Transcript
Exam practice questions
1) Why do Soil Scientists and Engineers have different taxonomies for classifying soil?
For agriculture and land use, and for evaluation of hazards for the engineers
2) Describe how soil develops from rocks. In this description, choose three things that affect the development of soil and explain how they affect soil development.
Soil develops through the rock cycle. Weathering and erosion in the rock cycle plays a large role in forming soil. Some things that can effect the development of soil are precipitation, temperature, and wind.
3) List and explain all soil orders within New York State
Incepticoles- often found in young but not recent land surfaces, have appreciable accumulation of organic material, most common in humid climates but range from the Artic to tropics
Spodocols- soil characterized by ash-colored sands over subsoil. Acid soils that commonly form in parent materials. Found under forests in humid regions
Alfisols- brown or gray-brown surface horizon and an argillic subsoil accumulation with an intermediate to high base saturation. Commonly found under forests in humid regions of the mid-latittudes
4) Explain the possible cause of subsidence in areas of Florida. Explain how you arrived at your answer.
Cause- Droughts in florida cause the soil volume to change
5) In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the city of New Orleans received a lot of damage. One of the reasons why New Orleans was hit so hard was because of land subsidence. Explain two reasons for why the land subsided in New Orleans. Describe human activities that caused the subsidence and suggest ways that subsidence could be slowed or stopped.
In organic soils- when water is drained or soil is decomposed causes organic soils to collapse. Some human activities that cause land subsidence are building on vulnerable areas, pumping fluids. Ways to fix it- Manage where buildings are built, and control the irrigation and drainage of liquids.
6) It has been said that humans are builders and their job is to conquer nature. Consider the hazards that you have learned about. Which ones do humans have an impact on? Which ones do humans not have an effect on? In your estimation, are humans conquering nature? Explain your point of view using subsidence as an example.
Humans have an impact on many of the natural disasters that we have discussed. Soil subsidence can be due to human activity. Humans irrigating and draining the soil, pumping for liquids such as oil, and building on soils that are vulnerable. Humans also impact mass wasting by adding weight to the top of the slopes.
7) La Conchita, CA was a site of two massive landslides within 10 years of each other. One theory for the landslide was that it was caused in part by an Avocado Farm at the top of the slope. Explain two different ways that the cultivation of avocadoes could contribute to the slides. Give 3 suggestions for what the avocado growers could do to stop future slides in the area.
Adding weight to the top of a slope can cause a landslide, also vegetation on slope causes landslides. To prevent this in the future the farmers should be able to recognize unstable situations, draining the groundwater away from the slope, and prohibit over irrigation.
8) La Conchita, CA has been a site of two massive landslides within 10 years of each other. Explain what caused the landslides? If you were put in charge of land planning for La Conchita, explain how you would repurpose the land that was affected by the slide? Also, explain what you would put in an education packet for current and future residents of the homes unaffected by the previous slide?
Regrade the slope.
Look at soil stability maps to see if the soil in your area is susceptible to landslides. Control where you build things, so it’s not on the top of a slope. Prevent over irrigation, and drain the groundwater away from slopes.
9) Urbanization is one human activity that causes landslides. Explain three reasons why urbanization contributes to the incidence of landslides? Some urban areas are already at risk for landslides, describe 2 things that can be done to minimize the risk of landslides for these areas? If you had all imaginable resources available to you, how would you solve the problem of urbanized areas susceptible to landslides?
Causes over steepened slopes, adds weight to the top of the slope, increases the height of the slope can cause landslides. Control where buildings are built on slopes. Put up barriers or regrade the slope to prevent landslides.
10) List at least six ecological functions of soil?
support the growth of plants
source of nutrients
regulate water supplies
modify the atmosphere
recycle raw materials and waste products
provide habitat for many organisms
serve as major engineering medium for human built structures
