Geoscience processes shaping Earth's surface

9.Match each agent of erosion with a landform it typically creates.

10.The photograph shows a deep channel cut into a bare field after heavy rain. Which agent of erosion most likely formed this channel?

11.The photograph shows a hillside that collapsed onto the town below after heavy rain and an earthquake loosened the slope. What force is mainly responsible for the sudden downhill movement in a landslide like this?

12.The photograph shows a large field of sand dunes. What two conditions are necessary for sand dunes like these to form?

13.Which of the following is an example of a fast geological process that can change Earth's surface?

14.Which of the following are examples of fast geological processes that can change Earth's surface? (Select all that apply)

15.The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens changed Earth's surface in a matter of seconds, making it a fast change on the time scale.

16.Which of the following are examples of slow geological processes that change Earth's surface over long time scales? (Select all that apply)

17.Match each geological process to the time scale at which it typically changes Earth's surface.

18.A student observes a river cutting a deep canyon into the landscape over millions of years. This is an example of a change that is:

19.Which of the following are examples of processes that can change Earth's surface over a LARGE spatial scale? (Select all that apply)

20.The four pictures show different events that changed Earth's surface: A) a landslide, B) a fault-block mountain forming, C) a volcanic eruption, and D) a river-cut canyon. Which of these show a SLOW change (thousands to millions of years)? (Select all that apply)

21.A student observes that a mountain range is gradually increasing in height over millions of years. Which process is most likely responsible?

22.In the cross-section diagram of two colliding continental plates, which layer is shown being dragged downward beneath the rising mountain range?

23.The diagram shows a fault-block mountain, with arrows pointing outward at its base. What force does this diagram suggest formed the mountain?

24.The 1983 Thistle Landslide in Utah was approximately 1828 m long and 304 m wide. Assuming it is roughly rectangular, what is the approximate area covered by the landslide?

25.The 1983 Thistle Landslide was approximately 1828 m long and 304 m wide. Assuming it is roughly rectangular, calculate the area it covered, in square meters.

26.The photograph shows rafters passing through a canyon with tall, layered rock walls. Using what you have learned about deposition and erosion, explain how the layers in a canyon like this likely formed, and roughly how long you would expect it to take.

27.A student wants to test how different factors affect the rate of erosion. Which of the following would be appropriate experimental methods? (Select all that apply)

28.Which of the following surfaces would most likely erode fastest during a heavy rainstorm?

29.Two hillsides have the same slope and the same type of soil. One gets heavy rain and strong wind; the other gets light rain and calm wind. Which hillside will most likely erode faster?

30.Which of the following would make a slope MORE likely to erode quickly? (Select all that apply)

31.A construction crew clears all the trees and plants from a hillside to build a new road. What effect is this most likely to have on erosion at the site?

32.A field is used to graze far more cattle than it can support, and the grass is eaten down to bare soil. What is the most likely effect on erosion in that field?

33.Describe one way that human land use (such as farming, construction, or clearing forests) can speed up erosion, and one way that people can slow erosion down.

34.Farmers often plow their fields in rows that follow the contours (the curves) of a hillside, instead of plowing straight up and down the slope. Why does this help reduce erosion?

35.Planting vegetation along a riverbank generally reduces the rate of erosion there, because plant roots help hold the soil in place.

36.Which of the following would help reduce erosion on a steep slope? (Select all that apply)

37.The diagram models the rock layers of the Niagara Escarpment, where the Niagara River has worn away the rock over time. The dolostone layer at the top forms an overhang, while the softer shale and interbedded layers below it have been worn back further by the river. Based on this pattern, which statement is best supported?

38.The diagram labels the oldest rock layer of the Niagara Escarpment at 438 million years ago (mya) and the youngest labeled layer at 423 mya. Which statement best describes the scale of geologic time needed to form these rock layers?

39.Which of the following provides the best evidence that a region's climate has changed over geologic time?