Question 1

What is karst and how does it form?

Accepted Answer

A)  Karst is the ragged surface dissolved on the surface of limestone bedrock formerly buried under soil. 
B)  Karst is windblown dust deposited in areas of dune-like hills. 
C)  Karst is the deposit of calcium carbonate that precipitates on rocks in soil when groundwater evaporates. 
D)  Karst is the cold wind that blows off the North Atlantic Ocean at times in late fall. 
E)  Karst is the product of reaction between acid rain and limestone in the ground. 
A)  Karst is the ragged surface dissolved on the surface of limestone bedrock formerly buried under soil. 
B)  Karst is windblown dust deposited in areas of dune-like hills. 
C)  Karst is the deposit of calcium carbonate that precipitates on rocks in soil when groundwater evaporates. 
D)  Karst is the cold wind that blows off the North Atlantic Ocean at times in late fall. 
E)  Karst is the product of reaction between acid rain and limestone in the ground.

Question 2

What is in water in the ground that helps it dissolve limestone?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitric acid from nitrogen in the air combining with rainwater 
B)  carbonic acid formed from carbon dioxide in air combining with rainwater 
C)  nothing-pure water has nothing in it, so it can dissolve more 
D)  oxygen-the reactivity of oxygen oxidizes the calcium of limestone 
E)  sand-the grains are much harder than limestone, making it more abrasive 
A)  nitric acid from nitrogen in the air combining with rainwater 
B)  carbonic acid formed from carbon dioxide in air combining with rainwater 
C)  nothing-pure water has nothing in it, so it can dissolve more 
D)  oxygen-the reactivity of oxygen oxidizes the calcium of limestone 
E)  sand-the grains are much harder than limestone, making it more abrasive

Question 3

Which of the following does NOT lead to formation of sinkholes?

Accepted Answer

A)  strong pumping of groundwater for crop irrigation in dry weather 
B)  pumping groundwater for spraying on crops to prevent freezing 
C)  construction of a heavy building over a limestone cavern 
D)  pumping waste fluids into the ground for disposal 
E)  drilling for groundwater 
A)  strong pumping of groundwater for crop irrigation in dry weather 
B)  pumping groundwater for spraying on crops to prevent freezing 
C)  construction of a heavy building over a limestone cavern 
D)  pumping waste fluids into the ground for disposal 
E)  drilling for groundwater

Question 4

Why are there so many small lakes and springs in western Florida?

Accepted Answer

A)  Since the water table is essentially at the surface, any low area is filled with water. 
B)  Limestone caverns and sinkholes filled with water because of the high water table. 
C)  Groundwater rising through the limestone bedrock dissolves it as it reaches acid rain at the surface. 
D)  Many of them are old limestone quarries, abundant there because of cheap transportation near the Gulf. 
E)  A swarm of asteroids peppered the area a few thousand years ago; the holes have since filled with water. 
A)  Since the water table is essentially at the surface, any low area is filled with water. 
B)  Limestone caverns and sinkholes filled with water because of the high water table. 
C)  Groundwater rising through the limestone bedrock dissolves it as it reaches acid rain at the surface. 
D)  Many of them are old limestone quarries, abundant there because of cheap transportation near the Gulf. 
E)  A swarm of asteroids peppered the area a few thousand years ago; the holes have since filled with water.

Question 5

In the United States,sinkholes,subsidence,and swelling soils cause total dollar damage at which of the following levels?

Accepted Answer

A)  more than earthquakes and volcanoes 
B)  more than hurricanes but less than floods 
C)  more than forest fires but less than floods 
D)  more than floods but less than landslides 
E)  less than hurricanes, floods, or landslides 
A)  more than earthquakes and volcanoes 
B)  more than hurricanes but less than floods 
C)  more than forest fires but less than floods 
D)  more than floods but less than landslides 
E)  less than hurricanes, floods, or landslides

Question 6

What agricultural behavior is likely to lead to formation of more sinkholes?

Accepted Answer

Aggressive pumping of groundwa

Question 7

Where in North America are sinkholes most prevalent and why?

Accepted Answer

A)  in Michigan, because outcrops of limestone are widespread and it is surrounded by the Great Lakes 
B)  in Washington state, because of all of the rain west of the Cascades 
C)  in metamorphic rocks of the Canadian Shield, because of all of the lakes 
D)  in Florida, because it is almost all limestone and has abundant groundwater 
E)  in Colorado, because layers of sedimentary rocks under the Great Plains bend up to the surface there 
A)  in Michigan, because outcrops of limestone are widespread and it is surrounded by the Great Lakes 
B)  in Washington state, because of all of the rain west of the Cascades 
C)  in metamorphic rocks of the Canadian Shield, because of all of the lakes 
D)  in Florida, because it is almost all limestone and has abundant groundwater 
E)  in Colorado, because layers of sedimentary rocks under the Great Plains bend up to the surface there

Question 8

What are the main characteristics of soil above a limestone cavern that leads to the formation of a cover collapse sinkhole?

Accepted Answer

A)  thin enough that it can trickle through limestone cracks into a cavern below 
B)  sandy and loose enough that it can trickle down into cracks in limestone 
C)  coarse-enough grains that surface water can percolate down into cracks above a limestone cavern 
D)  fairly well cemented so it can maintain the roof of a cavern 
E)  thick, clay-rich, and cohesive enough to develop a large cavern before it collapses 
A)  thin enough that it can trickle through limestone cracks into a cavern below 
B)  sandy and loose enough that it can trickle down into cracks in limestone 
C)  coarse-enough grains that surface water can percolate down into cracks above a limestone cavern 
D)  fairly well cemented so it can maintain the roof of a cavern 
E)  thick, clay-rich, and cohesive enough to develop a large cavern before it collapses

Question 9

What material causes swelling soils?

