CE 122-18 (GEOLOGY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS)

 
QUIZ

1. Define and explain the following:

a. Deltas – Deltas are wetlands that form as rivers empty their water and
sediment into another body of water, such as an ocean, lake, or another
river. Although very uncommon, deltas can also empty into land Deltas
are dynamic areas that change quickly due to the erosion of unstable
land during storm and flood events and the creation of new land. Deltas
are fertile areas which often support large populations due to their
agricultural productivity. Examples include the Ganges delta in
Bangladesh and the Nile delta in Egypt Meanders.

b. Meanders - A meander is one of a sequence of regular sinuous loops in a

river channel. or another body of water It is formed when a stream
erodes sediments. sediments on an outer, concave bank (cut bank) and
deposits sediments on an inner, convex bank a convex bank that is
usually a point bar Meanders are perpetuated through a process called
helicoidal flow. As the surface flow of water hits the outer bank it
corkscrews, flows along the river bed then deposits eroded material on
the inner bank.

c. Oxbow lakes - Oxbow lake is a smaller lake found in a long abandoned

river meander loop. channel. It is typically generated when a river cuts
through a meander neck to form a gorge. shortens its path, causing the
previous channel to be quickly sealed off, and then migrates away from
the lake

d. Bird’s foot deltas - As it flows into the Gulf of Mexico, the river forms a
bird-foot delta. Even as name implies, this delta is shaped like a bird's
foot and has one or a few large transferring at its mouth. A delta (such
as the Mississippi River delta) with several levee-bordered canals that
reach seaward like outstretched claws.
e. Levees - A levee is a geological or man-made structure that prevents
water from flowing in places we do not even want it to. Levees can be
 used to raise the amount of land availability for population or to redirect
a body of water so that the fertile soil of a river or sea bed can be used
for agricultural. They keep rivers from flooding cities in the occurrence
of a coastal flooding. any low rise or earthen embankment erected along
the banks of a stream or river channel to prevent neighboring land from
flooding Generally, artificial levees are required to control the flow of
rivers that meander through large, flat alluvial plains.

2. Describe the three types of deltas that are usually formed at river mouths.
- The three main types of deltas are the arcuate, the bird's foot and the
cuspate. The arcuate are the fan-shaped deltas. The wider portion of the
fan is facing the water. Relatively coarse sediments are formed in this type
of delta. The river activity is balanced with the wind. The bird’s foot delta
got its name because it forms like a bird foot’s claw. This shape is created
when the waves are weak and the river flow is stronger. Thus, this delta
rarely occurs along ocean coasts because the waves are often stronger
than the river current. The cuspate deltas are formed where sediments are
deposited onto a straight shoreline with strong waves. The waves push the
sediments to spread outwardly creating the tooth-like shape. Wave
dominated deltas, tide-dominated deltas, Gilbert deltas, inland deltas, and
estuaries are the most common forms of deltas. A wave-dominated delta,
such as the Mississippi River Delta, is formed by wave erosion, which
controls what and how much river silt stays in a delta after it has been
deposited.

3. Define lakes. What are the classification of lakes?

- A lake is a body of water of considerable size, localized in a basin that is
surrounded by land apart from a river or other outlet that serves to feed or
drain the lake.

• Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, and therefore are distinct
from lagoons, and are also larger and deeper than ponds.

• Natural lakes are generally found in mountainous areas, rift zones, and
areas with ongoing glaciation.
 • Most lakes have at least one natural outflow in the form of a river or
stream, which maintain a lake’s average level by allowing the drainage of
excess water

• Other lakes are found in endorheic basins. Some lakes do not have a
natural outflow and lose water solely by evaporation or underground
seepage or both. They are termed endorheic lakes.

• The majority of lakes on Earth are fresh water, and most lie in the
Northern Hemisphere at higher latitudes. Canada, Finland and Siberia
contain most of the
fresh water lakes.

4. Name at least 3 big Lakes in the Philippines. Indicate each lake area.

- The Philippines is a vast archipelagic country in the Pacific Ocean that

consists of about 7,641 islands. Located in Southeast Asia, the country is
known for its many diverse and spectacular natural features, including
numerous lakes. Most lakes in the Philippines were created through
volcanic and tectonic activity, which resulted in the formation of lake
basins.

1. Laguna De Baý

- Laguna de Baý is the largest lake in the Philippines. Located east of Metro
Manila and covering an area of 949 sq km, the lake has an average depth
of is 2.8 m. The lake forms the shape of a stylized "W," as it contains three
lobes and two peninsulas that jut out from the north. The middle lobe,
located between the peninsulas, fills a large volcanic feature named
Laguna Caldera, and the island of Talim is located in approximately the
middle of the lake. The lake has 21 tributaries and the Pasig River is its
major outflow. Laguna de Baý is a major source of freshwater fish in the
Philippines.

