CSU Geol 122 Final Exam questions
well answered graded A+ 2025/2026
Dendritic - correct answer ✔✔branching, "tree like"
Radial - correct answer ✔✔From a centralized point (mountains, mesas)
Rectangular - correct answer ✔✔controlled by intersecting points or faults
Trellis - correct answer ✔✔pattern that results from alternating resistant and weak rocks
Permanent Streams - correct answer ✔✔water flows all year, connected to water table,
sufficient rainfall
Ephemeral Streams - correct answer ✔✔usually not flowing, stream is above water table, dry
climates, low rainfall
Hyporheic Zone - correct answer ✔✔Stream water is able to exchange with groundwater
Scouring - correct answer ✔✔running water picks up and moves sediment
Breaking and Lifting - correct answer ✔✔force of running water can break or life rock fragments
from channel
Abrasion - correct answer ✔✔bedrock exposed in channels is often polished smooth
, Braided Streams - correct answer ✔✔trunk stream consists of many side channels
Delta - correct answer ✔✔Form when a stream enters standing water
100 year flood - correct answer ✔✔1 percent risk of such a flood in one year
200 year flood - correct answer ✔✔.5 percent risk of such a flood in one year
Why do Oceans exist? - correct answer ✔✔due to differences in the lithosphere- water
accumulates on oceanic lithosphere because it is lower in elevation
Common Bathymetric Zones - correct answer ✔✔Continental shelf, continental slope,
continental rise, abyssal plain
Pelagic Sediment - correct answer ✔✔plankton skeletons
Normal Marine Salinity - correct answer ✔✔3.5%, so 35,000 parts per million
Higher salinity - correct answer ✔✔from evaporation and sea ice formation
Lower Salinity - correct answer ✔✔from rainfall, glacial melt, river input
Surface Currents - correct answer ✔✔the upper 100 m of water are due to wind shear
Coriolis Effect - correct answer ✔✔Earth's rotation deflects water & air currents
well answered graded A+ 2025/2026
Dendritic - correct answer ✔✔branching, "tree like"
Radial - correct answer ✔✔From a centralized point (mountains, mesas)
Rectangular - correct answer ✔✔controlled by intersecting points or faults
Trellis - correct answer ✔✔pattern that results from alternating resistant and weak rocks
Permanent Streams - correct answer ✔✔water flows all year, connected to water table,
sufficient rainfall
Ephemeral Streams - correct answer ✔✔usually not flowing, stream is above water table, dry
climates, low rainfall
Hyporheic Zone - correct answer ✔✔Stream water is able to exchange with groundwater
Scouring - correct answer ✔✔running water picks up and moves sediment
Breaking and Lifting - correct answer ✔✔force of running water can break or life rock fragments
from channel
Abrasion - correct answer ✔✔bedrock exposed in channels is often polished smooth
, Braided Streams - correct answer ✔✔trunk stream consists of many side channels
Delta - correct answer ✔✔Form when a stream enters standing water
100 year flood - correct answer ✔✔1 percent risk of such a flood in one year
200 year flood - correct answer ✔✔.5 percent risk of such a flood in one year
Why do Oceans exist? - correct answer ✔✔due to differences in the lithosphere- water
accumulates on oceanic lithosphere because it is lower in elevation
Common Bathymetric Zones - correct answer ✔✔Continental shelf, continental slope,
continental rise, abyssal plain
Pelagic Sediment - correct answer ✔✔plankton skeletons
Normal Marine Salinity - correct answer ✔✔3.5%, so 35,000 parts per million
Higher salinity - correct answer ✔✔from evaporation and sea ice formation
Lower Salinity - correct answer ✔✔from rainfall, glacial melt, river input
Surface Currents - correct answer ✔✔the upper 100 m of water are due to wind shear
Coriolis Effect - correct answer ✔✔Earth's rotation deflects water & air currents
