Geology102:Quiz-Unit13

What creates trade winds that contribute to the formation of deserts?

• Ocean currents

• Sinking dry air currents

• Mountain ranges

• Polar ice caps

What is a rain shadow?

• A region with high precipitation

• A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain

• A type of desert formed by polar ice

• A wet area on the windward side of a mountain

Why are polar deserts considered the driest on Earth?

• They have high temperatures

• They are covered with ice and snow

• They have very low average annual precipitation

• They are located at the equator

What is the Coriolis Effect primarily responsible for?

• The rotation of the Earth

• The deflection of moving air masses

• The gravitational pull of the moon

• The creation of ocean tides

How does the Coriolis Effect influence air currents in the Northern Hemisphere?

• Deflects them to the left

• Deflects them to the right

• Stops their movement

• Speeds them up

What happens to air currents at 60° north and south latitude due to the Coriolis Effect?

• They move directly towards the equator

• They create the polar deserts

• They deflect to the east

• They stop moving

What process involves sand grains being lifted into the air and carried a short distance before dropping?

• Erosion

• Weathering

• Saltation

• Deposition

What is desert varnish primarily composed of?

• Sand and clay

• Iron and manganese oxides

• Salt and water

• Loess and silt

What happens when precipitation occurs in the desert?

• It leads to increased erosion

• It results in flash floods

• It causes desert varnish

• It forms loess deposits

What are large moving boulders along flat surfaces in deserts, leaving trails, also known as?

• Ventifacts

• Yardangs

• Sliding stones

• Blowouts