Exam #2 Essay Questions

I am a little early in posting these, but I decided no one would mind too much if I posted them today. I reserve the right to slightly change the questions when you see them again on the test, so make sure to stay flexible and read the questions when you take the exam.

1. Why is the ocean salty while the overwhelming majority of rivers and streams are fresh? In other words, describe how the water cycle and the rock cycle interact. Make sure to cycle through both the water and rock cycles completely in your answer. Include any and all processes that are involved in the either cycle.
2. Describe the theory of plate tectonics. Include in your answer a clear description of the theory along with evidence discussed in class that supports the theory.
3. Sedimentary rocks make up less than 5% of the crust, but they represent many of the rocks you will encounter. Discuss the process by which a sedimentary rock is formed? Clearly describe each of the steps in the process. Is there anything that cannot become a sedimentary rock? Explain.
4. Greenhouse gases are much maligned, so we need to rehabilitate their image. Please describe, in detail, the greenhouse effect and the clearly state the significant role greenhouse gases play in this process. Clearly state the interaction between greenhouse gases and electromagnetic radiation.


The best strategy for getting 100% of the credit on each of these questions would look something like this:

1. Sit down in your best study environment with your notebook and textbook and answer each of the questions.
2. Get together with trusted fellow students from ISCI 2001 and then decide what the perfect answer would look like then "grade" each others answers.
   
3. Compare your groups perfect answer to the answer of other groups and then...
4. Memorize the correct answer.