Midterm # 3 questions 1. Permeability is: A. ability of a solid to allow water to pass through B.

. process by which plants release water vapor to the atmosphere C. amount of water vapor in the air relative to maximum amount of water vapor D. percentage of pore space in a rock E. inversely proportional to the specific yield 2. Choose the incorrect statement, compared to shallow water waves, deep water waves have: A. broader crests B. faster velocities C. more elliptical orbital motion D. higher wavelength to height ratios E. no effect on the ocean bottom 3. A. B. C. D. E. Size of tsunamis can be assessed by: Measuring the run-up and inundations distances Evaluation of damage sustained by buildings and infrastructures Analysis of home videos filmed by witnesses All of the above None of the above

4. Surface ocean currents: A. are driven by density B. are unaffected by the Coriolis force C. Are referred to as the giant conveyor belt circulation D. intensify the temperature difference between the Equator and the poles E. closely follow global wind patterns 5. Which event could not generate a tsunami: A. Rockslide in the Himalayas B. Earthquake along the Mariana Trench C. Meteorite falling in the Indian Ocean D. Volcanic eruption on the seafloor E. sudden increase in subduction rate along the western Pacific plate

6. Semi-diurnal tide refer to: A. coastal areas experiencing one high tide and one low tide per day

B. coastal areas experiencing half a high tide and half a low tide each day C. coastal areas experiencing 2 high tides and 2 low tides per day D. types of tides experienced by all coastal areas of the world E. types of tides that would be expected if the moon was twice as small 7. Imagine a stream in equilibrium (graded stream). If suddenly, the slope near the headwaters increases by tectonic uplift what will happen at the mouth of the stream A. Increased erosion B. increased velocity C. increased deposition D. increased discharge E. increased sediment transport 8. Which is incorrect with respect to the Coriolis force: A. it is a consequence of the earths rotation B. it affects only ocean circulation and not atmospheric circulation C. it predicts that moving objects with be veered to the right in the Northern hemisphere D. It appears to deflect moving objects in opposite direction in both hemispheres E. its effects are greater at higher latitudes 9. Stream flow will exhibit a turbulent behaviour if fluid has: A. high velocity and high viscosity B. low velocity and high viscosity C. high velocity and low viscosity D. low velocity and low viscosity E. moderate velocity and high viscosity 10. What groundwater feature is located between the unsaturated zone of saturation? A. water table B. Cone of depression C. hydraulic gradient D. artesian aquifer E. capillary surface 11. Which are characteristics of a braided river? A. higher slopes, erodible banks, abundant coarse sediment B. rapid discharge, point bars, erodible banks C. in-channel bars, rapid discharge, single channel D. cohesive banks. rapid discharge, higher slopes E. erodible banks, low slopes, abundant coarse sediment

12. Which of the following is correct, wave size is minimized when: A. wind speed is high

B. wind is sustained for a long period C. basin is deep D. fluid is less viscous E. fetch is limited 13. Regarding streams, which of the following is correct? A. longitudinal profile and base level are synonyms B. longitudinal profiles are convex up C. graded streams have achieved an equilibrium state D. graded streams form graded deposits to compensate for a decrease in base level E. longitudinal profiles are concave-down 14. Why would a sand bluff fail during an unusually hot and dry summer? A. loss of electrostatic forces B. loss of friction at grain contacts C. loss of surface tension D. loss of pore pressure E. All of the above 15. The jet stream moves north along the east coast of North America and sets up A. net offshore water movement and downwelling B. net offshore water movement and upwelling C. net onshore water movement and downwelling D. net offshore water movement and upwelling E. none of the above 16. The following characteristics of grains will minimize porosity: A. rounded, poorly sorted B. angular, large C. rounded, well sorted D. rounded large E. angular, poorly sorted 17. What factors increase the risk of slope failure? A. large grain size, high slope angle, lots of weight B. high water content, frequent earthquakes, solid bedrock C. lots of weight, saturated with water, sparse vegetation D. small grain size, undercut slope, abundant vegetation E. none of the above 18. From their headwaters to their mouth, river systems show: an increase in gradient, a decrease in grain size a decrease in grain size, a decrease in velocity an increase in width, a decrease in velocity an increase in discharge, a decrease in gradient none of the above

A. B. C. D. E.

19. Storm surges: A. can be very damaging to coastal regions and are triggered by earthquakes B. cause minimal damage to coastal regions and are triggered by earthquakes C. can be very damaging to coastal regions and follow high winds and low pressure systems D. cause minimal damage to coastal regions and follow high winds and low pressure systems E. are amplified at low tides 20. Which set of conditions would maximize infiltration? A. intense short precipitation over a dry plateau B. slow steady rain on a steep slope C. intense short precipitation over saturated soil D. slow steady rain over heavily fractured bedrock E. sudden thunderstorm in downtown core of large city 21. Geyser eruptions are due to: A. B. C. D. E. increase in pressure causing sudden vaporization of water H2O + CO2 H2CO3 Heating and expansion of groundwater Seismic tremors Increased surface runoff

