Geography Flashcards
Tsunami
A large wave usually formed by undersea earthquakes and landslides.
Synoptic charts
A map showing the atmospheric conditions of air pressure which is used to make weather forecasts.
Southern Oscillation index
A measure of the difference in air pressure across the Pacific Ocean.
Flood
A natural hazard that occurs when water inundates land that is usually dry.
Sclerophyll
A plant with thick leathery leaves.
Tornado
A rapidly rotating column of air extending down from cumulonimbus clouds in the atmosphere.
Severe storm
A storm that causes fairly localised damage, characterised by hail, strong winds, flash flooding or tornadoes.
Earthquake
A sudden movement in the Earth’s crust caused by movements of the continental plates, usually located at plate boundaries, but can also be caused by intra-plate tension.
Natural hazards
When the forces of nature combine to become destructive, including storms, tropical cyclones, droughts, floods, bushfires, earthquakes, landslides and tsunamis.
Natural disaster
When a natural hazard impacts a community causing destruction of both property and lives.
Fire front
The leading edge of a bushfire blown the direction of prevailing winds.
Flood plain
The flat area of land that surrounds a river which is inundated when river floods.
Isobar
Lines on a synoptic chart that join places of equal air pressure.
Latent heat
Heat that is released into the atmosphere when water vapour condenses to form clouds.
Fire triangle
Fires require three elements; oxygen, heat and fuel, to grow into a bushfire and spread.
Drought
Below average rainfall for a prolonged period of time that affects food production and depletes domestic and industrial water supply.
Tropical cyclone
An intense storm that developed if warm oceans between 5 and 20 degrees, north or south of the equator.
Epicentre
The point in the earths surface directly above where an earthquake is focused.
Landslide
The sudden movement of a large mass of earth, rock and debris under the force of gravity.
El Niño
The name that is given to unusually cool ocean currents off the east coast of Australia, which often lead to below average rainfall in south eastern Australia.
Earthquake
A sudden movement in the earths crust caused by movements in the continental plates, usually located at the plate boundaries, but can also be caused by intra-plate tension.
Explain the difference between a natural hazard and a natural disaster
Natural hazard is the combination of nature and its processes, whereas, a natural disaster is the effect of natural hazards and its impact on communities.
Type of hazard
Those related to whether and climatic forecasts. ( drought, flood, bushfires, heatwaves, strong winds, storms, tropical cyclones and tornadoes)
Those related to movement in the earths crust. ( landslides, earth tremors, earthquakes and tsunamis)
Social impacts
The destruction of families, people, community structures, and facilities. People loose their life in these situations.
