Deck 18: Arid Landscapes and Eolian Processes

Question 1

A steep-sided hill or peak that is often a remnant of a plateau or mesa is termed a(n)

A) butte.
B) mesa.
C) plateau.
D) canyon.
E) arroyo.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

______ winds are common in desert environments due to the rapid warming and cooling of the terrain.

A) Weak
B) Strong
C) Variable
D) Shifting
E) Consistent

Answer 2

B

Question 3

This desert in Africa is associated with the subtropical high-pressure cell.

A) Taklimakan
B) Kalahari
C) Atacama
D) Rub al-Khali
E) Sind

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A(n)__________ is a broad horizontal surface that is upheld by resistant caprock.

A) butte
B) mesa
C) plateau
D) canyon
E) arroyo

Question 5

Approximately _______ of Earth's land surface is a mix of arid and semi-arid deserts.

A) 1/4
B) 1/2
C) 2/3
D) 3/4
E) 1/3

Question 6

Subtropical ______ Pressure Systems dominate in arid environments.

A) High-
B) Low-
C) variable
D) moderate
E) dynamic

Question 7

To move a particle of sediment,wind must have speeds nearly _____ times greater than the speed of water to move the same particle.

A) 100
B) 50
C) 5
D) 30
E) 60

Question 8

In comparing fluids,water is ____________ wind.

A) less dense than
B) of equal density to
C) much denser than
D)None of the other answer choices, water and wind cannot be compared.

Question 9

The descending air in a Subtropical High-Pressure System is a part of a ________ cell.

A) Walker
B) Bjerknes
C) Hadley
D) Eolian
E) Köppen

Question 10

A very steep-sided valley that is cut into bedrock is called a(n)

A) butte.
B) mesa.
C) plateau.
D) canyon.
E) arroyo.

Question 11

In a typical desert climate,above the height of ___ centimeter(s),wind velocity increases rapidly before slowing down with additional height.

A) 1
B) 3
C) 5
D) 7
E) 9

Question 12

This eolian feature is a steep-sided,narrow tower that is the final remnant of a plateau,mesa,or butte.

A) arroyo
B) playa
C) pinnacle
D) canyon
E) ventifact

Question 13

Subtropical High-Pressure Systems promote _______ air.

A) rising
B) sinking
C) advecting
D) convective
E) ascending

Question 14

The geomorphic processes associated with the way wind erodes,transports,and deposits sediment is called

A) dry wind processes.
B) desert movement.
C) eolian processes.
D) arid motion.
E) fluvial processes.

Question 15

A(n)__________ is a broad,horizontal surface that is upheld by resistant caprock.

A) hoodoo
B) mesa
C) waddi
D) canyon
E) arroyo

Question 16

This is a dried lakebed that forms when runoff collects in closed topographic depressions in arid regions.

A) arroyo
B) playa
C) pinnacle
D) canyon
E) ventifact

Question 17

This desert in Asia is associated with the influence of being a great distance from a large body of water.

A) Sonoran
B) Namib
C) Kalahari
D) Taklimakan
E) Simpson

Question 18

The _____________ is another factor associated with arid locations and occurs on the leeside of mountain ranges where descending air warms adiabatically.

A) continentality
B) barren effect
C) arroyo influence
D) rainshadow effect
E) mesa process

Question 19

In deserts,the vegetation cover is relatively

A) thick.
B) concentrated.
C) sparse.
D) variable.
E) nonexistent.

Question 20

The gradual slope of a dune that faces the prevailing wind is termed the

A) crest.
B) backslope.
C) slip face.
D) angle of repose.
E) angle of dune advancement.

Question 21

What process created this landscape in the following image?

A) abrasion
B) deposition
C) buoyancy
D) saltation
E) none of these

Question 22

Wind erosion occurs as a result of

A) deflation.
B) abrasion.
C) inflation.

Question 23

The maximum angle that can be achieved on the slip face of dry sand is typically

A) 10°.
B) 15°.
C) 5°.
D) 25°.
E) 34°.

