Learning Objectives for Test 4

Earthquakes

1. Define the term "elastic rebound."
2. Define, illustrate and properly use the following terms: Epicenter, focus, hypocenter, elastic rebound, seismograph, seismogram.
3. Describe the particle motion and relative speed of the following types of seismic waves: P-wave, S-wave, Surface wave.
4. Sketch the particle motion of P-waves and S-waves relative to the direction the waves travel.
5. Given a map of seismograph locations, and the relative arrival time of the P-wave at each seismograph, estimate the location of an earthquake.
6. Distinguish between earthquake magnitude and earthquake intensity.
7. Describe some of the factors that determine earthquake intensity.
8. Given the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale and an earthquake intensity map, describe the amount of shaking at different locations.
9. Describe and illustrate the “P-wave shadow” created by the low-velocity outer core of the earth.
10. Describe the source of ground motion recorded on a seismograph between the arrival of the P-wave and S-wave and after the arrival of the S-wave.
11. Explain what is meant by a “seismic gap,” and explain how seismic gaps are used to help predict earthquakes.
12. Locate the following features on a map of California: San Andreas fault, Sierra Nevada mountains, Sacramento River, San Joaquin River, American River, Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta.

Volcanoes

13. Describe and explain the occurrence of the “Ring of Fire.”
14. Define and properly use the following terms: pyroclastic material, viscosity, igneous dike, igneous sill, caldera, batholith.
15. List factors that affect the viscosity of magma; rank these factors in order of importance in determining viscosity.
16. Given type of magma (basaltic versus rhyolitic) in a volcano, predict the magma viscosity and eruption style of volcanoes located in different tectonic settings.
17. Describe, illustrate label an illustration of profiles of different types of volcanoes; label figure 8.B, noting volcano sizes and the steepness of their slopes.
18. Given a photograph of a volcano, identify it as "shield," "composite," or "cinder cone."
19. Given a sketch of photograph of a volcano or volcanic eruption, predict magma viscosity (high or low), silica content (high or low), magma type basaltic or rhyolitic), and volcano type.
20. Describe the formation of Crater Lake in Oregon.

Geologic Time

21. Distinguish between relative and absolute age dating.
22. Define uniformatarianism and explain how it is used in geology and in every-day experiences.
23. Describe how the tools of relative age dating are applied to sedimentary rocks.
24. Given a geologic cross-section, use the rules of relative age dating to put geologic events in their proper time sequence.
25. Define the following terms and use the term “half-life.”
26. Explain how radioactive decay of carbon-14 is used to age date organic material.
27. Explain how radioactive decay is used to determine that time at which an igneous rock crystallized from magma.
28. Given the half-life of a radionuclide, its abundance in a rock, and the abundance of the daughter product, determine the age of the rock.
29. Provide the scientifically accepted age of the earth.
30. Explain the conditions that are favorable for the preservation of fossils; use these conditions to determine why particular fossils were or were not preserved.
31. Place the geologic eras (Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic) in proper time sequence; memorize the age of the boundaries between these eras.
32. Place the following descriptions in the proper geologic eras: The age of amphibians, that age of reptiles, the age of mammals, human development (See figure 11.5 for this).
33. Describe the evidence that one or more of asteroids hit the earth at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
34. Describe the reasons that an asteroid impact could lead to mass extinctions.

Oceans

35. Define the following terms and use them properly: Wave Height, Wave Length, Wave Crest, Wave Trough, Wave Base.
36. Describe and illustrate the motion of water particles in a wave before the wave begins to break and after the wave begins to break.
37. Describe and illustrate the motion of sand during longshore drift (longshore transport).
38. Explain the impact that jetties, groins, and breakwaters have on beaches.
39. Given a picture of a beach with groins, determine the direction of long-shore drift.
40. Explain how tides occur, why there are two high tides each day, and factors that affect the strength of the tides.
41. Define the following terms and use them properly: Spring Tides and Neap Tides.
42. Describe the source of salts in ocean water.
43. Sketch and label a illustration of salinity variation with latitude in Earth’s oceans.
44. Given a cross section through an ocean basin label and define the following features: Continental Shelf, Continental Slope, Shelf-slope Break, Abyssal Plain, Photic Zone, Euphotic Zone, Pelagic Zone, Benthic Zone.
45. Explain how ocean surface currents form.
46. Describe Coriolis.
47. Define and describe the Eckman Layer and Eckman Spiral.
48. Use your knowledge of the Eckman Layer to explain why water and suspended material at different depths in the ocean move at different rates and directions.
49. Given a map of the world's oceans locate and indicate the direction of the following currents: Gulf Stream, North Pacific Drift, California Current.
50. Explain how and where upwelling occurs.
51. Explain how upwelling affects marine life.

Atmosphere

52. Compare and contrast Weather and Climate.
53. Provide the general chemical composition of the atmosphere.
54. Given a graph similar to that in Figure 14.4, describe the quantities plotted on each axis, and explain why it has the general shape it does.
55. Define "ozone," explain the role of ozone in earth's atmosphere, and explain why the concentration in ozone over Earth's poles is decreasing.
56. Define the following terms and use them to label a graph similar to the graph in Figure 14.6: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere.
57. Explain how the tilt of Earth's axis is responsible for the occurrence of seasons.
58. Give an picture of earths position relative to the sun, determine the season in the northern and southern hemispheres.
59. Define and properly use the following terms to describe the transfer of heat: Convection, Conduction, Radiation.
60. Explain the greenhouse effect.
61. List common greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
62. Explain how humans could be affecting global temperature.
63. Explain reasons why someone might make the argument "Society does not need to be too concerned about global warming."
64. Explain reasons why someone might make the argument "Society should be keenly concerned about global warming."
65. Explain what Hadley Cells are why they occur.
66. Explain how Hadley cells determine the location of many of Earth's rainforests and deserts.
67. Explain the what is meant by the following terms: El Nino, La Nina, ENSO.
68. Explain how El Nino affects coastal fisheries in South America.
69. Describe the factors that are used to determine Milakovitch Cycles (See the section titled "Variations in Earth's Orbit" beginning on page 139).
70. Given a graph of sea-surface temperature or ENSO index, determine general trends in climate that are likely to occur California in a given year.