Science, Part 44

Question 1: What are the three types of geologic faults?

Answer 1: A geologic fault is a fracture in the Earth’s surface created by movement of the crust. The majority of faults are found along tectonic plate boundaries; however, smaller faults have been identified at locations far from these boundaries. There are three types of geologic faults, which are named for the original direction of movement along the active fault line. The landforms on either side of a fault are called the footwall and the hanging wall, respectively. In a normal fault, the hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall. A reverse fault is the opposite of a normal fault: The hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall. The dip of a reverse fault is usually quite steep; when the dip is less than 45 degrees, the fault is called a thrust fault. In the third type of geologic fault, the strike-slip fault, the dip is virtually nonexistent, and the footwall moves vertically left (sinistral) or right (dextral). A transform plate boundary is a specific instance of a strike-slip fault.

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Question 2: What is geomorphology?

Answer 2: Geomorphology is a subdiscipline of physical geography. Geomorphologists study the origins and formative processes of landforms. Observation of weathering and erosion processes, the movement of tectonic plates, mass movements, and the effects of human activity on the environment all contribute to an understanding of the formation and evolution of landforms. Aerial photography (from within Earth’s atmosphere or from space) can aid geomorphologists in their quests. Photos taken at intervals allow them to study, for example, the creative and destructive events that occur at plate boundaries. Landscape photography also enables geomorphologists to observe long-term processes of stream erosion. Geomorphology can be applied to prediction and prevention of natural hazards such as landslides; it can also be helpful in assessing and rectifying damage to the natural environment by humans.

Question 3: Define humidity and cloud cover.

Answer 3: Humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air. Specific humidity is the expression of humidity as a ratio of aqueous vapor to dry air; it is expressed as a ratio of mass of water vapor per unit mass of natural (dry) air. Absolute humidity measures the mass of water vapor in a given volume of moist air or gas; it is expressed in grams per cubic foot or per cubic meter. The equilibrium (or saturated) vapor pressure of a gas is the vapor pressure (created by the movement of molecules) of water vapor when air is saturated with water vapor. Relative humidity, usually expressed as a percentage, is the ratio of the vapor pressure of water in air (or another gas) to the equilibrium vapor pressure. In other words, it is a ratio of the mass of water per volume of gas and the mass per volume of a saturated gas. Cloud cover refers to the amount of sky blocked by clouds at a given location.

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