A. B. C. D. E.

22. Darcys law is useful to estimate water yield of a dry well fluid velocity in porous media the depth of the water table time of a contaminant plume to reach a well B and D 23. Internal strength of sediment is highest for:

A. B. C. D. E.

dry angular fine sand very wet angular medium sand damp round pebbles damp angular medium sand Dry round pebbles

24. The main difference between a debris avalanche and a debris flow is: A. steepness of slope

B. C. D. E.

air content vegetation cover size of debris curvature of detachment surface

25. Which statement is false. Tides are: A. B. C. D. E. either mixed, diurnal or semi-diurnal not considered to be waves the periodic rise and fall of the ocean at a given location caused by gravitational attraction of both the moon and the sun are predictable, but locally specific 26. Which is incorrect with respect to jetties and groins: A. are built perpendicular to the shore line B. built to prevent sand drift C. will trigger erosion on the upflow end of the longshore current D. provoke both preferential deposition and erosion in adjacent areas E. are short term solutions to longshore drift 27. Which is not a characteristic of unconfined aquifers: A. their upper surface is termed the water table B. they can yield groundwater via wells C. their upper surface moves up and down freely D. they are bounded above and below my aquicludes E. their upper surface roughly conforms to surface topography 28. Spring tide: A. represent highest high tides when Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned B. represent highest tides when Sun and Moon are 90 degrees of one another (viewed from Earth) C. represent lowest high tide when Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned D. represent lowest high tides when Sun and moon are at 90 degrees of one another E. are linked to seasons and occur each year between March 21 st and June 21st 29. Which statement regarding mudflows is false: A. they flow more slowly than avalanches B. they have higher water content than debris flows C. they contain abundant rafted coarse debris D. they are usually confined to a channel E. they have the consistency of a chocolate milkshake

30. Which statement is incorrect with respect to wave refraction:

A. B. C. D. E.

promotes deposition in bays accentuates irregularities in outline of coastline contributes to the generation of longshore currents bends waves travelling direction according to bottom topography concentrates energy at headlands

A. B. C. D. E.

31. Deep water ocean currents: are driven by wind are unaffected by Coriolis force intensify the temperature difference between the Equator to the poles are set in motion by differences in ocean water temperature and salinity play minor role with respect to Earths climate 32. Channel pattern in a stream system is dependent on A. discharge, sediment load B. gradient, climate C. subsidence, rate, bank stability D. mixture of substrate, vegetation cover E. all of the above 33. Factors that increase the susceptibility to mass movement are: A. steep slopes, dense vegetation, thin debris layer B. high altitude, thick soil, and climate C. sparse vegetation, jointed bedrock, steep slope D. high altitude, thin debris layer, low relief E. wet climate, dense vegetation, steep slope 34. Which of the following is correct with respect to ENSO? Correct all the false statements to make them true: A. ENSO has only local effects on climate GLOBAL EFFECT ON CLIMATE B. ENSOs periodicity is of the order of the millennium PERIODICALLY MATTER OF FEW YEARS C. ENSO has a fast, slow and normal phase 3 PHASES LA NINO, EL NINO D. ENSO affects oceanic currents and ocean patterns E. ENSO enhances upwelling along the South American Pacific coast HINDERS UPWELLING ALONG SOUTH AMERICAN PACIFIC COAST (BAD EFFECT ON FISHING) 35. Which of the following rivers would likely have the fastest flow? Why? A. large, oval, cross-section B. small, rectangular cross-section C. small, oval, cross-section D. large, semicircular cross section

36. A hurricane hits the east coast of Florida. With respect to the Hurricanes eye, what part of the coastline would experience highest sea conditions (on the diagram provided below, add a hurricane symbol and mark with an X the position of highest seas). In a few words explain why. B. 37.Give two reasons why the addition of water to sediment increases the risk of slope failure? Increase weight, destroys cohesion between particles in sediment

38. Name 3 strategies developed by humans in an attempt to control floods. Dams, channelization, live elsewhere, artificial levees 39.Name 3 depositional features associated with groundwater movement statlictite, staglimate, column/pillar

40. If you were to purchase a house in Toronto should you be worried about landslides risk caused by the presence of Leda clay? Why? Should be worried, no leda clay present in Toronto, only in ottawa