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Edexcel: Geography > component one : topic one > Flashcards

component one : topic one Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the global circulation system?

page 1

A

the global circulation system is the transfer of heat around the earth.

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2
Q

what is the pressure like in arid areas?

page 1

A

the pressure in arid areas is high.

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3
Q

what is an arid area?

page 1

A

an arid area receives little to no precipitation.

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4
Q

what is the pressure like in high rainfall areas?

page 1

A

in high rainfall areas, the pressure is low.

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5
Q

describe the three step process of the global circulation system:

page 1

A
  1. ) firstly, warm air rises at the equator, which is a low pressure area (so receives a high amount of rainfall).
  2. ) then, the cool air falls at 30° north or south of the equator, making a high pressure area (which receives little to no precipitation).
  3. ) finally, as the air falls, it warms again and flows back to the equator to complete the cycle.
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6
Q

what do ocean currents do?

page 1

A

ocean currents also transfer heat around the globe.

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7
Q

explain two different ways that ocean currents are powered:

page 1

A
  1. ) one way ocean currents are powered is by wind, resulting from the atmospheric circulation cells.
  2. ) secondly, ocean currents can be powered by density differences (due to differences is water temperatures, the denser cold water falls as the warmer water rises). differences in salt concentration (or salinity), the saltier water falls and the less concentrated water rises.
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8
Q

where is the sun’s UV heat energy most intense?

page 1

A

the sun’s UV heat energy is most intense at the equator, making it warmer.

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9
Q

what happens where circulation cells meet?

page 1

A

where circulation cells meet, the sun’s UV heat energy is transferred.

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10
Q

where does warm air rise from and to?

page 1

A

warm air rises from the equator to 30° north or south of the equator in the Hadley Cell.

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11
Q

which cell carries hot air from the equator to 30° north or south and back?

page 1

A

the Hadley Cell carries hot air from the equator to 30° north or south where it cools and returns to the equator as part of the global circulation system.

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12
Q

what happens to the air pressure and precipitation patterns when warm air rises at the equator?

page 1

A

when hot air is rising, an area of low pressure is created. the rising air cannot hold as much moisture, so precipitation is very high at the equator.

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13
Q

what happens to the air pressure and precipitation patterns when cool air falls at 30° of latitude north and south?

page 1

A

when cool air falls at 30° north or south of the equator, it creates areas of high pressure. this air can hold more moisture so precipitation levels are low (arid) at the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (30° north and south).

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14
Q

explain five natural causes of climate change:

page 2

A
  1. ) natural climate change can be caused by a small change in the Earth’s orbit every 100,000 years. these are known as Milankovitch cycles.
  2. ) natural climate change can be caused by a change in the amount of energy emitted from the Sun. this changes of an eleven year cycle.
  3. ) natural climate change can be caused by volcanic eruptions which release ash dust into the atmosphere. these particulates absorb and reflect the Sun’s energy which can cause global dimming, a change in rainfall patterns and a cooling effect.
  4. ) natural climate change can be cause by large asteroid collisions, the materials released into the atmosphere after the collision block out the sun. also, asteroids hitting the earth can cause large fires, which emit high amounts of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) which leads to the greenhouse effect, and subsequently global warming.
  5. ) natural climate change can be caused by a change in ocean current. this effects the way heat is transferred around the globe, so can cause global warming and cooling.
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15
Q

give a fact about global temperatures to support the existence of global warming:

page 3

A

global temperatures are rising, for example the average global temperature is 1° higher than the average global temperature in 1900.

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16
Q

give a fact about carbon dioxide levels to support the existence of global warming:

page 3

A

atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are increasing in parallel to a rise in global temperature.

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17
Q

give a fact about ocean temperatures to support the existence of global warming:

page 3

A

ocean temperatures have risen by 0.1°C per decade since 1970.

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18
Q

give a fact about sea levels to support the existence of global warming:

page 3

A

sea levels rose by 14cm during the 20th century.

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19
Q

give a fact about arctic sea ice to support the existence of global warming:

page 3

A

arctic sea ice covers 13cm less each decade.

