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A Hazardous Earth Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the effects of High and Low pressure?

A

High Pressure:
In these conditions the air is dense and sinking, therefore it gives us clear skies and stable conditions.
Low Pressure:
In these conditions the air is less dense so it rises, therefore we get CCC, rain and unstable conditions.

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2
Q

Why is the temperature at the equator high?

A

At the equator there is more intense heating due to the sun’s radiation being spread over smaller area from the sun being directly overhead.

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3
Q

What cell is between the equator and 30° North or South?

A

The Hadley cell

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4
Q

What cell is between 30°and 60° North or south of the equator?

A

The Ferrel cell

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5
Q

What cell is between 60° and 90° North or south of the equator?

A

The Polar cell

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6
Q

Explain how the Hadley cell works.

A

The intense heating at the equator drives global circulation and makes the air less dense, this causes the air to rise and means that there is low pressure at the equator. Then once the air has risen it starts to move North or South but as the air moves away from the equator it begins to cool and sink from becoming more dense. This means that once the air has sunk the trade winds push the air back towards the equator and the cycle continues.

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7
Q

Explain why there is a tropical climate around the equator.

A

There is a tropical climate at the equator because the intense heating means that there is lots of moisture in the air and low air pressure so that the as the air rises so does the moisture. This means that clouds form and there is an abundance of rain throughout the year, although the radiation from the sun means that the temperature is still high.

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8
Q

Explain why there is an arid desert climate at 30° North or South of the equator.

A

There is a desert climate at these latitudes because at 30° N/S of the equator there is high air pressure, this means that due to global circulation, the air is sinking from being more dense. This results in clear skies stable conditions and no rain. Therefore no rain, clouds but high air pressure means that the sun causes a desert climate that is extremely warm in the day but cold at night.

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9
Q

What Does the ITCZ stand for?

A

The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone

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10
Q

What is the ITCZ?

A

The ITCZ is a belt of low pressure formed from the trade winds meeting that migrates North in our winter and South in our summer.

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11
Q

What are Jet Streams?

A

Jet Streams are very strong winds that form in the high part of the atmosphere from the warm air mass meeting the cold air mass.

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12
Q

State 4 characteristics of Jet Streams

A
  • Formed 5 to 7 miles up in the sky
  • Typically thousands of miles long and hundreds of miles wide
  • They move West to East
  • The Jet Stream is strongest in the winter because there is the biggest temperature difference
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13
Q

What are Trade Winds?

A

Trade winds are wind that blow steadily towards the equator however they are bent South Easterly due to the Coriolis effect (the earth rotating)

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14
Q

What are Ocean Currents

A

Ocean Currents are convection Currents in the ocean that is driven by atmospheric circulation or the density of the water. This means that the warmer water from lower latitudes rises to the earth surface then travels North or South, then as the water travels further away from the equator the water cools and sinks. This means that the intense radiation from the equator is distributed over the world however the direction of the water is affected by the Coriolis Effect (the earth rotating).

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15
Q

State changes in the past climate

A
  • The earths temperature has fluctuated
  • In recent years the temperature has increased dramatically
  • There is a positive correlation between CO2 emissions and the temperature
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16
Q

What is the geological timescale?

A

The geological timescale is the timescale of geological processes/events that occur over extended periods of time (often millions of years). Each geological period describes a particular major event that has happened at that time

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17
Q

What is a Glacial period?

A

A glacial period is at a time of an ice age (temperature <0°)

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18
Q

What is an Inter glacial period?

A

An Inter glacial period is not at a time of an ice age (temperature >0°)

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19
Q

Explain the Eruption Theory

A

The Eruption Theory is the theory that big volcanic eruptions produce ash and sulphur dioxide, this means that a ‘blanket’ forms around the stratosphere and prevents some sunlight from reaching the earths surface. This could affect the earths temperature for 4-5 years.

