zone. 

• carbonation of surface limestone. 

• travertine deposition. 

• rapid downcutting. 

acid groundwater flowing slowly through the saturated zone. 

Which of the following is NOT a form of chemical weathering? 

• Frost wedging  

• Hydrolysis 

• Carbonation 

• Acid Action 

• Oxidation 

Frost wedging

Which of the following is NOT a method by which streams transport sediment? 

• Saltation 

• Traction 

• Solution 

• Corrosion 

• Suspension 

Corrosion

Wetlands are characterized by all of the following except 

• The ability to filter pollutants 

• Surface water for at least some portion of the year 

• High biodiversity and productivity 

• High nutrient content 

• Discharge that varies with width 

 

Discharge that varies with width