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20
Q

give three key features of a tropical cyclone:

page 4

A
  1. ) they have a low pressure - very warm, moist air rises through the atmosphere, sucking more air up behind it.
  2. ) they rotate - the Earth’s spin, known as the Coriolis effect helps this rising air to spiral, which drags in strong winds. at the equator, the Coriolis effect is weak here, so no tropical cyclones form.
  3. ) tropical cyclones form a cylinder shape - tropical cyclones are a cylinder of rising, (low pressure created) spiraling air which surrounds the eye of descending air (high pressure created).
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21
Q

describe the movement of a tropical cyclone:

page 4

A

tropical cyclones begin in the tropics where the water is warm. then they move westward because strong winds from the east around the equator cause the cyclone to spin away from the equator (this means that tropical cyclones can never form at the equator because of the winds. tropical cyclones can travel 640km in one day.

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22
Q

what three things make a tropical cyclone intensify?

page 5

A
  1. ) low wind shear - so the wind comes from one direction allowing a cyclone to form.
  2. ) high humidity - there needs to be moisture in the air
  3. ) warm water, over 26.5°C to give the cyclone energy.
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23
Q

what three things make a tropical cyclone dissipate?

page 5

A
  1. ) reach land and lose energy from the water.
  2. ) moving into cold water - same as above.
  3. ) high wind shears that damage its structure.
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24
Q

what is the strongest and most damaging category of tropical cyclones?

page 5

A

category five has the greatest wind speed (252km/hour plus), greatest storm surges (5.7m plus) and the greatest damage.

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25
Q

what is the weakest and least damaging category of tropical cyclones?

page 5

A

category one has the smallest wind speed (119-153km/hour), the smallest storm surges (1-1.7m) and the smallest damage.

26
Q

explain the six factors that a tropical cyclone needs to form:

page 5

A
  1. ) tropical cyclones need warm sea temperatures (26.5°C) provide energy for the tropical cyclone.
  2. ) also, tropical cyclones need to lots of moisture in the air, this means the humidity is high.
  3. ) tropical cyclones also need rapid cooling, which means that rising air must condense quickly. this generates huge amounts of energy, which also power the cyclone.
  4. ) also, the tropical cyclone needs low wind shear (no incoming winds from lots of different directions) to form.
  5. ) tropical cyclones also need the force of the Coriolis effect, that spins the tropical cyclone. the Coriolis effect is weak within 5° of the equator - this means no tropical cyclones can form there.
  6. ) finally, tropical cyclones need pre-existing low-pressure disturbances (meaning they usually form when smaller storms come together to form one large tropical cyclones.
27
Q

name three secondary hazards caused by tropical cyclones:

page 6

A
  1. ) storm surges are a secondary hazard of tropical cyclones.
  2. ) coastal flooding is a secondary hazard that can be caused by tropical cyclones.
  3. ) tropical cyclones can also cause landslides as a secondary hazard.
28
Q

how are storm surges caused by tropical cyclones?

page 6

A

storm surges are caused when a tropical cyclones move towards the coast where the sea gets shallower. water that has been pushed up by the wind in front of the cyclone has nowhere to go but up onto the land.

29
Q

what factor from tropical cyclones increases the risk and impact of storm surges as a secondary hazard?

page 6

A

the low atmospheric pressure in tropical cyclones increases storm surges in terms of risk and impact.

30
Q

how tall can storm surges reach?

page 6

A

storm surges can reach up to 12 metres high.

31
Q

what type of cyclones cause the biggest storm surges?

page 6

A

large, slow-moving tropical cyclones cause the biggest storm surges.

32
Q

what factor from tropical cyclones causes landslides as a secondary hazard?

page 6

A

rainfall is heavy and intense during a tropical cyclone impact. sometimes, 200-300mm of rain can fall in just a few hours. this causes flash flooding and triggers landslides where the ground becomes saturated by the rainfall. unstable slopes (sometimes linked to deforestation) cause the saturated earth to slide.

33
Q

explain the three factors which affect the vulnerability of a country to tropical cyclones:

page 7

A
  1. ) physical factors - low lying coastal areas mean the flooding from storm surges can reach much further inland, causing more damage.
  2. ) social factors - poor areas are often impacted the worst by tropical cyclones. this is because the population density is higher, so more people are effected. the infrastructure is weaker, which offers little protection and causes further damage.
  3. ) economic factors - rich, developed countries have better prediction, production and evacuation technology. this makes them less vulnerable to tropical cyclones.
34
Q

how and why are tropical cyclones tracked?

page 7

A

tropical cyclones are tracked by satellites. forecasters can predict the cyclone’s ‘track’ and estimate the likely storm surge heights and rainfall levels in affected areas. this means they can inform and warn the correct populations.