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20
Q

State what tree rings tell us about past climate

A
  • The wider the the rings means accelerated growth by having more sunlight
  • Thinner rings could mean there was a fine of drought
  • Tree rings can be used to find out about more recent climate
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21
Q

State what Ice Cores tell us about past climate

A
  • Carbon Dioxide has trapped in the ice can give accurate readings of CO2 levels
  • The transparency of the ice tell scientists changes in seasons
  • Ice Cores can be used to find out about less recent history
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22
Q

Explain how Global Warming occurs

A
  • Short wave length solar energy from the sun passes through the atmosphere
  • Some of this energy might then hi dust particles or water droplets and be reflected or scattered
  • the solar energy heats up the earths surface
  • The earth the gives of heat (long wave radiation) and the heat is absorbed then remitted by greenhouse gasses
  • This process heats up the earth
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23
Q

State 3 greenhouse gasses

A

Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide

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24
Q

What are greenhouse gasses?

A

Greenhouse gasses are gasses that absorb and emit radiation in an atmosphere

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25
Q

The causes of Carbon Dioxide emissions

A

Carbon Dioxide:

  • Burning fossil fuels
  • Industrial transport use
  • 89% of gasses in the atmosphere
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26
Q

The causes of Nitrous Oxide emissions

A

Nitrous Oxide:

  • Fuel cars
  • Power stations
  • Fertilisers
  • 3% gasses in the atmosphere
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27
Q

The causes of Methane emissions

A

Methane:

  • Waste dumps
  • Excessive farming
  • Rice paddy fields
  • 7% of gasses in the atmosphere
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28
Q

Human causes of climate change

A
  • Deforestation
  • Burning fossil fuels
  • Excessive livestock farming
  • Excessive padyfield farming
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29
Q

Explain the Asteroid Collision Theory

A

The Asteroid Collision Theory is the theory that an asteroid (at around 1km in diameter) striking the earths surface would blast lots of ash and dust into the the earths atmosphere, this means that it would block the sunlight for 5-10 years and slightly affect the earths temperature. However this size of collision occurs 500,00 years.

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30
Q

Explain the Sunspot Theory

A

The Sunspot Theory is the theory that little black marks on the suns surface means that more energy is being emitted by the sun. This was discovered and first recorded by Chinese astronomers over 2,000 hears ago and can cause changes of 1-2° over a few hundred years.

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31
Q

Explain the Orbital Theory

A

The Orbital Theory is the theory that the earths orbit of the sun changes from circular to more elipse, this means that the earth can be further away from the sun at certain points of the year and can cause a change in the earths temperature of 5-6° colder. Also the earths axis can tilt to become upright or on its side or wobble on its axis. These are known as Milankovitch cycles

32
Q

Possible consequences of global warming

A
  • Biodiversity loss on the land and in the sea
  • More longer lasting droughts
  • More flooding from more frequent heavier precipitation
  • More destruction from more frequent and more intense tropical storms
  • Coastal flooding from rising sea levels
33
Q

Evidence of climate change

A
  • Global temperatures are rising
  • CO2 levels are rising in parallel with global temperatures
  • The oceans are warmed by 0.11°C per decade between 1971 and 2010
  • Sea levels rose globally by 14cm during the 20th Century
  • Arctic sea ice cover 13% less of the sea each decade
  • Extreme weather events have become more frequent
35
Q

What sea do Hurricanes for over?

A

The Atlantic Ocean

37
Q

What sea do Tornadoes form over?

A

The Indian Ocean

37
Q

What sea do Tropical Cyclones form over

A

The Pacific Ocean

37
Q

Key characteristics of Tropical Cyclones

A

Low Pressure:
warm moist air rises through the atmosphere
Rotation:
Trade winds and the Coriolis effect help the rising air to spiral and drag in strong winds
Structure:
Tropical cyclones form a cylinder made of walls of rising spiralling air surrounding an eye

38
Q

The formation of Tropical Cyclones

A
  • Warm sea temperatures (26.5°C +)
  • High humidity with lots of moisture in the air
  • Rapid cooling of the rising air so it condenses and produces energy
  • Low wind shear so that winds aren’t blowing in different directions
  • The Coriolis effect forcing the cyclone to spin
39
Q

What measures the intensity of Tropical Storms?

