Natural Disasters Final Exam Questions With Complete
Solutions
• Supercontinent Rodinia ; ~ 1.3 Ga Correct Answers - Most
continents together
- Major ice-age
4.6 Ga to ~ 544 Ma Correct Answers 4.5 - 4 Ga = internal
layering/magnetic field,
oceans, atmosphere
• ~ 4 Ga = end of heavy bombardment stage of
Earth's accretion
• ~ 3.8 Ga = first life = bacteria = anoxic
atmosphere
• ~ 3 - 2 Ga = blue-green algae bloom = ++oxygen
into atmosphere, Banded Iron Formations
• ~ 2.5 Ga = world-wide tectonic/metamorphic event
= first super-continent ?
• ~2.5 Ga - 500 Ma = 2 supercontinents (Nuna,
Rodinia), major ice age (>200 Ma)
• ~ 600 Ma = major explosion of 'hard-bodied'
organisms
A stream's ability to carry sediment is
described by: Correct Answers - Capacity
- Competence
- The greatest amount of transport and erosion
occurs during flood stage
AA Correct Answers A Lava flow with a rough, blocky surface
,Absorbed incoming radiation Correct Answers - Gases are
selective absorbers - depending on wavelength, type of gas, etc.
- Nitrogen is a poor absorber
- Oxygen and ozone are efficient absorbers of UV radiation
- Water vapour is a relatively good absorber
Note: the atmosphere generally is a poor absorber of visible light
(the bulk of insolation)
Acceleration Correct Answers The rate of change of motion.
Accelerograph Correct Answers Instruments that record the
acceleration of the ground during an earthquake.
Active Volcano Correct Answers A volcano currently erupting
or that has erupted in historical times; for example, Kilauea,
Hawaii; Krakateu, Indonesia.
ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION Correct Answers -
Accept that the hazard is present and will likely occur or reoccur
(the first step)
- Take action to physically reduce the consequences of the
hazard (e.g. tsunami barrier)
- Modify the hazard (e.g. floodway)
- Modify loss potential (design to withstand)
- Plan for the loss (emergency preparation)
- Spread the response to and cost of loss (federal organizations,
insurance companies etc.)
- PUBLIC EDUCATION AND BASIC UNDERSTANDING
KEY
,Adaptation Correct Answers Making adjustments in decisions
and activities because of changes in climate, with the goals of
moderating harm.
Adiabatic Processes Correct Answers The changes in
temperature of masses without adding or subtracting heat.
Examples are cooling with expansion and warming upon
compression.
Aftershocks Correct Answers Smaller earthquakes following a
mainshock on the main section of a fault. ___________ can
continue for years following a large mainshock.
Air Masses (Weather) Correct Answers - Source of air masses
important important
• Continental: hot and dry
• Polar: (cold & dry)
• Maritime: moist either cool or warm (tropical)
Air Masses Correct Answers Large bodies of air that have little
horizontal variation in moisture content or temperature.
Alluvial fans Correct Answers Similar to deltas, but usually
form
where mountain streams enter flatter valleys
and rapidly deposit load
• Braided streams develop on surface as large
amounts of sediment deposited
Amount of dissolved salts = SALINITY Correct Answers
Commonly expressed as a mass fraction
, i.e. parts per thousand (ppt or 0/00)
• Average ~ 35 ppt, open ocean 33 - 37 ppt
• Concentrations affected by evaporation rates or addition of
freshwater
- Persian Gulf up to 42 ppt, Baltic Sea ~ 27 ppt
Relative ion compositions and proportions
generally same world wide ... its well mixed
Variations are mainly in salinity
Amount of gases (volatiles) Correct Answers Generally, mafic
magmas have little, felsic magmas contain more
Amplitude Correct Answers The maximum displacement above
or below the undisturbed position; for example, the height of a
wave crest or depth of a trough.
Andesite Correct Answers A volcanic rock named for the
Andes Mountains in South America. It is intermediate in
composition between basalt and rhyolite, and commonly results
from melting of continental rock in basaltic magma.
Andesite Correct Answers Moderate viscosity, moderately
explosive eruptions, typically moderate Fe, Mg, Ca, Moderate
Silica
ANDESITIC VOLCANOES (i.e. stratovolcanoes) Correct
Answers - large steep-sided volcanoes consisting of layers of
ash, fragmental debris, and lava.
• Both lava flows and pyroclastic material
- Usually ~1 - 4 km high, ~10 - 30 km wide, e.g. Mt St Helens,
Mt Garibaldi, etc.
