1. Describe the paths of water through the hydrologic cycle.  Explain the processes and the energy gains and losses involved in the changes of water between its 3 states.  Operationally, we often most concerned with water does when it reaches the solid earth, both on the surface and in the sub-surface.  Explain the relationship between the saturated zone, the water table, a ground water well and the cone of depression, all within the sub-surface.
2. The food chain is a valuable concept in biogeography.  Give an example of a specific food chain, labeling the various levels of the food chain.  After looking at characteristics of food chains, explain how a geographer’s approach to the study of organisms might be different than biologist’s study of organisms; what would each try to emphasize more than the other?  What exactly is a biome?  Compare/contrast the concept of the biome with that of the zoogeographic region.   Compare/contrast the floral characteristics of 2 of the following biomes: Desert, Tundra, Midlatitude Grassland and Boreal Forest.
3. Theorize the difference in soil development in adjoining soils developed on forested, sloped area versus a grassed flat area.  What are the soil-forming factors? Explain the importance of the nature of the parent material to soil formation and type.  Then, cite at least 2 examples in which the influence of parent materials might be outweighed by other soil-forming factors.  Explain the “struggle” between the internal and external processes in shaping the Earth’s surface.  What are the different ways that the surface of the Earth is changed over time?
4. Describe the general sequence of events in continental drift since the time of 5 separate continents 450 million years ago.  What is the difference between the older continental drift theory by Wegener and the more recent plate tectonic theory?  Plate tectonics theory explains many seemingly unrelated phenomena.  Explain how the patterns of volcanoes and earthquakes related to plate tectonics.  Explain several pieces of evidence that combine to make the theory of plate tectonics the one that is generally accepted.
5. Provide a reason why some scientists believe the Pleistocene is over and a reason why other scientists believe we are now in an interglacial stage.  Some believe, for example, that since areas of pack ice and glacial ice still exist we are still in an ice age.  Others, on the other hand, seeing the rapid retreat of ice and snow pack in many areas, believes that this period of glaciation has ended.  So, using some other justifications, why do we see some differences in interpretation?  Is there some scientific data available that can support both sides view?  If so, provide it.  Why hasn’t this controversy been solved?  What impact does this division of views have on the public policies that are enacted by state, national and international bodies?

1-Describe radiometric dating and discuss three prerequisites that must be met in order to obtain a reliable radiometric date on a granite batholith. What are the various methods of radiometric dating that may be used?

2-Name the three major types of unconformities and describe a sequence of events that might produce each. Be specific and include rock types and processes that each includes. What does this tell you about the events that occurred during the gap in the rock record?

Watch this video about (Earthquake Country Los Angeles)

and ANSWER these questions carefully.

1) What is the general orientation of the Transverse Ranges geomorphic province and how does that orientation differ from other California Geomorphic provinces?

2) When did the Pacific Plate first begin scraping against the edge of North America?

3) What is the total length of the San Andreas fault and where are it’s southerly and northerly end points? What are some of the key faults parallel to the San Andreas fault?

4) Where do the San Jacinto fault and San Andreas fault merge?

5) The San Andreas fault is subdivided into multiple “segments”. When did the Southern Section of the San Andreas fault last experience a major rupture? What was the approximate recurrence interval of the Southern Section before the last major earthquake and how much time has elapsed since that rupture? How much stress has accumulated since that time? (NOTE: the film you are viewing was produced in 2004. Recalculate that value to estimate the accumulated stress for 2020).

6) What is the approximate length and seismogenic depth of the Hollywood fault? What overall magnitude and maximum displacement is possible on a maximum rupture of the Hollywood fault?

7) What type of faults generated the 1971 San Fernando (Sylmar) Earthquake and the 1994 Northridge Earthquake?

8) In the film we see a comparison between the frequency of earthquake waves and the frequency of a string instrument. What controls the earthquake frequencies & describe which wave frequencies affect low, medium and tall structures? How does Alluvium affect ground shaking?

9) Describe the overall motion of a Rayleigh wave.

10) Describe at least two methods of increasing the shear strength of a house.

View the video, The Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification System and Figure 2-34 on page 78 of your text displaying the Earth’s climate zones. Which of Earth’s climate zones are you located in? Describe in detail which atmospheric and/or oceanic circulation currents play a role in your local climate. If climate change were to alter your local climate, which industries in your area would be affected? Explain how.

Be sure to cite your textbook or course resources in your post.