A Hazardous Earth

Question 1

What powers huge circular air movement called circulation cells?

Answer 1

The Earth receives its energy from the sun.

Question 2

What happens to hot air after it rises at the equator?

Answer 2

It cools and travels north and south of the equator to around 30˚ in latitude.

Around 15km into the atmosphere.

Question 3

What creates low pressure at the equator?

Answer 3

When warm air rises.

Question 4

What leads to precipitation around the equator?

Answer 4

Cooling, condensing, and cloud formation.

Question 5

What is located around the equator due to low pressure?

Answer 5

A belt of low air pressure.

Question 6

What creates high pressure conditions at 30˚ latitude?

Answer 6

When cool air falls.

Question 7

What are characteristics of high pressure conditions?

Answer 7

Clear skies with little precipitation.

Question 8

What type of areas are created by high pressure conditions?

Answer 8

Arid areas, e.g., the Sahara Desert.

Question 9

Fill in the blank: Hot air rises at the equator, creating _______.

Answer 9

low pressure.

Question 10

Fill in the blank: High pressure conditions result in _______.

Answer 10

clear skies.

Question 11

What are the three main changes in Earth’s climate according to Orbital Theory?

Answer 11

1. Eccentricity
2. Obliquity
3. Procession

Question 12

What is the effect of eccentricity on Earth’s climate?

Answer 12

Changes from an ellipse (warmer) to circular (colder) over 100,000 years.

Eccentricity refers to the shape of Earth’s orbit around the sun.

Question 13

How does obliquity affect Earth’s temperature?

Answer 13

The Earth’s axis tilts between more upright to more on its side over 40,000 years (less tilt = cooler temperatures).

Question 14

What does procession refer to in the context of Earth’s climate?

Answer 14

The Earth’s wobble on its axis changes between 19,000 and 23,000 years.

Procession alters the distribution of solar energy received by Earth.

Question 15

How do asteroid impacts influence climate?

Answer 15

They kick up large volumes of dust into the atmosphere, blocking incoming solar radiation.

This blocking leads to a cooling of the planet.

Question 16

What is the primary cause of cooling during asteroid collisions?

Answer 16

Dust blocking solar radiation.

This phenomenon can lead to significant short-term climate changes.

Question 17

Why do tropical cyclones not occur closer to or on the equator?

Answer 17

The Coriolis effect is not strong enough to make the air spin

Question 18

What causes the air to rise rapidly in the area where tropical cyclones form?

Answer 18

Heat makes the air unstable

Question 19

What is formed when the air rises rapidly in tropical cyclone formation?

Answer 19

Huge clouds

Question 20

What type of volcano is formed by eruptions of thin, runny lava?

Answer 20

Shield volcano

Shield volcanoes are found on constructive plate boundaries of hotspots.

Question 21

What are the characteristics of a shield volcano?

Answer 21

Gently sloping sides, wide base, basaltic magma

Basaltic magma is very hot with low silica and gas content.

Question 22

How frequently do shield volcanoes erupt?

Answer 22

Erupt frequently but not violently

Question 23

What type of volcano is found on destructive plate boundaries?

Answer 23

Composite volcano

Composite volcanoes are formed by eruptions of viscous, sticky lava and ash.

Question 24

What are the characteristics of a composite volcano?

Answer 24

Steep sloping sides, narrow base, layers of ash and lava

Composite volcanoes contain andesitic magma which is less hot than basaltic lava.

Question 25

How frequently do composite volcanoes erupt?

Answer 25

Erupt infrequently but violently

Question 26

What is the Richter Scale used for?

Answer 26

Measuring the magnitude of earthquakes

Question 27

What is the focus of an earthquake?

Answer 27

Central point of the earthquake under the surface

Question 28

What is the epicentre of an earthquake?

Answer 28

The point on the surface directly above the focus

Question 29

What are primary effects of volcanic eruptions? List at least two.

Answer 29

* Buildings destroyed by fires * Crops/livestock destroyed/killed

Question 30

What are secondary effects of volcanic eruptions? List at least two.

Answer 30

* Mudflows * Climate change

Question 31

What are primary effects of earthquakes? List at least two.

Answer 31

* Buildings and bridges collapse * Roads crack

Question 32

What are secondary effects of earthquakes? List at least two.

Answer 32

* Fires and explosions * Tsunamis

Question 33

What are ice cores?

Answer 33

Large cylinders of ice drilled out of ice sheets. ## Footnote Ice cores provide valuable data on past climate conditions by trapping air bubbles that contain carbon dioxide.

Question 34

How can carbon dioxide levels be determined from ice cores?

Answer 34

By analyzing trapped bubbles of air in the ice. ## Footnote The concentration of carbon dioxide correlates with historical temperature changes.

Question 35

What do tree rings indicate about past climate conditions?

Answer 35

Wider tree rings show conditions were good for growing – warm and wet. ## Footnote Tree rings provide information on medium-term climate changes.

Question 36

What is a limitation of using tree rings to study climate change?

Answer 36

Trees rarely live more than a few hundred years. ## Footnote This limits the timescale of climate data that can be gathered from tree rings.

Question 37

What types of historical sources can be used to identify past climate conditions?

Answer 37

Written sources, artistic sources, and records of regular events. ## Footnote Examples include diaries, books, paintings, and harvest records.

Question 38

What is the structure of the Earth’s crust?

Answer 38

Solid and rigid; consists of tectonic plates ## Footnote The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth.

Question 39

What are the two types of crust?

Answer 39

* Continental * Oceanic ## Footnote Each type has distinct properties and behaviors.

Question 40

Describe the characteristics of Continental crust.

Answer 40

Less dense and lighter, cannot be destroyed, can change shape ## Footnote Continental crust is primarily composed of granitic rocks.

Question 41

Describe the characteristics of Oceanic crust.

Answer 41

More dense and heavier, is constantly being destroyed and created ## Footnote Oceanic crust is primarily composed of basaltic rocks.

Question 42

What is the upper layer of the mantle called?

Answer 42

Asthenosphere ## Footnote The asthenosphere is a solid but 'plastic' type layer.

Question 43

What is the state of the upper mantle?

Answer 43

Solid but 'plastic' type layer that flows under high pressure ## Footnote This characteristic allows tectonic plates to move.

Question 44

What is found in the lower mantle?

Answer 44

Liquid magma at 3000°C ## Footnote The lower mantle is hotter and denser than the upper mantle.

Question 45

What is the composition of the outer core?

Answer 45

Liquid iron and nickel ## Footnote The outer core is responsible for Earth's magnetic field.

Question 46

What are the temperature ranges of the outer core?

Answer 46

These high temperatures keep the metal in a liquid state. ## Footnote 4000-6000°C

Question 47

What is the composition of the inner core?

Answer 47

Iron ## Footnote The inner core is solid due to immense pressure.

Question 48

What are the temperature ranges of the inner core?

Answer 48

The temperature is extremely high, yet the iron remains solid ## Footnote 5000-6000°C