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Geology Exam
Chapters 11-16
103
Geology
Undergraduate 2
11/11/2010

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Term
Unconfined Aquifer
Definition
has water table, is only partly filled with water
Term
Confined Aquifer
Definition
completely filled with water has aquitard at top, which separates it from surface
Term
Drawdown and Cones of Depression
Definition
results when water is pumped faster than recharge can refill the region near the well
Term
Recharge
Definition
the addition of new water to the saturated zone
Term
Karst Features
Definition
caves, speleothems, sinkholes, springs
Term
Continental Glaciation
Definition
continental scale glaciation at high latitudes (polar regions)
Term
Alpine Glaciation
Definition
glaciation in mountainous regions (high elevations)
Term
Pleistocene Glacial Maximum
Definition
Maximum extent of glaciers--18,000 years ago
Term
Valley (alpine) Glaciers
Definition
occupy valleys in mountainous regions
Term
Ice Sheets
Definition
continental sized, can be kilometers thick
Term
Glacier Ice Formations
Definition
SNOW becomes compacted into FIRN then eventually recrystallizes into GLACIAL ICE
Term
Zone of Accumulation
Definition
region in upper part of glacier where more snow accumulates than melts
Term
Zone of Ablation
Definition
region in lower part of glacier where more snow/ice melts than accumulates
Term
Equilibrium Line
Definition
the line between the zone of accumulation and the zone of ablation at the end of the--can usually be seen as the line separating white snow on the surface of the upper part of the glacier from darker snow/free ice in the lower part of the glacier
Term
Advancing Systems
Definition
If the equilibrium line advances down the valley it indicates a net gain in glacial ice and the glacier is advancing
Term
Retreating Systems
Definition
If the equilibrium line is moves up the valley, it indicates a net loss in glacial ice and the glacier is retreating
Term
Basal Sliding
Definition
meltwater often forms near the base of glaciers and can act as a lubricant to facilitate basal sliding
Term
Rigid Zone vs. Zone of Plastic Flow
Definition
the top part of glaciers deforms in a brittle fashion and is called the rigid zone. This part of the glacier mostly just goes along for the ride on top of the lower part of the glacier which due to the pressure of the overlying ice deforms in a plastic fashion (it flows)
Term
Crevasses
Definition
crevasses form in the rigid zone, where the ice is under tension such as on the outside of curves in the valley or where the glacier goes over convex topography
Term
Plastic Flow Dominates
Definition
glacial ice in continental ice sheets tends to be very thick, so plastic flow in the lower part of the ice sheet dominates.
Term
Rock Flour
Definition
rock fragments trapped in ice at the base of the glacier that grind away at the bedrock beneath
Term
Polished and Striated Surfaces
Definition
direction of flow indicators--striations in bedrock can indicate the direction of previous glacial flow
Term
U-Shaped Valleys
Definition
streams tend to cut v-shaped valleys, while glaciers tend to cut u-shaped valleys, with very steep walls and flat valley floors
Term
Aretes
Definition
steep ridges separating valleys
Term
Horns
Definition
steep peaks carved out by headward erosion of cirques on three or more sides
Term
Cirques
Definition
half-bowl shaped forms eroded out by the upper parts of glaciers and through mass wasting
Term
Hanging Valleys
Definition
hanging valleys form where smaller glacial tributary valleys are not eroded to the same extent as the major glacial valleys, often producing waterfalls
Term
Till
Definition
glacially deposited sediments that tend to be angular and very poorly sorted (glacial ice can carry everything from fine dust to house-sized boulders)
Term
Medial Moraines
Definition
form in the center of large glaciers where LATERAL moraines from the edges of tributary glaciers come together
Term
End Moraines
Definition
deposits of till at the terminus of the glacier--sub types are TERMINAL moraines that form at the end of the farthest extent of the glacier; and RECESSIONAL moraines that form as the glacier recedes
Term
Drumlins
Definition
mound-shaped deposits of till
Term
Eskers
Definition
deposits of reworked till that form in tunnels carved under glaciers by meltwater
Term
Kettles
Definition
lakes that form as large blocks of ice melt in till deposits in outwash plains
Term
Braided Streams
Definition
streams that form from meltwater at the snouts of glaciers; tend to have heavy sediment loads and thus produce large numbers of gravel bars and large numbers of channels
Term
Loess
Definition
fine-grained wind blown deposits
Term
Terminal Moraines
Definition
mark the extent of past glaciation
Term
Great and Finger Lakes
Definition
ice sheets contributed to creation of the Great Lakes by widening existing stream valleys. The Finger Lakes of New York formed through glacial till deposits damming up glacial valleys.
Term
Pluvial Lakes
Definition
formed from wetter conditions in glacial ages
Term
Fiords
Definition
drowned glacial valleys that formed as glaciers retreated and sea level rose
Term
Tillites
Definition
lithified till deposits provide evidence of very old periods of glaciation
Term
Wave Height
Definition
vertical distance from trough (low part) to crest (high part)
Term
Wavelength
Definition
horizontal distance form crest to crest or trough to trough
Term
Wave Period
Definition
time for one wavelength to pass by a given point
Term
Orbital Particle Motion
Definition
individual water particles move in near circular orbits as a wave passes by
Term
Wave Base
Definition
relationship to wavelength--particle motion diminishes with depth until it is gone at a depth of about 1/2 the wavelength
Term
Surf Zone relationship to Wave Base
Definition
once the water depth is less than the wave base, the wave starts to "feel" the sea floor. The interaction of the sea floor and the wave results in drag on the orbital water particles and slows the bottom of the waves
Term
Formation of BREAKERS
Definition
the top of the wave continues to move more rapidly than the lower part and results in the wave toppling over or "breaking"
Term
Wave Refraction
Definition
waves coming in at an angle to the shoreline feel the drag effects of the sea floor at one "end" of the wave first causing part of the wave to slow down, while the part of the wave that is still in deeper water continues to move more rapidly--this causes the wave to bend or "refract" until it becomes closer to parallel to the shoreline.
