Geology Exam 4 Objectives: Hydrologic Cycle, Groundwater, Earth History (Fall 2008) | Exams Geology

GEOLOGY 110-101 --- FALL 2008

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR EXAM 4

Chapter 9: Running Water (9th: 200-221; 10th: 198-221)

1. Understand and be able to explain the following about the earth’s hydrologic cycle:

a. The distribution of the earth’s water (oceans, atmosphere, glaciers, etc.).

b. How can earth’s water compartments be divided into reservoirs and conduits?

c. The processes that transfer water from one place to another (evaporation, precipitation,

etc.) and how human activity such as agriculture and urbanization can alter these

processes.

d. The driving energy force behind the hydrologic cycle.

e. The water balance between precipitation and evaporation on the continents, over the

oceans, and overall.

f. What is the difference between “green” and “blue” water?

2. Understand and be able to explain the following about the concept of base level:

a. What is the ultimate base level and why?

b. What geologic events could change this base level over geologic time?

c. How do streams and rivers respond to changes in base level?

3. Understand and be able to explain the following about the types of work that

streams do:

a. What allows streams to erode and transport sediment? What conditions change in a

stream to cause it to deposit sediment?

b. In what ways do streams transport sediment? Which way is most common? What types

of mineral groups are transported in the different modes of sediment transport? (Hint:

think of the different types of sedimentary rocks).

4. Explain how the evolution of streams over time involves changes in their gradient and the shape

of their valleys.

5. Explain what role water plays in landslides and other types of mass wasting and how human

activities that affect flow of surface water can increase the risk of landslides.

Chapter 10: Groundwater (9th: 222-241; 10th:222-243)

1. How does the volume of groundwater compare to other “compartments” of fresh water within the

earth’s hydrologic cycle? How does its rate of exchange (residence time) compare to these other

compartments? Based on your answers to these questions, should groundwater be considered a

reservoir or conduit with respect to fresh water?

1. Define the water table. What two zones does it separate? How do springs relate to the water

table?

2. Define an aquifer. What two properties must exist for a geologic formation to serve as an aquifer

and what types of geologic materials possess these properties? Is all groundwater present in

aquifers? What separates aquifers from one another?

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GEOLOGY 110-101 --- FALL 2008

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR EXAM 4

Chapter 9: Running Water (9th: 200-221; 10th: 198-221)

Understand and be able to explain the following about the earth’s hydrologic cycle :

a. The distribution of the earth’s water (oceans, atmosphere, glaciers, etc.). b. How can earth’s water compartments be divided into reservoirs and conduits? c. The processes that transfer water from one place to another (evaporation, precipitation, etc.) and how human activity such as agriculture and urbanization can alter these processes. d. The driving energy force behind the hydrologic cycle. e. The water balance between precipitation and evaporation on the continents, over the oceans, and overall. f. What is the difference between “green” and “blue” water?

Understand and be able to explain the following about the concept of base level :

a. What is the ultimate base level and why? b. What geologic events could change this base level over geologic time? c. How do streams and rivers respond to changes in base level?

Understand and be able to explain the following about the types of work that streams do:

a. What allows streams to erode and transport sediment? What conditions change in a stream to cause it to deposit sediment?

b. In what ways do streams transport sediment? Which way is most common? What types of mineral groups are transported in the different modes of sediment transport? (Hint: think of the different types of sedimentary rocks).

Explain how the evolution of streams over time involves changes in their gradient and the shape of their valleys.
Explain what role water plays in landslides and other types of mass wasting and how human activities that affect flow of surface water can increase the risk of landslides.

Chapter 10: Groundwater (9th: 222-241; 10th:222-243)

How does the volume of groundwater compare to other “compartments” of fresh water within the earth’s hydrologic cycle? How does its rate of exchange ( residence time ) compare to these other compartments? Based on your answers to these questions, should groundwater be considered a reservoir or conduit with respect to fresh water?
Define the water table. What two zones does it separate? How do springs relate to the water table?
Define an aquifer. What two properties must exist for a geologic formation to serve as an aquifer and what types of geologic materials possess these properties? Is all groundwater present in aquifers? What separates aquifers from one another?

What causes groundwater to move? How does its rate of movement compare to water flowing in streams and rivers? How does its energy compare to surface water? [ Hint: surface water has energy from its elevation ( potential energy ) and its movement ( kinetic energy ) ].
In what types of areas is groundwater recharged. Discharged?
Explain how surface water (lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, tec.) interact with groundwater. What are the three categories of streams/rivers with respect to their relationship to groundwater?
What are some major problems associated with excessive withdrawal of groundwater and pollution of aquifers?
What is geothermal energy? What are the sources of heat responsible for this form of energy? What is necessary for a commercially significant source of geothermal energy to be present and how can this energy be tapped to provide energy to homes, businesses, etc.
What is karst? What are the main features associated with karst development? How is groundwater movement in karst different than in normal aquifers?
Explain how groundwater can cause landslides and what sometimes can be done to reduce the chances of these occurring.

Chapter 19: Earth History (9th: 440-461; 10th: 449-473)

Know the four major divisions of geologic time and the approximate ages that each represent.
In its very early history as a planet, the earth’s interior went through a chemical / physical differentiation. What does this have to do with the early atmosphere?
Explain how the earth’s early atmosphere evolved. Where did the early gases originate? How does the presence of extensive Precambrian iron ore deposits give clues as to the changing composition of the atmosphere?
Where are Precambrian rocks found and what are these areas called?
Why are fossil fuels notably absent from Precambrian rocks?
Why are life forms from the Paleozoic era more likely to be preserved as fossils than those from the Precambrian era?
What were Gondwanaland and Pangaea?
Which geologic eras is known as the “Age of the Dinosaurs”? Which is known as the “Age of Mammals”?
What geologic events led to the creation of the Appalachian Mountains and the vast coal deposits that underlay parts of West Virginia?
What type of major event brought a conclusion to both the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras? How did this event at the conclusion of the Mesozoic era allow mammals, and eventually humans, to become the dominant land animals?

Geology Exam 4 Objectives: Hydrologic Cycle, Groundwater, Earth History (Fall 2008), Exams of Geology

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Download Geology Exam 4 Objectives: Hydrologic Cycle, Groundwater, Earth History (Fall 2008) and more Exams Geology in PDF only on Docsity!

GEOLOGY 110-101 --- FALL 2008

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR EXAM 4