GEOL 210 Final, Fall 2005

1 AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY FINAL EXAMINATION Geomorphology (Geol 210) January 23, 2006 Dr. Fadi Nader 8:00 am Exam rules apply Time: 2 hours PART I: Definitions and Short Answers 1. Define ten out of the twelve following terms (20 points): Stochastic Model – Isostasy – Karren – Warm-based Glaciers – Abrasion – Fetch – Longshore Drift – Spits – Erodibility – Mixed Tides – Horn – Relief. 2. Short answers (30 points): a. The endogenic processes are usually constructive and they are grouped in the following categories (or types): b. List the major morphological features in the oceans and on continents. c. Name the major processes of weathering and define one of them. d. The Frictional Resistance of slope material is a function of both: e. What are the key properties of alluvial channels (in plan view)? f. Name the forces that induce the movement and entrainment of sediments in aeolian settings: g. Glaciers are composed of ice, and smaller amounts of: h. Glacial erosion is accomplished by three major processes; these are: i. Waves are characterized by their: j. A relative rise of sea level is an apparent rise in the mean level of the sea surface with respect to a landsurface and can result from: 2 PART II: Diagrams and Short Discussions 3. Draw the ternary classification of coastal deltas and briefly define the corresponding types of deltas (5 points). 4. Give a proper title to the following figure and label it (5 points). 5. Give a proper title to the following figure and explain it in less than 10 lines (10 points). 6. Give a proper title to the following table (5 points). A B C 3 PART III: Discussion 7. Answer one of the two following questions (25points): a. Discuss the methods of measurement and estimation of present fluvial denudation rates. * What are the estimates of fluvial denudation rates used for? Justify your answer. The following three tables are intended to help you answer this question: Table 15.4. Average composition of World river water and estimates of denudational and non- denudational contributions for different constituents Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ K+ Cl- SO4 2- HCO3 SiO2 Total Average composition of 13.5 3.6 7.4 1.35 9.6 8.7 52.0 10.4 106.6 World river water (Concentration (mg 1-1) Provenance of major solute components (%) Non-denudational: Precipitation (oceanic salts) 2.5 15 53 14 72 19 - - 12 Atmospheric CO2 - - - - - - 57 - 28 Denudational: Chemical weathering 97.5 85 47 86 28 81 43 100 60 Source: Based largely on data in M. Meybeck (1983) in: Dissolved Loads of Rivers and Surface Water Quantity Quality Relationships. International Association of Hydrological Sciences Publication 141, 173-192. 4 b. Sea-level changes have significant impacts on the geomorphology of oceanic islands. Use the following diagrams to discuss and explain the origin and development of oceanic islands landscape and its relationship with sea-level changes. The following three figures are intended to help you answer this question: 5 6 GOOD LUCK