Accepted Answer

Smectite,t

Question 10

Which of the following areas has NOT seen major subsidence from groundwater withdrawal?

Accepted Answer

A)  San Joaquin Valley of California 
B)  Las Vegas area 
C)  Houston area, Texas 
D)  Charleston, South Carolina 
E)  Venice, Italy 
A)  San Joaquin Valley of California 
B)  Las Vegas area 
C)  Houston area, Texas 
D)  Charleston, South Carolina 
E)  Venice, Italy

Question 11

What causes permafrost thaw? What are several problems associated with it? What is one way to overcome permafrost thaw?

Accepted Answer

Permafrost thaw occurs when increased at

Question 12

What causes caverns in limestone?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hard grains of quartz sand carried in underground streams erode the soft limestone. 
B)  They form when rocks above collapse into the limestone. 
C)  Limestone readily dissolves in seawater, so the caverns formed originally at sea level. 
D)  Groundwater in limestone is somewhat caustic, so over many years, it dissolves limestone. 
E)  Rainwater dissolves carbon dioxide to make weak carbonic acid that dissolves limestone. 
A)  Hard grains of quartz sand carried in underground streams erode the soft limestone. 
B)  They form when rocks above collapse into the limestone. 
C)  Limestone readily dissolves in seawater, so the caverns formed originally at sea level. 
D)  Groundwater in limestone is somewhat caustic, so over many years, it dissolves limestone. 
E)  Rainwater dissolves carbon dioxide to make weak carbonic acid that dissolves limestone.

Question 13

Under what weather conditions are sinkholes most likely to form?

Accepted Answer

A)  low pressure under the eye of a hurricane 
B)  especially dry season 
C)  especially wet season 
D)  El Niño 
E)  freezing weather 
A)  low pressure under the eye of a hurricane 
B)  especially dry season 
C)  especially wet season 
D)  El Niño 
E)  freezing weather

Question 14

What weather conditions are most likely to foster the formation of sinkholes?

Accepted Answer

A)  dry weather, because that dehydrates the soil, causing shrinkage and collapse 
B)  freezing weather, because freezing water expands, causing stresses that force fractures apart to collapse 
C)  dry weather, because that lowers the water table so the cavern roofs are not supported and may collapse 
D)  wet weather, because there is ample water to dissolve out caverns 
E)  wet weather, because the pressure of water in a cavern causes stress that can weaken and collapse the roof 
A)  dry weather, because that dehydrates the soil, causing shrinkage and collapse 
B)  freezing weather, because freezing water expands, causing stresses that force fractures apart to collapse 
C)  dry weather, because that lowers the water table so the cavern roofs are not supported and may collapse 
D)  wet weather, because there is ample water to dissolve out caverns 
E)  wet weather, because the pressure of water in a cavern causes stress that can weaken and collapse the roof

Question 15

What is in water in the ground that helps it dissolve limestone? Where does that substance come from?

Accepted Answer

Carbonic acid; it fo

What is karst and how does it form?

What is in water in the ground that helps it dissolve limestone?

Which of the following does NOT lead to formation of sinkholes?

Why are there so many small lakes and springs in western Florida?

In the United States,sinkholes,subsidence,and swelling soils cause total dollar damage at which of the following levels?

What agricultural behavior is likely to lead to formation of more sinkholes?

Where in North America are sinkholes most prevalent and why?

What are the main characteristics of soil above a limestone cavern that leads to the formation of a cover collapse sinkhole?

What material causes swelling soils?

Which of the following areas has NOT seen major subsidence from groundwater withdrawal?

What causes permafrost thaw? What are several problems associated with it? What is one way to overcome permafrost thaw?

What causes caverns in limestone?

Under what weather conditions are sinkholes most likely to form?

What weather conditions are most likely to foster the formation of sinkholes?

What is in water in the ground that helps it dissolve limestone? Where does that substance come from?

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Earthquake Prediction and Mitigation

Tsunami

Volcanoes: Tectonic Environments and Eruptions

Volcanoes: Hazards and Mitigation

Landslides and Other Downslope Movements

Weather, Thunderstorms, And Tornadoes

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Exam 9: Sinkholes, Land Subsidence, and Swelling Soils

What is karst and how does it form?

What is in water in the ground that helps it dissolve limestone?

Which of the following does NOT lead to formation of sinkholes?

Why are there so many small lakes and springs in western Florida?

In the United States,sinkholes,subsidence,and swelling soils cause total dollar damage at which of the following levels?

What agricultural behavior is likely to lead to formation of more sinkholes?

Where in North America are sinkholes most prevalent and why?

What are the main characteristics of soil above a limestone cavern that leads to the formation of a cover collapse sinkhole?

What material causes swelling soils?

Which of the following areas has NOT seen major subsidence from groundwater withdrawal?

What causes permafrost thaw? What are several problems associated with it? What is one way to overcome permafrost thaw?

What causes caverns in limestone?

Under what weather conditions are sinkholes most likely to form?

What weather conditions are most likely to foster the formation of sinkholes?

What is in water in the ground that helps it dissolve limestone? Where does that substance come from?

Natural Hazards and Disasters

Plate Tectonics and Physical Hazards

Earthquakes and Their Causes

Earthquake Prediction and Mitigation

Tsunami

Volcanoes: Tectonic Environments and Eruptions

Volcanoes: Hazards and Mitigation

Landslides and Other Downslope Movements

Weather, Thunderstorms, And Tornadoes

Climate Change

Streams And Flood Processes

Floods And Human Interactions

Waves,Beaches,And Coastal Erosion

Hurricanes and Nor’easters

Wildfires

Impact of Asteroids and Comets

The Future: Where Do We Go From Here?

Filters