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Geography component 1 > A Hazardous Earth > Flashcards

A Hazardous Earth Flashcards

1
Q

What powers huge circular air movement called circulation cells?

A

The Earth receives its energy from the sun.

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2
Q

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

A

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

Around 15km into the atmosphere.

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3
Q

What creates low pressure at the equator?

A

When warm air rises.

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4
Q

What leads to precipitation around the equator?

A

Cooling, condensing, and cloud formation.

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5
Q

What is located around the equator due to low pressure?

A

A belt of low air pressure.

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6
Q

What creates high pressure conditions at 30˚ latitude?

A

When cool air falls.

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7
Q

What are characteristics of high pressure conditions?

A

Clear skies with little precipitation.

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8
Q

What type of areas are created by high pressure conditions?

A

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

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9
Q

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

A

low pressure.

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10
Q

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

A

clear skies.

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11
Q

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

A
  1. Eccentricity
  2. Obliquity
  3. Procession
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12
Q

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

A

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

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

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13
Q

How does obliquity affect Earth’s temperature?

A

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

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14
Q

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

A

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.

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15
Q

How do asteroid impacts influence climate?

A

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

This blocking leads to a cooling of the planet.

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16
Q

What is the primary cause of cooling during asteroid collisions?

A

Dust blocking solar radiation.

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

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17
Q

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

A

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

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18
Q

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

A

Heat makes the air unstable

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19
Q

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

A

Huge clouds

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20
Q

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

A

Shield volcano

Shield volcanoes are found on constructive plate boundaries of hotspots.

21
Q

What are the characteristics of a shield volcano?

A

Gently sloping sides, wide base, basaltic magma

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

22
Q

How frequently do shield volcanoes erupt?

A

Erupt frequently but not violently

23
Q

What type of volcano is found on destructive plate boundaries?

A

Composite volcano

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

24
Q

What are the characteristics of a composite volcano?

A

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

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

25
Q

How frequently do composite volcanoes erupt?

A

Erupt infrequently but violently

26
Q

What is the Richter Scale used for?

A

Measuring the magnitude of earthquakes

27
Q

What is the focus of an earthquake?

A

Central point of the earthquake under the surface

28
Q

What is the epicentre of an earthquake?

A

The point on the surface directly above the focus

29
Q

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

A
  • Buildings destroyed by fires
  • Crops/livestock destroyed/killed
30
Q

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

A
  • Mudflows
  • Climate change
31
Q

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

A
  • Buildings and bridges collapse
  • Roads crack
32
Q

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

A
  • Fires and explosions
  • Tsunamis
33
Q

What are ice cores?

A

Large cylinders of ice drilled out of ice sheets.

Ice cores provide valuable data on past climate conditions by trapping air bubbles that contain carbon dioxide.

34
Q

How can carbon dioxide levels be determined from ice cores?

A

By analyzing trapped bubbles of air in the ice.

The concentration of carbon dioxide correlates with historical temperature changes.

35
Q

What do tree rings indicate about past climate conditions?

A

Wider tree rings show conditions were good for growing – warm and wet.

Tree rings provide information on medium-term climate changes.

36
Q

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

A

Trees rarely live more than a few hundred years.

This limits the timescale of climate data that can be gathered from tree rings.

37
Q

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

A

Written sources, artistic sources, and records of regular events.

Examples include diaries, books, paintings, and harvest records.

38
Q

What is the structure of the Earth’s crust?

A

Solid and rigid; consists of tectonic plates

The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth.

39
Q

What are the two types of crust?

A
  • Continental
  • Oceanic

Each type has distinct properties and behaviors.

40
Q

Describe the characteristics of Continental crust.

A

Less dense and lighter, cannot be destroyed, can change shape

Continental crust is primarily composed of granitic rocks.

41
Q

Describe the characteristics of Oceanic crust.

A

More dense and heavier, is constantly being destroyed and created

Oceanic crust is primarily composed of basaltic rocks.

42
Q

What is the upper layer of the mantle called?

A

Asthenosphere

The asthenosphere is a solid but ‘plastic’ type layer.

43
Q

What is the state of the upper mantle?

A

Solid but ‘plastic’ type layer that flows under high pressure

This characteristic allows tectonic plates to move.

44
Q

What is found in the lower mantle?

A

Liquid magma at 3000°C

The lower mantle is hotter and denser than the upper mantle.

45
Q

What is the composition of the outer core?

A

Liquid iron and nickel

The outer core is responsible for Earth’s magnetic field.

46
Q

What are the temperature ranges of the outer core?

A

These high temperatures keep the metal in a liquid state.

4000-6000°C

47
Q

What is the composition of the inner core?

A

Iron

The inner core is solid due to immense pressure.

48
Q

What are the temperature ranges of the inner core?

A

The temperature is extremely high, yet the iron remains solid

5000-6000°C

Geography component 1 (4 decks)

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