35
Q

what are the three main layers of the earth?

page 9

A

crust, mantle, core.

36
Q

Describe the outer core:

A

> liquid iron and nickel.

> 4000 - 6000 degrees celcius.

37
Q

describe the inner core:

A

> solid iron because of the high pressure.

> 5000 - 6000 degrees celcius.

38
Q

describe the mantle:

A

> the outer layer is liquid magma.

> 3000 degrees celcius.

39
Q

where are the tectonic plates?

A

the tectonic plates move on top of the asthenosphere.

40
Q

describe the asthenosphere:

A

the asthenosphere is:
> solid but plastic.
> high pressure.
> the rock flows.

41
Q

describe the crust:

A

> solid.
rigid.
made up of tectonic plates.

42
Q

what happens when two tectonic plates are pulled apart?

A

when two tectonic plates are pulled apart, deep cracks form and magma rises to the surface, forming a ridges.

43
Q

what does the core do to create a convection current?

A

the core heats the molten rock in the mantle to create a convection current.

44
Q

what happens to heated rock from the mantle?

A

heated rock from the mantle rises to the Earth’s surface.

45
Q

what happens to convection currents at the surface?

A

at the surface, the convection current moves the tectonic plates in the crust.

46
Q

what happens to molten rock in the convection current?

A

molten rock cools and flows back to the core to be reheated.

47
Q

describe the process of convection currents:

A
  1. ) the core heats the molten rock in the mantle to create a convection current.
  2. ) heated rock from the mantle rises to the Earth’s surface.
  3. ) at the surface, the convection current moves the tectonic plates in the crust.
  4. ) molten rock cools and flows back to the core to be reheated.
48
Q

what are the two main types of crust?

A

there are two main types of crust: continental crust and oceanic crust.

49
Q

what are continental and oceanic crust mainly made up of?

A

continental crust is mainly granite, whereas oceanic crust is mainly basalt.

50
Q

which type of crust is denser?

A

oceanic crust is denser than continental crust.

51
Q

compare the densities of oceanic crust, continental crust and the rocks of the asthenosphere:

A

both continental crust and oceanic crust are less dense than the rocks of the asthenosphere.

OR

the rocks of the asthenosphere are denser than both continental crust and oceanic crust.

52
Q

what are the three main types of plate boundaries?

A

the three main types of plate boundaries are:
> convergent
> divergent
> conservative

53
Q

describe what happens at convergent plate boundaries:

A

at convergent plate boundaries, two plates collide and one plate flows beneath the other - called subduction. Am any earthquakes and volcanoes form at convergent plate boundaries.

54
Q

describe what happens at divergent plate boundaries:

A

at divergent plat boundaries, rising convection currents pull the crust apart, forming a volcanic ridge.

55
Q

describe what happens at conservative plate boundaries:

A

at conservative plate boundaries, two plates slide past one another.

56
Q

describe what happens at collision plate boundaries:

A

at collision plate boundaries, two continental plates collide and the two plates buckle. many earthquakes are formed at collision plate boundaries.

57
Q

give an example for each of the plate boundaries:

A

> convergent plate boundaries: Nazca Plate, South American Plate.
collision plate boundaries: Indo-Australian Plate and Eurasian Plate.
divergent plate boundaries: Eurasian Plate and North American Plate.
conservative plate: San Andreas Fault Plate, California Plate.

58
Q

how complex are tectonic plates?

A

tectonic plates are complex and not fully understood.

59
Q

what are hotspots?

A

hotspots are points on the Earth’s crust with a very high heat flow, which links to increased volcanic activity. some are on plate boundaries, not all are.

60
Q

where are shield volcanoes found?

A

shield volcanoes are found on constructive plate boundaries or hotspots.

61
Q

how are shield volcanoes formed?

A

shield volcanoes are formed by eruptions of thin, runny lava, which flows a long way before it solidifies.

62
Q

give three features of shield volcanoes:

A

shield volcanoes:
> erupt frequently but not violently.
> have gently sloping sides and a wide base.
> contain basaltic magma which is very hot with low silica and gas content.

Edexcel: Geography (1 decks)

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