GLY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What is the difference between turbulent and laminar flow? - Answer- Turbulent chaotic
mixing; laminar smooth parallel layers
How does flow velocity change within a stream (by channel shape and by position in a
channel)? - Answer- Faster in center and near surface; slower near banks and bed
How is sediment transported in streams? - Answer- Bed load (rolling/sliding),
suspended load (carried in water), dissolved load
What are the differences between braided and meandering streams? - Answer-
Braided: multiple channels, coarse sediment, variable discharge; Meandering: single
sinuous channel, fine sediment, stable discharge
What is recharge? - Answer- Addition of water to aquifer from precipitation/infiltration
What property allows rocks (reservoirs) to store water? - Answer- Porosity
What property allows water to move through reservoirs, and how does this property
control the rate of movement? - Answer- Permeability; higher permeability = faster flow
What are the different types of aquifers? How do these relate to aquitards? - Answer-
Confined, unconfined, perched aquifers; aquitards restrict flow
What is an artesian system? How is this related to the potentiometric surface? -
Answer- Confined aquifer under pressure; water rises to potentiometric surface
What types of features/landforms are produced by groundwater? - Answer- Caves,
sinkholes, karst topography, springs, stalactites/stalagmites
What are three major effects of pumping groundwater? - Answer- Cone of depression,
land subsidence, saltwater intrusion
What are the features (and characteristics of each) that make up a continental margin? -
Answer- Continental shelf (shallow), slope (steep), rise (sediment accumulation); active
vs passive margins
ANSWERS
What is the difference between turbulent and laminar flow? - Answer- Turbulent chaotic
mixing; laminar smooth parallel layers
How does flow velocity change within a stream (by channel shape and by position in a
channel)? - Answer- Faster in center and near surface; slower near banks and bed
How is sediment transported in streams? - Answer- Bed load (rolling/sliding),
suspended load (carried in water), dissolved load
What are the differences between braided and meandering streams? - Answer-
Braided: multiple channels, coarse sediment, variable discharge; Meandering: single
sinuous channel, fine sediment, stable discharge
What is recharge? - Answer- Addition of water to aquifer from precipitation/infiltration
What property allows rocks (reservoirs) to store water? - Answer- Porosity
What property allows water to move through reservoirs, and how does this property
control the rate of movement? - Answer- Permeability; higher permeability = faster flow
What are the different types of aquifers? How do these relate to aquitards? - Answer-
Confined, unconfined, perched aquifers; aquitards restrict flow
What is an artesian system? How is this related to the potentiometric surface? -
Answer- Confined aquifer under pressure; water rises to potentiometric surface
What types of features/landforms are produced by groundwater? - Answer- Caves,
sinkholes, karst topography, springs, stalactites/stalagmites
What are three major effects of pumping groundwater? - Answer- Cone of depression,
land subsidence, saltwater intrusion
What are the features (and characteristics of each) that make up a continental margin? -
Answer- Continental shelf (shallow), slope (steep), rise (sediment accumulation); active
vs passive margins
