MSCI 112 EXAM 3 REVIEW QUESTIONS VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Which of the following are used to distinguish stratigraphic units?
A) physical properties
B)chemical properties
C) paleontology
D) all of the above - answers - d) all of the above
Which of the following terms does not describe a principle of stratigraphy?
A) fractionation
B) original horizontally
C) cross- cutting relationships
D) faunal succession - answers - a) fractionation
The principle of superposition states that?
A)oldest sediments are on the bottom of a set of layers
B) oldest units are on the top of a set of layers
C) layers are laterally continuous
D) all of the above - answers - a) oldest sediments are on the bottom of a set of layers
Faunal succession implies that:
A) younger layers overlie older ones
B) fossil assemblages change horizontally within a unit
C) the same fossils are the same age and can be correlated over large distances
D) fossils indicate paleoclimate - answers - c) the same fossils are the same age and
can be correlated over large distances
Unconformities are gaps in the geologic record from which of the following?
A) tectonic deformation
B) periods of erosion
C) periods of non- deposition
D) all of the above - answers - d) all of the above
Which of the following is not a division of the geologic time scale?
A) eras
B) partitions
C) epochs
D) periods - answers - b) partitions
A rock is originally made with 100% element a (parent isotope) and 0% element b
(daughter isotope). Element a has a half life of 50 years and decays to element b. After
150 years how much of each element is there?
A) 12.5 % element a and 87.5 % b
, B) 50% of each
C) 25% of a and 75 % b
D) 75% a and 25% b - answers - a) 12.5% a and 87.5% b
Coastal morphology is controlled by which of the following?
A) waves and storms
B) tectonic activity
C) sediment supply
D) all of the above - answers - d) all of the above
When developing a sand budget for an area of coastline, which of the following is not a
sediment sink?
A) dunes
B) upland erosion
C) longshore transport
D) sequestration in deep water - answers - b) upland erosion
Which of the following is not a type of geomorphic estuary?
A) fjord
B) bar built
C) tectonic
D) biogenic - answers - d) biogenic
Which of the following is not a type of estuarine circulation?
A) salt wedge
B) thermohaline
C) well mixed
D) fjord style - answers - b) thermohaline
Construction of seawalls can:
A) cause the beach to expand while decreasing wave height
B) protect the coastal upland while potentially enhancing beach erosion
C) increase wave height and decrease overwash
D) trap sediments that are moving along the shore - answers - b) protect the coastal
upland while potentially enhancing beach erosion
How long does it take for a water parcel to complete a circuit around the global
thermohaline circulation conveyer belt?
A) 500 years
B) 1000 years
C) 2000 years
D) 5000 years - answers - b) 1000 years
What combination of estuary volume and circulation would lead to the shortest flushing
time?
A) rapid circulation; large volume
ANSWERS
Which of the following are used to distinguish stratigraphic units?
A) physical properties
B)chemical properties
C) paleontology
D) all of the above - answers - d) all of the above
Which of the following terms does not describe a principle of stratigraphy?
A) fractionation
B) original horizontally
C) cross- cutting relationships
D) faunal succession - answers - a) fractionation
The principle of superposition states that?
A)oldest sediments are on the bottom of a set of layers
B) oldest units are on the top of a set of layers
C) layers are laterally continuous
D) all of the above - answers - a) oldest sediments are on the bottom of a set of layers
Faunal succession implies that:
A) younger layers overlie older ones
B) fossil assemblages change horizontally within a unit
C) the same fossils are the same age and can be correlated over large distances
D) fossils indicate paleoclimate - answers - c) the same fossils are the same age and
can be correlated over large distances
Unconformities are gaps in the geologic record from which of the following?
A) tectonic deformation
B) periods of erosion
C) periods of non- deposition
D) all of the above - answers - d) all of the above
Which of the following is not a division of the geologic time scale?
A) eras
B) partitions
C) epochs
D) periods - answers - b) partitions
A rock is originally made with 100% element a (parent isotope) and 0% element b
(daughter isotope). Element a has a half life of 50 years and decays to element b. After
150 years how much of each element is there?
A) 12.5 % element a and 87.5 % b
, B) 50% of each
C) 25% of a and 75 % b
D) 75% a and 25% b - answers - a) 12.5% a and 87.5% b
Coastal morphology is controlled by which of the following?
A) waves and storms
B) tectonic activity
C) sediment supply
D) all of the above - answers - d) all of the above
When developing a sand budget for an area of coastline, which of the following is not a
sediment sink?
A) dunes
B) upland erosion
C) longshore transport
D) sequestration in deep water - answers - b) upland erosion
Which of the following is not a type of geomorphic estuary?
A) fjord
B) bar built
C) tectonic
D) biogenic - answers - d) biogenic
Which of the following is not a type of estuarine circulation?
A) salt wedge
B) thermohaline
C) well mixed
D) fjord style - answers - b) thermohaline
Construction of seawalls can:
A) cause the beach to expand while decreasing wave height
B) protect the coastal upland while potentially enhancing beach erosion
C) increase wave height and decrease overwash
D) trap sediments that are moving along the shore - answers - b) protect the coastal
upland while potentially enhancing beach erosion
How long does it take for a water parcel to complete a circuit around the global
thermohaline circulation conveyer belt?
A) 500 years
B) 1000 years
C) 2000 years
D) 5000 years - answers - b) 1000 years
What combination of estuary volume and circulation would lead to the shortest flushing
time?
A) rapid circulation; large volume