2. Lake Lanao
- Lake Lanao is the second biggest lake in the Philippines, with an area of
340 sq km and a maximum depth of 122 m. The lake is located on the
 island of Mindanao, within the Lanao Del Sur province, and is the largest
lake on the island. Lake Lanao was formed by volcanic and tectonic
activity, and is also regarded as one of the oldest surviving lakes in the
world. Four rivers drain into the lake, while the Agus River is its only
outflow. A hydroelectric plant located along the Lanao-Agus River system
supplies about 70% of the island's electricity. The lake is home to 18
endemic species of cyprinid fish, as well as many water birds.

3. Taal Lake
- With an area of 234.2 sq km, Taal Lake is the third largest lake in the
Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, in the province of Batangas,
the lake’s waters fill a large caldera formed by volcanic eruptions that
occurred thousands of years ago. Taal Lake is high in sulfuric content due
to its location in the volcanic region.

5. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF WIND EROSION ON THE LANDSCAPE OF A PLACE?

- Wind causes the lifting and transport of lighter particles from a dry soil, leaving behind
a surface of coarse-grained sand and rocks. The removed particles will be transported
to another region where they may form sand dunes on a beach or in a desert. this is
called wind erosion. However, the term wind erosion actually refers to the damage of
land due to wind removing soil from an area. Most often, wind erosion occurs on flat
land in dry or sandy areas like the desert. The wind causes erosion by moving the dirt
around. Therefore, wind erosion can happen anywhere and anytime the wind blows.
Wind erosion typically occurs in any area where the soil or sand is not compacted or is
of a finely granulated nature.

Not only does wind erosion damage the land by drying out the soil and reducing the
nutrients of the land, but it can also cause air pollution. Enveloping crops, covering
highways, and invading homes, the sand, dust and dirt created from wind erosion can
impact plant and human life in numerous ways.

6. EXPLAIN HOW WIND TRANSPORTS SOIL DEPOSITS FROM PLACE TO PLACE. WHAT ARE
SAND STORMS AND SAND DUNES?
- Glacier Deposited Soils The glacier is large masses of ice form by the compaction of
snow. As the glaciers grow and move, they carry with them soils varying in size fine-
 grained to huge boulders. Soils get to mix with the ice and transport far away from
their original position. Drift is a general term uses for the deposits to make by glaciers
directly or indirectly Soils transported by the combined action Sometimes, two or more
gents of transportation act together and transport the soil. For example, a soil particle
may fall under gravity and may carry by the wind to a far off place. Sand and dust
storms are common meteorological hazards in arid and semi-arid regions. They are
usually caused by thunderstorms–or strong pressure gradients associated with
cyclones–which increase wind speed over a wide area.

7. WHAT ARE BARCHANS? WHAT IS ITS SHAPE ON THE GROUND?

WHAT ARE ITS CHARACTERISTICS?
- Russian scientist Alexander von Middendorf coined the name in 1881 to describe
crescent-shaped sand dunes in Turkestan and other inland desert regions. Barchans face
the wind, appear convex, and are formed mostly by wind activity from one direction.
They are a widespread landform in sandy deserts around the world, and are arc-shaped,
asymmetrical in cross section, with a gradual slope facing the wind sand ridge and
composed of well-sorted sand. This dune has two "horns" that face downwind, with the
steeper slope known as the slip face facing away from the wind, downwind, at the angle
of repose of the sand in question, which is typically 30–35 degrees for medium-fine dry
sand. The wind has packed the upwind side, which stands at around 15 degrees.
Barchans can reach heights of 9–30 m (30–98 ft) and widths of 370 m (1,210 ft) when
measured perpendicular to the wind. Simple barchan dunes can evolve into larger,
compound barchan or megabarchan dunes as a result of erosion on the windward side
and deposition on the leeward side, with migration rates ranging from roughly one
meter to 100 meters per year. Barchans are typically found as individual dunes, but they
can form chains that extend across a plain in the direction of the prevailing wind.
Barchans and mega-barchans can combine to form ridges that stretch for hundreds of
kilometers. Dune collisions and changes in wind direction generate new barchans from
the horns of old ones, governing the size distribution of a given field.

8. WHAT ARE THE COMMON CIVIL ENGINEERING PROBLEMS WITH IN THE PEAT
REGIONS?
9. HOW ARE WE GOING TO BUILD ROAD, RAIL, AIRPORT PAVEMENTS LOCATED ON
REGIONS WITH PEAT DEPOSITS? WHAT ARE THE SOIL TESTS TO BE CONDUCTED?

TO SUBMITTED ON OR BEFORE April 6, 2022 at 5 pm

Engr. BENJAMIN V. RAMOS

INSTRUCTOR