GEOL 1403 – Physical Geology | Exam 4 Q&A (90+ Questions) – Deserts, Coastal Processes, Fossils, Geologic Time

This document contains over 90 detailed and fully correct questions and answers from Exam 4 of the GEOL /2026 Physical Geology course, with a strong focus on surface processes, arid environments, coastal dynamics, and geologic time. It begins with topics on desertification (e.g., the Sahel), dune types (barchan, longitudinal), alluvial features (bajada, inselbergs), and aeolian processes such as saltation and the formation of loess and ventifacts. The exam also explores shoreline and marine processes, including wave dynamics (refraction, swash, backwash), features like spits, tombolos, sea stacks, and baymouth bars, and human-made stabilizations such as jetties, breakwaters, and seawalls. Tides (spring, flood), hurricane storm surges, and evidence for emergent vs. submergent coastlines are included as well. A significant portion of the exam deals with fossilization processes (petrification, mold/cast), index fossils, geologic unconformities (angular, disconformity), and laws of stratigraphy like the Law of Superposition and Principle of Faunal Succession. Students will also review radioactive decay, half-lives, dating techniques (e.g., C-14), and Earth’s accepted age of 4.6 billion years. This study resource is ideal for geology, environmental science, or earth science students preparing for lab or lecture-based exams, as well as those interested in paleontology, geomorphology, or physical geography. Keywords: geol 1403, desertification, aeolian processes, saltation, loess, ventifacts, barchan dunes, inselbergs, bajada, wave erosion, sea stack, spit, tombolo, jetties, tides, swash, refraction, index fossils, unconformities, stratigraphy, faunal succession, geologic time scale, c-14 dating, half-life, Earth age