A

The Saffir-Simpson scale, 1-5, (1 being the least extreme and 5 being the most extreme)

40
Q

What cause Tropical Cyclone to dissipate?

A
  • Tropical Cyclones get their energy from the warm sea water so when they move over land they lose their source of power
  • Moving into areas of cold water also means they don get the energy to power the cyclone
  • Winds blowing in different directions causes the to dissipate aswell
41
Q

Impacts of Tropical Cyclones

A
  • Storm surges
  • Heavy rain
  • Strong winds
42
Q

Storm Surges

A

-Low air pressure weather event (depression) creates a bulge in the sea that is the driven by strong winds towards the coast
-High tides a can increase the size of the storm surge further
-Land topography can funnel the water
Storm surges can erode cause flooding erode coastal areas and destroy habitats

43
Q

Intense rainfall

A
  • Intense rainfall can cause inland and coastal flooding
  • Damage homes
  • Weaken the ground leading to landslides and weaker foundations
44
Q

Strong winds

A
  • Strong winds can damage property (homes and vehicles)

- Pull up trees and pull down communication lines

45
Q

Landslides

A
  • Formed due to intense rain and storm surges
  • The land becomes saturated with moisture and the soft permeable rock slides of the harder impermeable rock
  • landslides can have catastrophic effects such as destroying homes and blocking rivers
46
Q

Lahars

A
  • Lahars occurs when the ground becomes saturated from absorbing so much water and therefore begins to sink
  • These cause roads to be destroyed and transport, communication ,electricity and water supply failure
47
Q

Flooding

A
  • Caused by intense rainfall and storm surges
  • Damage property
  • Damage the areas’ tourist attraction
  • Endanger people
  • Salt water flooding can be especially destructive
48
Q

What is Relief?

A

Relief is the shape and height of the land

49
Q

How to manage hazards

A

Predict- work out roughly when and where a hazard will occur
Atmospheric air pressure readings
Protect- make building and infrastructures safe
Activate hazard defences and adapt the design of buildings
Prepare- ensure that everybody knows what to do in the event of a hazard
Evacuations, emergency services, emergency kits, training drills and information leaflets

50
Q

What are some key characteristics of the crust?

A
  • Solid and rigid
  • Split into oceanic and continental plates
  • The lithosphere is the crust and the uppermost mantle
51
Q

What are some key characteristics of the mantle?

A
  • The tectonic plates move on top of the asthenosphere

- Solid rock under such high pressure the rock flows

52
Q

What are some key characteristics of the outer core?

A
  • Liquid iron and Nickel

- Temperatures at 4000°C to 6000°C

53
Q

What are some key characteristics of the inner core?

A
  • Solid Iron
  • Temperatures of 5000°C to 6000°C
  • Under extremely high pressure
54
Q

How do Convection Currents contribute to plate movement?

A
  • The core heats the molten rock in the mantle to create a convection current
  • Heated rock from the mantle rises to the earths surface
  • At the surface the convection current moves the tectonic plates in the crust by very slowly dragging on the bottom of them
  • molten rock cools and flows back to the core to be reheated
55
Q

Properties of Continental Crust

A
  • Mainly Granite

- Less dense

56
Q

Properties of Oceanic Crust

A
  • Mainly Basalt

- More dense

57
Q

Convergent Plate Boundaries

A

Convergent plate boundaries are when two plates collide and the oceanic crust is subjected beneath the continental crust
This can cause earthquakes and strato volcanoes from cracks in the continental crust
(Nazca plate and South American Plate)

58
Q

Divergent Plate boundaries

A

Two plates moving away from each other mans that magma from the asthenosphere rises up between the plates
This can create new land forms (islands) and shield volcanoes
(Mid Atlantic Ridge)