Question 24

This sediment transport process requires that the sediment remains in contact with the surface at all times.

A) turbulence
B) creep
C) saltation
D) viscous flow
E) deflation

Question 25

These are ridges that are sculpted and streamlined by abrasion and deflation.

A) ventifacts
B) yardangs
C) deflation hollows
D) desert pavement
E) desert varnish

Question 26

The backslope angle commonly falls between 10° and ____°.

A) 5
B) 15
C) 10
D) 30
E) 17

Question 27

Saltation is in response to wind and

A) turbulence.
B) gravity.
C) creep.
D) fluid behavior.
E) buoyancy.

Question 28

Erosion that occurs when particles grind against each other is termed

A) pavement.
B) abrasion.
C) deflation.
D) ventifaction.
E) yardang production.

Question 29

____________ is a resistant surface created when fine particles blow away and coarse sediment is left behind.

A) Desert pavement
B) A deflation hollow
C) A ventifact
D) An abrasion hollow
E) Desert varnish

Question 30

The highest point of the dune is called the

A) crest.
B) backslope.
C) peak.
D) tip.
E) angle of dune advancement.

Question 31

The maximum slope at which sand will not slump under the force of gravity is called the

A) backslope.
B) slip face.
C) angle of repose.
D) crest.
E) slumping process.

Question 32

The maximum angle that can be reached on the backslope of dry sand is

A) 10°.
B) 15°.
C) 5°.
D) 25°.
E) 34°.

Question 33

The removal of sediment from a surface by wind action is called

A) pavement.
B) abrasion.
C) deflation.
D) ventifaction.
E) varnish

Question 34

This type of depression is created by wind erosion.

A) desert pavement
B) yardangs
C) ventifact
D) saltation
E) deflation hollow

Question 35

_________ is an individual rock that is pitted,grooved,or streamlined through wind abrasion.

A) A ventifact
B) An abrasion
C) A yardang
D) A deflation
E) Aesert pavement

Question 36

The steep slope that lies on the leeward side of a sand dune is called the

A) crest.
B) backslope.
C) slip face.
D) angle of repose.
E) angle of dune advancement.

Question 37

The slip face angle commonly falls between ____° and 34°.

A) 5
B) 15
C) 10
D) 30
E) 17

Question 38

What feature is dominant in this image?

A) a deflation hollow
B) a ventifact
C) desert pavement
D) a yardang
E) a playa

Question 39

This type of dune forms when winds are weak in one direction and is produced from large amounts of sand deposited perpendicular to the wind.

A) longitudinal
B) transverse
C) reversing
D) barchan
E) parabolic

Question 40

This type of dune is produced from strong winds blowing in one direction while transporting small amounts of sand.

A) barchan
B) star
C) transverse
D) parabolic
E) dome

Question 41

Extensive loess deposits are also associated with ___________ regions.

A) arid
B) coastal
C) agricultural
D) barren
E) humid

Question 42

Desertification that occurred in the United States during the 1930s is known as the

A) desertification era.
B) great depression.
C) Dust Bowl.
D) dry period.
E) eolian epoch.

Question 43

With wind indicated by the arrow,which type of dune is stabilized by vegetation,as seen in the following image?

A) parabolic
B) barchan
C) dome
D) transverse
E) star

Question 44

__________ dunes form when winds blow from two opposite directions,allowing the dune to change shape periodically.

A) Star
B) Dome
C) Parabolic
D) Reversing
E) Barchan

Question 45

Which of the following are types of of eolian transport?

A) creep
B) solution
C) saltation
D) suspension
E) bedload

Question 46

This type of dune is stabilized by vegetation and often starts as semicircular blowouts that elongate.

A) star
B) dome
C) parabolic
D) reversing
E) barchan

Question 47

A steep-sided gully cut into alluvial sediments found in dry areas is called a(n)

A) mesa.
B) butte.
C) playa.
D) pediment.
E) arroyo.

