Note from Harry Seijmonsbergen:

This old exam has a question about a map fragment (Q11). This year we only did
exercises with air-photos. Therefore, this years exam will have a question related
to part of an air-photo.

Question 1 (Multiple choice: points 1)

Study the landscape seen in figure 1. Rainfall is equally distributed in this landscape.
What statement is correct with respect to the type of vegetation in figure 1?
a. The vegetation cover is related to the nutrient availability and the thickness
of the soil
b. The vegetation cover is not related the nutrient availability and the thickness
of the soil
c. The vegetation cover is only related to the nutrient availability of the soil
d. The vegetation cover is only related to the thickness of the soil

Figure 1. Weathering and soil formation over lava flow deposits

Question 2 (Multiple choice: points 1)

What drainage pattern will likely develop on the outer slopes of a young stratovolcano?
a. A dendritic drainage pattern
b. A radial drainage pattern
c. A parallel drainage pattern
d. A disturbed drainage pattern
Question 3 (Multiple choice: points 1)
In what region is the importance of mechanical weathering highest?
a.
b.
c.
d.

In the South American Andes mountains at 3500m altitude

In the northern part of the Netherlands
On a salt flat in a desert area
In a tropical rain forest in Central Africa

Question 4 (open question: total points 4)

a. Give three natural factors that may increase the stability of a slope
1. Lowering of erosion base (may lower general groundwater levels)
2. Lowering the slope angle (slope development over time)
3. Growth of a vegetation cover (gives root strength, takes up water)

b. Give three natural factors that may decrease the stability of a slope
1. Undercutting of the slope by rivers
2. Loading the upper slope by deposition
3. Rainfall that increases pore water pressure within the slope

Question 5 (Multiple choice: points 1)

A desert pavement has primarily been formed as the result of:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Dissolution of underlying soluble rock fragments

Deposition of coarse material by a river
Blowing out of finer particles
Weathering of the overlying bedrock

Question 6 (place in correct order: points 2)

Place the following four mass movement types in the correct order, starting with
low water content and ending with high water content:
1. Mudflow, 2. Rock fall, 3. Creep, and 4. Slide
. (low water content)
.
.
. (high water content)
Correct order low to high content:

rock fall creep slide - mudflow

Question 7 (Multiple choice: points 1)

What will happen with a coastal delta in the Tropics as the result of a future rise in
sea level?
a. A new coastal delta will start to form land inward from the older one
b. A new coastal delta will start to form seaward from the older one
c. The old coastal delta will be eroded and a new one will form land inward
from the older one
d. The old coastal delta will be eroded and a new one will form seaward from
the older one
Question 8 (Multiple choice: points 1)
Consider a low angle alluvial floodplain. In what landforms/deposits do you expect
that the finest alluvial deposits occur?
a.
b.
c.
d.

In the backswamp area

In the delta
In the meander ridges
In the natural levee

Question 9 (Multiple choice: points 1)

A coastline is oriented North to South. The wind is blowing for the greater part of the
year from SW to the NE. This means that the sand transport along the coast will be
predominantly from:
a. SW to NE
b. S to N
c. NE to SW
d. N to S
Question 10 (Multiple choice: points 1)
What was the wind direction that was responsible for the formation of the layered
sand dune, which can be seen in the cross section of figure 2?
a. From right to left
b. From left to right and from right to left
c. From left to right

Figure 2. cross section through a dune

Question 11 (open question: points 6)

The topographic map fragment (see figure 3) shows a part of the floodplain of the
Mississippi River, in the State of Louisiana, United States.
a. Explain how Lake St. Joseph (see Figure 3) was formed.
Lake Joseph is part of an abandoned channel, now disconnected from the active
Mississippi River. The oxbow lake has formed by a process called neck cut-off.
Meanders are constantly migrating because of erosion at its outer bend and
deposition at its inner bend. If two outer meander bends meet, a neck cut-off
will be formed, that leaves the river channel as an oxbow lake, such as St.
Joseph lake that still reflects the former river course.

b. What will happen with Lake St Joseph (see Figure 3) in the coming 100 years
if natural processes will continue?
St. Joseph lake will be filled with fine-grained deposits resulting from
surrounding erosion on the slopes and will be overgrown by vegetation, which
could die and accumulate in the lake, eventually leading to peat formation.

c. Is the material in the direct subsurface at 2. Yucatan Landing (see red text in
Figure 3) older or younger than the material in the direct subsurface at
1. Yucatan Point? Explain your answer.
The material in the direct subsurface at 1. Yuacatan Landing is older than the
material in the direct subsurface at 2. Yucatan Point. Reasons: Yucatan Point is
located on an inner meander area, belonging to a phase when the Mississippi
Ridge was actually flowing through the present Yucatan oxbow Lake. This
landform cuts the existing meander on which 1.Yucatan Landing is located.
Relative age relationships therefore indicate that also the material at 1.Yucatan
Landing is older.

Figure 3. Topographic map fragment of the floodplain of the Mississippi River,

Louisiana