River Geomorphology
Floods
Groundwater
Aquifers
Erosion
100
A stream channel is narrowed by bridge construction. How will the velocity of flow change if the depth and discharge of the stream remain constant?
A velocity will not change
B velocity will increase
C velocity will decrease
B velocity will increase
100
What does it mean for a flood to be a "hundred year flood"?
A If it's been 50 years since the last one, it'll be another 50 years before the next one.
B It only happens once every 100 years.
C There is a 1% chance that a flood of that size will occur this year.
D There is a 100% chance that a flood of that size will occur this year.
E It's a really destructive flood.
C There is a 1% chance that a flood of that size will occur this year.
100
The cross section below simplifies the groundwater sources in a county in a Midwest state. Which location would have the potential for the best groundwater production?
A
B
C
D
D
100
Liquid hazardous waste in often disposed of by pumping it down injection wells. Which well location would be the most suitable to use for an injection well?
A
B
C
A
100
True or False? A rock can be porous but not permeable.
True
200
The town of Pleasantville is located at a meander bend in a floodplain. In order to reduce the threat of property loss due to erosion, Pleasantville's engineer proposes the construction of the diversion structure shown in the diagram below (map view).
A The stream gradient will decrease
B The stream gradient will be greater
C The stream gradient will stay the same
B The stream gradient will be greater
200
what is a flood?
an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges the nearby land.
200
What do you think uses the most water in the US today?
A Energy industry
B Human consumption (what we all use at home, work, etc.)
C All other industry
D All agriculture
A Energy industry
200
If rain falls on a gentle slope, what scenario will increase recharge of an unconfined (open) aquifer?
A heavy rain on clay
B light rain on clay
C heavy rain on sand
D light rain on sand
C Heavy rain on sand
200
A stream channel is widened by erosion, but stream discharge is unchanged. Which of the following statements must be true?
A depth increased and/or velocity increased
B depth increased and/or velocity decreased
C depth decreased and/or velocity decreased
D depth decreased and/or velocity increased
C depth decreased and/or velocity decreased
300
Meandering rivers primarily occur where?
areas of shallow slope with flood plains
300
There was a 500 year flood on the Blanco River in Texas in May 2015. When will the next one be?
A 2515
B Not for at least 100 years
C No way to tell. Could be tomorrow, could be 3015
D No sooner than 2415
C No way to tell. Could be tomorrow, could be 3015
300
A rapidly growing city within a humid climate zone experiences a land use change from predominantly crop land to mostly urban/suburban. A likely natural response would be:
A Reduced groundwater infiltration - increased flooding
B Reduced groundwater infiltration - reduced flooding
C Increased groundwater infiltration - increased flooding
D Increased groundwater infiltration - reduced flooding
A Reduced groundwater infiltration - increased flooding
300
A farmer drilled a well into an open aquifer composed of sand and gravel. He installed a septic system downslope from the drinking well (see diagram). A few years later the septic system started to leak. Water tests showed that the well water was clean and uncontaminated by bacteria present in the septic system. Why did the septic system not contaminate the drinking water supply?
A Gravel has a low permeability that makes it difficult for bacteria to travel from the septic system to the well.
B The septic system is not located in the aquifer's recharge zone.
C The bacteria were drowned in the groundwater.
D The groundwater flow carried the bacteria away from the well.
D The groundwater flow carried the bacteria away from the well.
300
what does it mean to alter a landscape?
To change what land looks like
400
what is Fluvial Geomorphology
the way in which the stream shapes the landscape.
400
the volume of water passing through a stream per unit time is
A load
B discharge
C gradient
B discharge
400
what is infiltration?
water going into the ground.
400
what is a confined aquifer?
an aquifer overlain by one or more layers of impermeable rock or soil that restrict water to within the aquifer
400
what types of erosion are there?
Gravity, running water, glaciers, wind, waves
500
what is the cycle of erosion?
a concept of how landscapes evolve over time.
500
why has flood damage increased so much in USA over the past century or so?
Increased development in flood prone areas
500
what is a water table?
underground surface below which the ground is wholly saturated with water
500
what does porous mean?
full of pores that lets water easily pass through it.
500
what type of erosion is the weakest, and what type of erosion is the strongest?
wind is weakest, water is strongest