GEL 1007
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY |
EXAM 2
DUE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
General Guidance:
- The exam questions below cover the material we will discuss in class. Your answers should reflect what we cover in class, the posted notes, and the text book.
- It is best to work on the questions as we cover the material; you should feel free to bring the questions up in class for discussion.
- Be thorough, it may take one or two paragraphs to completely answer the question.
- Put the answer into your own words. Short quotes are OK, but your answer should not be a single, long quote from a source.
- Please answer the questions using complete sentences, and be sure to use proper spelling and grammar (worth 10%).
- The answers must be typed.
- Informal citations are required.
- If you are using information from the textbook; indicate the page number
- If you are using information from your class notes; indicate so
- If you are using other sources, you should indicate the source
- Format examples: "According to [source], [followed by the information]" OR "[information] [followed by source in parentheses]"
- Answers that are copied from the book, notes, another student, or any other source (verbatim or superficially rephrased) will not be accepted. While you should use all the resources available and you can and should work with other students, the work you submit must be your own work in your own words.
For each of the following hazards, explain what the hazard is and how it works (what causes the hazard, what impacts does the hazard have, how does the hazard affect people). For 1-5, determine where it poses a risk in the area near your home, explain how you know it poses a risk, and explain what is being done to address that risk.
- Riverine Flooding (15 pts.)
- What is a flood and what causes it?
- What are the potential effects of this hazard?
- Where does this hazard pose a risk in the area near your home? How do you know? (cite a source - you can also describe a personal experience)
- What is being done to address this hazard?
- Mass Wasting (15 pts.)
- What is a slope failure and what causes it?
- What are the potential effects of this hazard?
- Where does this hazard pose a risk in the area near your home? How do you know? (describe a personal observation)
- What is being done to address this hazard?
- Subsidence (15 pts.)
- What is subsidence and what causes it?
- What are the potential effects of this hazard?
- Where does this hazard pose a risk in the area near your home? How do you know? (cite a source - you can also describe a personal experience)
- What is being done to address this hazard?
- Radon Gas (10 pts.)
- What is this hazard and what causes it?
- What are the potential effects of this hazard?
- Where does this hazard pose a risk in the area near your home? How do you know? (cite a source - you can also describe a personal experience)
- What is being done to address this hazard?
- Earthquakes (15 pts.)
- What is an earthquake and what causes it?
- What are the potential effects of this hazard?
- Where does this hazard pose a risk in the area near your home? How do you know? (cite a source)
- What is being done to address this hazard?
- Volcanoes (10 pts.)
- What is a volcano and what causes it?
- What are the potential effects of this hazard?
- Where does this hazard pose a risk in the U.S.? (cite a source)
- Storm Surges (10 pts.)
- What is a storm surge and what causes it?
- What are the potential effects of this hazard?
- Where does this hazard pose a risk in the U.S.? (cite a source)
- Tsunamis (10 pts.)
- What is a tsunami and what causes it?
- What are the potential effects of this hazard?
- Where does this hazard pose a risk in the U.S.? (cite a source)
HINTS
- For parts a & b: Use your textbook, notes, and reflect on your labs to inform your answer. Be thorough. Show me what you have learned.
- For part c:
- What you need to do is figure out where these hazards exist in relation to where you live. (#1-5 are ALL hazards in our area.)
- This should be an example as near to your home as possible.
- Use what you know about the hazard.
- Go outside and look around.
- Use the resources provided here: https://facultyweb.ivcc.edu/mphillips/geology/environmental_research.htm
- for flooding, you must use the FEMA MSC website
- for mass wasting, you will need to look around where you live (you can use maps but visiting potential sites is best)
- for subsidence, you must use the ILMINES website
- for radon gas, you must use the USEPA website
- for earthquakes, you must use the USGS website
- for volcanoes, storm surge, and tsunamis, you should refer to information (including maps) in the textbook
- For part d (#1-5): If you are not sure, ask! City hall, the fire dept, the police dept...whoever would need to deal with the hazard. For example, many larger towns have hazard plans, they can include land use restrictions and building codes as well as plans for first responders. Sometimes, you can observe a local response such as a levee or slope stabilization.
copyright © 2020 Mike Phillips (includes all photos)
last updated: 2025-10-07