Question 1. A rainshadow desert forms __________.

when dry air descends from high in the atmosphere between 20° and 30° latitude

in places where mountain ranges act as barriers to the movement of water vapor

in cold, polar regions

near the equator, where moist air rises (because it is hot and less dense) up, away from earth's surface

Question 2. Precipitation of water on the land surface in the hydrologic cycle leads directly to __________.

infiltration, transpiration, and drainage

storage, glaciers, and water balance

discharge, runoff, and erosion

evaporation, infiltration, and runoff

Question 3. Groundwater tends to flow through bodies of rock or sediment that ________.

are composed of dark silicate minerals

have a high porosity

have a high permeability

are aquitards

Question 4. What is the volume of water that passes through each part of the hydrologic cycle annually called?

Transpiration

Water budget

Infiltration

Water balance

Question 5. Plants consume water during photosynthesis. They also release it to the atmosphere during __________.

evaporation

degassing

transpiration

infiltration

Question 6. Match the term with the definition

Dissolved load

Bed load

Sorting

Capacity

Braided channels

A. The maximum load of solid particles a stream can transport
B.  Sand, gravel, and large boulders that are too large to be carried in suspension, and instead move along the bottom of a stream channel
C. Soluble sediments that are carried in solution
D. A complex network of converging and diverging channels that thread their way among numerous islands or gravel bars
E. The physical breakdown (disintegration) and chemical alteration (decomposition) of rock at or near Earth's surface
F. The process by which solid particles of various sizes are separated and deposited in different location

Question 7. Match the term with the definition

Spring

Geyser

Artesian well

Aquifer

Aquitard

A. Impermeable layers that prevent water movement
B.  Permeable rock strata that permits water to flow
C. Localized zone of saturation above an impermeable layer
D. Where the water table intersects the Earth's surface
E. Fountains of hot ground water ejected with great force
F. Ground water confined to a layer, in which the recharges area is higher than the outlet

Question 8. Why is wind erosion more effective in deserts than in more humid regions?

Question 9. Briefly describe the formation of a natural levee.

Question 10. Why are flash floods common in arid climates?

Question 11. Briefly describe at least six depositional features created by glaciers.

Question 12. When examining the geology of a region for potential useable aquifers, what characteristics, or factors would you consider? Discuss at least three environmental concerns related to groundwater.

Your response should be at least 200 words in length.

Question 13. Many developing countries with large river systems are rushing to build dams for hydroelectric power to stimulate economic development. For example, China completed the Three Gorges Dam, one of the world's largest, on the Yangtze River in 2006 and more recently Ethiopia has announced plans to build the Grand Millennium Dam on the Nile River. There's no question that dams are of economic benefit but on the flip side, they may also have unintended and undesirable costs. If you were in charge of planning the construction of a large dam, what are some of the environmental and cultural costs (other than monetary - please don't discuss economic costs of dams as your primary content) that you would consider undesirable and what would you do to minimize these costs?

When examining the geology of a region for potential useable aquifers, what characteristics, or factors would you consider? Discuss at least three environmental concerns related to groundwater.

Your response should be at least 200 words in length.