Question 48

One region on Earth that has seen extensive desertification is

A) the Sahel region of Africa.
B) the Antarctic.
C) western Europe.
D) the Appalachian Mountains in the United States.
E) nothern Canada.

Question 49

Approximately ____% of the Earth's surface is covered by loess deposits.

A) 5
B) 7.5
C) 10
D) 12.75
E) 16

Question 50

__________ dunes form when multidirectional winds allow the dunes to grow tall instead of migrating.

A) Star
B) Dome
C) Parabolic
D) Reversing
E) Barchan

Question 51

As a result of multidirectional winds,what type of dune is represented in the following image?

A) star
B) reversing
C) parabolic
D) transverse
E) dome

Question 52

This type of dune forms rows from merged barchan dunes.

A) barchnoid ridge
B) longitudinal
C) transverse
D) star
E) parabolic

Question 53

The process through which formerly vegetated regions gradually become desert-like is called

A) aridity.
B) vegetative removal.
C) ecosystem change.
D) desertification.
E) ecotone.

Question 54

With wind direction shown with the arrows,what type of dune is represented in the following image?

A) transverse
B) longitudinal
C) barchnoid ridge
D) star
E) reversing

Question 55

_________ dunes form when opposing winds flow in similar directions,allowing the formation of two slip faces that are aligned with the wind.

A) Parabolic
B) Transverse
C) Longitudinal
D) Barchan
E) Star

Question 56

Windblown silt is also known as

A) arroyo.
B) playa.
C) deflation.
D) buoyant debris.
E) loess.

Question 57

This type of dune is modified from barchan dunes and has a truncated crest and flattened lee slope.

A) barchnoid ridge
B) transverse
C) dome
D) reversing
E) longitudinal

Question 58

A desert pavement is created by

A) deflation.
B) evaporation.
C) venting.
D) human activity.
E) freeze-thaw cycles.

Question 59

The presence of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone is one of the main reasons dry regions develop around the world.

Question 60

The leeward side of a dune is also called the

A) stoss.
B) sand slope.
C) slip face.
D) backslope.

Question 61

A plateau is a very broad,horizontal surface that is upheld by resistant caprock.

Question 62

The highest point of a dune is called the

A) stoss.
B) crest.
C) slip face.
D) backslope.

Question 63

A small remnant of a plateau that has not weathered down to the size of a pinnacle is called a(n)

A) mesa.
B) butte.
C) playa.
D) pediment.
E) arroyo.

Question 64

The speed of the wind blowing over arid locations impacts the size of the particle picked up.

Question 65

A steep-sided hill or peak that is often a remnant of a plateau or mesa is called a butte.

Question 66

A dry lakebed found in areas arid regions is called a(n)

A) mesa.
B) butte.
C) playa.
D) pediment.
E) arroyo

Question 67

The influence of the rainshadow effect is another factor in the development of arid and semi-arid regions.

Question 68

The windward side of a dune is also called the

A) crest.
B) leeward.
C) slip face.
D) backslope.

Question 69

An arroyo is a deep,steep-sided gully that is cut into alluvium.

Question 70

The major desert in the southwestern United States is the Sonoran Desert.

Question 71

Arid landscapes are associated with subtropical high pressure systems,rainshadows,and continental locations.

Question 72

Eolian processes are associated with the way wind erodes,transports,and deposits sediment.

Question 73

A dried lakebed forming in arid regions is called a playa.

Question 74

The major desert in South America is the Atacama Desert.

Question 75

Arid and semi-arid environments cover as much as 55% of the surface of the Earth.

Question 76

A surface that extends away from an escarpment of a basin and range found in dry areas is called a

A) mesa.
B) butte.
C) playa.
D) pediment.
E) arroyo.

Question 77

A large fragment of a plateau found in dry areas that can be several kilometers wide is called a

A) mesa.
B) butte.
C) playa.
D) pediment.
E) arroyo.

Question 78

A broad,horizontal surface smaller than a plateau and upheld by resistant caprock is called a butte.

Question 79

The highest point of a dune is called the peak.

Question 80

The lee slope of a dune is also called the slip face.