59
Q

Conservative Plate boundaries

A

Conservative Plate boundaries are when two plates are moving past each other at different speeds or different directions
Pressure can build up as they slide past each other and cause devastating earthquakes
(San Andreas Fault)

60
Q

Collision Plate boundaries

A

Collision plate boundaries are when two continental plates collide and buckle.
These can form mountain ranges and earthquakes
(The Himalayas)

61
Q

Properties of Shield volcanoes

A
  • Found on divergent plate boundaries or hotspots
  • Formed by eruptions of basaltic, runny lava with a low viscosity
  • Has gently sloping sides with a wide base
  • Frequent bot not violent eruptions
62
Q

Properties of Composite/Strato volcanoes

A
  • Found on convergent plate boundaries
  • Eruptions of andesitic, thick sticky lava with a high viscosity and ash
  • Steep sloping sides with a narrow base from lava not spreading out very far
  • Infrequent but violent eruptions including pyroclastic flow
63
Q

What is the focus?

A

The central point of the earthquake under the surface, where the earthquake actually happens

64
Q

What is the epicentre?

A

The point on the surface directly above the focus

65
Q

What is used to measure earthquake magnitude?

A

The Richter-scale measures using a seismometer to measure the vibrations caused by the earthquake and plots them in a graph

66
Q

What are some Primary Impacts of volcanic eruptions?

A
  • Deaths and injuries
  • Destruction or damage of buildings
  • Destruction or damage of roads, railways, bridges, farmland
67
Q

What are some Secondary Impacts of volcanic eruptions?

A
  • Atmospheric pollution cause by ash
  • Mudflows (lahars)
  • Landslides of volcanic debris
  • Flooding if lava flows block rivers
68
Q

What affects the devastation of an eruption?

A

How bad the impacts are depends on a number of physical and human factors, for example the type and intensity of the eruption and the location of the eruption
Also the development of a country dictates wether they can afford better warning and prediction systems, therefore the MEDC’s can better prepare predict and protect their country than LEDC’s that can’t afford it and rely on aid to assist them in reacting to a Tectonic Hazard

69
Q

How can you predict volcanic eruptions?

A

-Tiltmeters check for bulges on volcanic slopes
-Satellites can monitor changes in heat activity
These can only be afforded by MEDC’s as they are expensive and poorer countries can’t afford it

70
Q

How can you prepare for volcanic eruptions?

A
  • Set up an exclusion zone
  • Evacuating people from inside the exclusion zone
  • Organising barriersto divert lava flows
  • Water spraying equipment to halt flows
71
Q

What are some Primary Impacts of earthquakes?

A
  • Deaths and injuries
  • Destruction or damage of buildings
  • Destruction or damage of roads, railways, bridges, farmland
72
Q

What are some Secondary Impacts of earthquakes?

A
  • Fires caused by fractured gas pipes
  • landslides on steep or weaker slopes
  • Tsunamis when the earthquake is offshore
73
Q

What affects the devastation of an earthquake?

A

How bad the impacts are depends on a number of physical and human factors, for example the intensity of the earthquake and the location of the earthquake
Also the development of a country dictates wether they can afford better warning and prediction systems, therefore the MEDC’s can better prepare predict and protect their country than LEDC’s that connotations afford it and rely on aid to assist them in reacting to a Tectonic Hazard

74
Q

How do you strengthen a building to earthquakes?

A
  • Installing a band of concrete at roof level to stop the walls of the building falling outwards and having other impacts
  • Very storm framework in sckscrapers
  • Strengthening walls
  • Rubber and Steel foundations allow the building to twist and move slightly without collapsing
  • Digging deeper foundation strengthen the building
  • Reinforcing gas and water pipes so that they do not break
75
Q

What is important when managing tectonic hazards?

A 
Prediction 
-Knowing when and where the Tectonic hazard will strike
Preparation 
-Warning signals and evacuations
-Building design
Short-term relief
-Supplies
-Shelter
Long-term planning
-training and funding emergency services

Geography (2 decks)

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