Term
Longshore Current
Definition
waves still coming in a small angle to the shore result in development of a current parallel to the shoreline known as a longshore current. Prevailing wind direction produces a longshore current with a prevailing direction.
Term
Rip Currents
Definition
result from water piling up along shore due to longshore currents. Move seaward as narrow near surface currents in places of lower wave heights for incoming waves
Term
Berm
Definition
gently sloping landward part of beach
Term
Beachface
Definition
steeply sloping part of beach in swash zone
Term
Bay-mouth Bars
Definition
form as spits extend all the way across the mouths of bays
Term
Spits
Definition
sand deposits that form when longshore currents that move sand along the shoreline encounter deeper water in a bay and drop their sediment loads
Term
Tombolos
Definition
sand deposits that build up behind sea stacks (isolated islands near the coast)
Term
Jetties, Groins, and Breakwaters
Definition
man-made structures designed to keep channels open, interrupt longshore currents and stabilize beach sediments, and maintain quiet waters
Term
River Deposition
Definition
most beach sands sourced from rivers and reworked by longshore currents and wave action
Term
Wave Cut Platforms
Definition
flat platforms cut by wave activity
Term
Sea Stacks
Definition
erosional remnants of headlands
Term
Arches
Definition
sea caves through eroded headlands that form arches
Term
Barrier Islands
Definition
islands that parallel coastlines with lagoons behind them
Term
Estuaries
Definition
flooded river valleys that formed as sea level rose
Term
Fiords
Definition
flooded glacial valleys that formed as sea level rose
Term
Barrier Reefs
Definition
form in regions of warm shallow clear water through growth of calcium carbonate producing organisms
Term
Atolls
Definition
form from growth of reef systems around sinking volcanic islands
Term
Compressional Stress
Definition
plates squeezing together
Term
Tensional Stress
Definition
plates pulling apart
Term
Shear Stress
Definition
plates shearing (sliding past)
Term
Strain
Definition
deformation that results from stress
Term
Elastic Limit
Definition
the maximum amount of stress that can be applied to a body before it deforms in a permanent way by bending or breaking
Term
Elastic Deformation
Definition
non-permanent deformation rock returns to pre-stressed state once stress is removed. Rocks can only deform elastically until they reach their elastic limit. Once past this limit, deformation will be permanent.
Term
Brittle Deformation
Definition
deformation involving breaking of the rock
Term
Ductile Deformation
Definition
deformation in which the rock deforms plastically
Term
Strain Rate
Definition
rapid strain rate tends to result in brittle deformation, slower strain rate results in ductile deformation
Term
Strike and Dip
Definition
strike is the azimuth of a horizontal line in a plane, dip is the inclination of the plane. Dip is measured at 90 degrees to strike. Together, strike and dip uniquely define the orientation of a planar surface such as a bedding layer or fault surface.
Term
Geological Maps
Definition
maps showing geological formations and structural elements with strike and dip symbols to indicate the orientation of layers, faults, and folds.
Term
Cross-Sections
Definition
representations of vertical slices through the earth
Term
Axis
Definition
a theoretical line if moved parallel to itself will form the shape of the fold
Term
Axial Plane
Definition
a planar surface containing the fold axis or hinge lines for each layer of the fold.
Term
Hinge and Limbs
Definition
the hinge is the point of maximum curvature of the fold; the limbs are the sides of the fold
Term
Anticlines
Definition
upward arching folds with older rocks near the core of the fold
Term
Synclines
Definition
downward arching folds with younger rocks near the core of the fold
Term
Domes and Basins
Definition
circular up-warped (domes) or downwarped (basins) structures
Term
Faults
Definition
fractures across which there has been displacement (slip)
Term
Dip-slip
Definition
slip is in the direction of dip
Term
Hanging Wall vs. Footwall
Definition
hanging wall refers to the block above the fault while footwall refers to the block below the fault plane
Term
Normal Faults
Definition
faults where the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall
Term
Reverse Faults
Definition
faults where the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall
Term
Thrust Faults
Definition
low angle (shallow dipping) reverse faults
Term
Strike-slip
Definition
slip is in the direction of strike (faults are near vertical); slip is mostly horizontal
Term
Right-Lateral vs. Left-Lateral
Definition
relative motion between blocks moves fault block on the opposite side of the fault either to the right or the left.
Term
Oblique-Slip
Definition
components of both dip-slip and strike-slip motion
Term
Focus or Hypocenter
Definition
point within the earth where rupture occurs. seismic waves originate from the focus
Term
Epicenter
Definition
point on Earth's surface directly above the focus
Term
Body Waves
Definition
travel through earths interior
Term
P Waves (primary, compressional)
Definition
fastest, arrive first at seismic stations, travel through solids and fluids.
Term
S Waves (secondary, shear)
Definition
slower, arrive second at seismic stations, only travel through solids.
Term
Surface Waves
Definition
travel along Earth's surface away from the epicenter
Term
Love Waves
Definition
horizontal shear
Term
Rayleigh Waves
Definition
vertical displacement
Term
Seismometers
Definition
instruments that detect seismic waves
Term
Seismograms
Definition
paper or digital records of seismic waves
Term
P vs. S Arrival
Definition
P Waves arrive first
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