Reference no: EM132447501

Question 1: Describe how weathering activity differs between climates. Considering the various processes involved in both mechanical and chemical weathering, what are some specific environmental factors that influence or control the rate of weathering? And, of those factors, which would be most important? Give reasons.

Question 2: Describe the rock cycle.

Question 3: How does climate influence mass wasting? Also, intuitively, it would seem that rainy climates would be most susceptible to mass wasting. But why might arid climates experience a great deal of mass wasting even though there is less annual rainfall?

Question 4: At one time it was thought that the deep-ocean trenches at subduction zones would be a good place for disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Why is this not a good idea? Explain what can happen at a subduction zone and what might occur if the waste were buried there.

Question 5: How does the plate tectonics theory help explain the existence of fossilized marine life in rocks atop the Ural Mountains? Be sure to include a description of the specific process(es).

Question 6: Contrast the philosophies of Catastrophism and Uniformitarianism. What are the major differences in how each philosophy addresses the age of the Earth? Finally, while neither philosophy should be taken too literally, which philosophy has been deemed more accurate by the scientific community? Why?

Question 7: Volcanoes are generally not preserved in the geologic rock record as they are usually eroded away. However, the various materials erupted from volcanoes are often found preserved in the rock record. From what you have learned about the different types of volcanoes, how could you infer what type of volcano erupted in a given area based on the type of volcanic deposits now found as layers of rock? Give specific examples, and briefly discuss how some materials may be linked to different types of volcanoes.

Question 8: Shorelines are temporary geologic and topographic features. Explain this statement.

Question 9: What are the different types of seafloor sediments, and what are the factors that control the distribution of each major sea sediment type? Where does each major seafloor sediment type tend to accumulate in greatest quantity (i.e., discuss the distribution of these sediments)?

Question 10: Many people confuse the large void in the ozone layer with global warming. Can you distinguish between the two phenomena? Explain how each process may harm living things.

Question 11: On a given day in the winter in St. Louis, Missouri it began snowing in the morning. The snow changed to rain by noon, later in the afternoon sleet was falling which turned to snow, and by evening rain was freezing on bridges and roadways. Explain how such a sequence of precipitation might occur.

Question 12: Why are coastal and mountainous regions often much more windy than other locations at similar latitudes? Are there other weather characteristics that are perhaps unique or different for these areas?

Question 13: Of the three "Local Wind" types, which do you think could be most easily harnessed for the generation of electricity by a huge wind farm? Some important things to consider: strength and consistency of the wind, location of a good electrical grid to carry the power, surface on which to build the farm and proximity to a large population center.

Question 14: Discuss stellar evolution (describing each stage in brief). What forces are opposing one another throughout the life of a star and how do they influence the various stages in the life cycle of a star?

Question 15: Describe the Hertzsprung-Russel diagram. How is it useful in classifying stars? Where do stars tend to cluster on the diagram? Where on the H-R diagram does a star spend most of its life?