4.1 Earth Hazards and their Mitigation Flashcards
What are the earth hazards you need to know about for this course?
- earthquakes
- tsunamis
- landslides
- volcanoes
What can landslides also be known as?
Mass movement
What is seismology?
The study of earthquakes
What are the different types of earthquake wave - in order of speed (most to least)?
- P waves
- S waves
- surface waves
Which type of earthquake wave causes the most damage?
Secondary
What is the Richter Scale measured by?
The ground shaking caused by the earthquake
What is tectonic unzipping?
A series of earthquakes along an active fault (over hundreds of years)
Why do earthquakes occur in San Francisco?
Due to being on the San Andreas Fault
Why does liquefaction occur?
Due to the shaking in wet sediments, which separates the grains and makes them behave like quicksand
What can be triggered by earthquakes?
Landslips and tsunamis
What effect will a high population density have on the death toll?
Increase death toll
How does the wealth of a country affect how disastrous an earthquake would be?
Wealthy country - better prepared but greater economic loss/property damage
What methods can be used to predict earthquakes?
- seismic gaps
- hazard maps
- changes in ground levels
- gas measurements
- changes in water levels in wells
- foreshocks
- animal behaviour
How can seismic gaps help to predict earthquakes?
- if area along fault has regular tremors then stress is being released - so large earthquake unlikely
- area has few tremors - stress building - could result in big earthquake
How can hazard maps help to predict earthquakes?
Maps show places most likely to suffer from major earthquakes to focus attention on areas most in need
How can changes in ground levels help to predict earthquakes?
Area around focus of earthquake may tilt due to swelling
What equipment can show change in ground levels due to earthquakes?
Tiltmeters and lasers
How can gas measurements help to predict earthquakes?
Radon, radioactive gas, moves up through cracks and can be detected in water in wells - if it ↑ then it shows rock is cracking more than usual = earthquake
How can changes in water levels in wells help to predict earthquakes?
If rocks are cracking, groundwater will sink into cracks and water levels fall
How can foreshocks help to predict earthquakes?
Number of foreshocks increases before a major events
How can animal behaviour help to predict earthquakes?
Some animals show disturbed behaviour before events - may be due to slight changes in earth’s magnetic field
How can the risk from earthquakes be reduced?
- planning
- building design
- ground or base isolation systems
- resisting shear forces
- absorbing sway
- services
Features of a shield volcano?
- basalt
- less viscous
- less gas within - so runny
- 1200 *C
- lava flow, ash, small tephra
Features of a composite volcano?
- andesite and rhyolite
- more viscous
- explosive - lava and pyroclastic flow
- huge tephra
Where do basaltic volcanoes form?
Along constructive boundaries above hot spots
Where do andesitic volcanoes form?
Above subduction zones
What type of volcano is more likely to cause major problems?
Explosive andesitic variety