Solutions
• Supercontinent Rodinia ; ~ 1.3 Ga Correct Answers - Most
continents together
- Major ice-age
4.6 Ga to ~ 544 Ma Correct Answers 4.5 - 4 Ga = internal
layering/magnetic field,
oceans, atmosphere
• ~ 4 Ga = end of heavy bombardment stage of
Earth's accretion
• ~ 3.8 Ga = first life = bacteria = anoxic
atmosphere
• ~ 3 - 2 Ga = blue-green algae bloom = ++oxygen
into atmosphere, Banded Iron Formations
• ~ 2.5 Ga = world-wide tectonic/metamorphic event
= first super-continent ?
• ~2.5 Ga - 500 Ma = 2 supercontinents (Nuna,
Rodinia), major ice age (>200 Ma)
• ~ 600 Ma = major explosion of 'hard-bodied'
organisms
A stream's ability to carry sediment is
described by: Correct Answers - Capacity
- Competence
- The greatest amount of transport and erosion
occurs during flood stage
AA Correct Answers A Lava flow with a rough, blocky surface
,Absorbed incoming radiation Correct Answers - Gases are
selective absorbers - depending on wavelength, type of gas, etc.
- Nitrogen is a poor absorber
- Oxygen and ozone are efficient absorbers of UV radiation
- Water vapour is a relatively good absorber
Note: the atmosphere generally is a poor absorber of visible light
(the bulk of insolation)
Acceleration Correct Answers The rate of change of motion.
Accelerograph Correct Answers Instruments that record the
acceleration of the ground during an earthquake.
Active Volcano Correct Answers A volcano currently erupting
or that has erupted in historical times; for example, Kilauea,
Hawaii; Krakateu, Indonesia.
ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION Correct Answers -
Accept that the hazard is present and will likely occur or reoccur
(the first step)
- Take action to physically reduce the consequences of the
hazard (e.g. tsunami barrier)
- Modify the hazard (e.g. floodway)
- Modify loss potential (design to withstand)
- Plan for the loss (emergency preparation)
- Spread the response to and cost of loss (federal organizations,
insurance companies etc.)
- PUBLIC EDUCATION AND BASIC UNDERSTANDING
KEY
,Adaptation Correct Answers Making adjustments in decisions
and activities because of changes in climate, with the goals of
moderating harm.
Adiabatic Processes Correct Answers The changes in
temperature of masses without adding or subtracting heat.
Examples are cooling with expansion and warming upon
compression.
Aftershocks Correct Answers Smaller earthquakes following a
mainshock on the main section of a fault. ___________ can
continue for years following a large mainshock.
Air Masses (Weather) Correct Answers - Source of air masses
important important
• Continental: hot and dry
• Polar: (cold & dry)
• Maritime: moist either cool or warm (tropical)
Air Masses Correct Answers Large bodies of air that have little
horizontal variation in moisture content or temperature.
Alluvial fans Correct Answers Similar to deltas, but usually
form
where mountain streams enter flatter valleys
and rapidly deposit load
• Braided streams develop on surface as large
amounts of sediment deposited
Amount of dissolved salts = SALINITY Correct Answers
Commonly expressed as a mass fraction
, i.e. parts per thousand (ppt or 0/00)
• Average ~ 35 ppt, open ocean 33 - 37 ppt
• Concentrations affected by evaporation rates or addition of
freshwater
- Persian Gulf up to 42 ppt, Baltic Sea ~ 27 ppt
Relative ion compositions and proportions
generally same world wide ... its well mixed
Variations are mainly in salinity
Amount of gases (volatiles) Correct Answers Generally, mafic
magmas have little, felsic magmas contain more
Amplitude Correct Answers The maximum displacement above
or below the undisturbed position; for example, the height of a
wave crest or depth of a trough.
Andesite Correct Answers A volcanic rock named for the
Andes Mountains in South America. It is intermediate in
composition between basalt and rhyolite, and commonly results
from melting of continental rock in basaltic magma.
Andesite Correct Answers Moderate viscosity, moderately
explosive eruptions, typically moderate Fe, Mg, Ca, Moderate
Silica
ANDESITIC VOLCANOES (i.e. stratovolcanoes) Correct
Answers - large steep-sided volcanoes consisting of layers of
ash, fragmental debris, and lava.
• Both lava flows and pyroclastic material
- Usually ~1 - 4 km high, ~10 - 30 km wide, e.g. Mt St Helens,
Mt Garibaldi, etc.
