Geography Flashcards
What is a natural disaster
A natural disaster is a catastrophic event caused by nature, like an earthquake, flood, or hurricane, that causes damage and loss of life.
Why live near a volcano
People may live near volcanoes for reasons like fertile soil for farming, access to geothermal energy, and scenic beauty.
Structure of the earth
Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
What are Convection currents
Convection currents are circular movements in fluids caused by heating. Heated fluid rises, cools, then sinks, creating a continuous flow. In Earth’s mantle, they drive plate tectonics and cause volcanic activity.
Conservative plate boundaries
Are just moving past one another. They can be moving in different directions or at the same direction but at different speeds.
Constructive plate boundaries
Are moving apart. This further pushes the plates away from each other, called ridge push.
Destructive plate boundaries
The oceanic crust Mets as it goes into the mantle. It takes some sea water with it. Over the time it breaks through the surface of the crust as a volcano.
Collision plate boundaries
Are moving together, these two plates are of a similar density. Therefore, neither is sub ducted. Instead due to pressure he plates buckle and form old mountains
Features of a volcano
Main vent, crater, magma chamber, lava flow, ash cloud, earth cloud, secondary vent
Causes of earthquakes
Movement of the tectonic plates or pressure
HIC and LIC earthquake
HIC earthquakes cause less damage due to better infrastructure and preparedness, while LIC earthquakes result in more destruction and casualties due to weaker buildings and limited resources.
Measuring and responding to earthquakes-MPPP
Measuring and responding to earthquakes involves monitoring with seismographs, preparing through drills and building codes, and providing aid and rescue after the event to reduce damage and save lives.
Difference between weather and climate
Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, like temperature, humidity, and precipitation, in a specific place at a given time.
Climate is the long-term average of weather patterns in a region over many years.
How does latitude affect climate
Latitude affects climate by influencing sunlight. Near the equator (low latitudes) gets more direct sunlight, making it warmer, while higher latitudes receive less, making it cooler.
How does altitude affects climate
Altitude affects climate by making temperatures cooler at higher elevations. As altitude increases, the air becomes thinner and less able to hold heat, leading to lower temperatures.
Describe relief rainfall
Relief rainfall happens when moist air rises over mountains, cools, and rains on the windward side. The leeward side stays dry, creating a rain shadow.
Describe convectional rainfall
Convectional rainfall occurs when the ground heats up, causing air to rise. As the air cools, it condenses and forms rain. This is common in tropical regions.
Describe frontal rainfall
Frontal rainfall occurs when warm, moist air meets cold air. The warm air is forced to rise over the cold air, cooling and condensing to form rain.
Describe high pressure
occurs when air is dense and sinks, leading to clear skies and calm weather.
Describe low pressure
happens when air rises, causing clouds and often stormy weather.
GAC latitude
is a pattern of wind flow driven by the Earth’s rotation and varying temperatures at different latitudes. It helps distribute heat around the planet.
GAC coriolis
is the deflection of moving air and water due to Earth’s rotation. It causes winds and ocean currents to curve:
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds curve to the right.
In the Southern Hemisphere, they curve to the left.
GAC cells
Hadley Cell: Warm air rises at the equator, moves towards the poles, cools, and sinks at 30° latitude, creating trade winds.
Ferrel Cell: Between 30° and 60° latitude, air moves from high to low pressure, forming westerlies.
Polar Cell: Cold air sinks at the poles, moves towards lower latitudes, creating easterlies.
Formation of storms
Storms form when warm, moist air rises, cools, and condenses, creating clouds.
Structure of storms
Eye, eye wall and rain bands
Conditions needed for a storm to happen
Warm, moist air: Provides energy and moisture.
Low pressure: Causes air to rise.
A trigger: Like a cold front, warm front, or mountain range, that forces air upward.
How is the storm affected by climate change in terms of frequency
Likely to become for frequent due to rising sea levels and rising sea temperatures
How is the storm affected by climate change in terms of distribution
Moves further north and south of the equator due to rising sea temperatures
How is the storm affected by climate change in terms of strength
Wind speed potentially increasing 2-11 percent and rainfall rates during these storms are projected to increase by about 20 percent sea level rise
Tell me the locations of some countries in North America
- Canada: North of the U.S., bordered by the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans.
- United States: South of Canada, bordered by Mexico, the Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.
- Mexico: South of the U.S., bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Belize.
Where is Canada ubicated ?
- Canada: North of the U.S., bordered by the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans.
What is Canada’s temperature
Canada’s temperature ranges from freezing cold in the north to milder, temperate conditions in the south, with coastal areas experiencing wetter, milder winters.
What is Canada’s type of rainfall
- Relief rainfall: Common in mountainous areas, where moist air is forced to rise and cool.
- Frontal rainfall: Occurs when warm and cold air masses meet, causing the warm air to rise and cool.
- Convectional rainfall: Common in summer, when the ground heats up and causes air to rise, leading to rain.
How does polar bears and bear berries adapt in Canada
Polar bears: Thick fur, fat for insulation, white fur for camouflage, and large paws for ice and swimming.
Bearberries: Small, leathery leaves to conserve moisture, grow low to avoid cold, and produce red berries for food.
Issues of Mexico migrating travel
Mexico faces migration challenges with illegal immigration, violence from cartels, border control issues, economic disparities, and human rights abuses against migrants.
Push factors of Mexico and migrations
Push factors driving migration from Mexico include economic hardship, violence from cartels, limited opportunities for education and healthcare, natural disasters, and political instability.
Pull factors of Mexico and migrations
Pull factors include better jobs, higher wages, better education and healthcare, safety, and a higher standard of living.
What is a natural hazard
A natural hazard is a natural event, such as an earthquake, flood, hurricane, or volcanic eruption, that has the potential to cause harm to people, property, and the environment.
Advantages of living near a hazard
Living near a hazard can provide fertile soil, geothermal energy, scenic beauty, and natural resources.
Disadvantages of living near a hazard
Disadvantages of living near a hazard include the risk of damage, injury, or death from disasters, property loss, displacement, and economic disruption.
Why tectonic hazards occur along a plate boundary
Tectonic hazards occur at plate boundaries due to the movement of plates, causing earthquakes, volcanoes, and other events from pressure and friction.
Why earthquakes occur?
Because of tectonic plates, Earthquakes occur when stress builds up along fault lines, causing rocks to break and release energy as seismic waves.
Are the primary impacts of earthquakes more dangerous than the secondary? Why?
Primary impacts, like ground shaking, cause immediate damage and fatalities, while secondary impacts, such as tsunamis and fires, can be more widespread or deadly.
How could you protect against a hazard
To protect against hazards, prepare emergency plans, build safely, stay informed, and strengthen infrastructure.
What are the conditions needed for a tropical storm to form
Tropical storms form when warm ocean water causes air to rise, creating a low-pressure system. As air condenses, it releases energy, and light winds allow the storm to grow and rotate.
Explain the climate in Canada
Canada’s climate ranges from Arctic in the north to temperate in the south, with cold winters, warm summers, and milder coastal regions.
What are the causes of the California wildfires
Climate change, human activity, lighting strikes, strong winds
What are the impacts of the California wildfires
Loss of life and property, economic costs, health risks, environmental damage, wild life impact
