In deserts of southwestern North America developers often build houses in dry stream beds and build only minimal subsurface drainage systems to handle a flow of water comparable to the size of the dry stream channel
Is this a reasonable development model in the interest of public safety?
A) Yes, any potential flooding catastrophe would be a 100 year flood event and would have adequate warning to evacuate people for safety, so the drainage system is adequate.
B) No, giant rock avalanches could come down the valley covering houses.
C) No, flash floods can produce high viscosity mudflows that would not be captured by the drainage system and could flow out over the valley, destroying everything in its path.
D) Yes, although flash floods can occur, using the channel size is a reasonable estimate of the maximum flood size.
C
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Using the data in this table, determine the age of the granite (unit G on this table).
A) 500
B) 750
C) 50,000,000
D) 1,000,000,000
E) 1,500,000,000
Brazil's ________ was the major destination for Europeans
A) Northeast B) West C) East D) Central region E) South
Irrigation can result in the salinization of soils because ________
A) irrigation is typically used in areas where windblown salts from sea spray can accumulate when the protective vegetation is removed B) many of the plants grown in these regions excrete salts into the soil C) the irrigation water washes away soil leaving behind concentrated salts D) salts in the water are deposited on the soil surface as water evaporates E) shortages of fresh water require the use of saltwater for irrigation
The crests of mid-oceanic ridges are associated with ________.
A. barrier reefs B. Benioff zones C. pelagic sediments D. rift valleys E. abyssal plains