Hazardous Earth Flashcards
Why is the equator the hottest part of the Earth ?
The suns energy is most concentrated there
Circulation Cell
Warm air rises as it’s less dense creating an area of low pressure.
Cool air sinks and it becomes more dense creating and area of high pressure.
Climate at the Equator
High Temperatures + Heavy Rainfall
High Pressure Climate Conditions
Arid / Dry - Lack of Rainfall
3 Circulation Cells
- Hadley Cell
- Ferrel Cell
- Polar Cell
What redistributes heat around the world ?
Wind + Ocean Currents
What areas does air move from and to ?
Air moves from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.
Bars on a Climate Graph
Precipitation
Line on Climate Graph
Temperature
4 Layers of Earth
1.Crust
2.Mantle
3.Outer Core
4.Inner Core
Thickest Layer of Earth
Mantle
Solid Layers of Earth
1.Crust
2.Inner Core
2 Types of Crust
Oceanic + Continental Crust
Which type of crust is more dense ?
Oceania Crust
What happens when Oceanic Crust Subducts ?
The Oceanic Crust goes under (subducts) the Continental Crust at specific Plate Boundaries
Convergent Plate Boundry
Move towards each other
Oceanic Plate subducts under Continental Plate
Collision Plate Boundary
Move towards each other
Two Continental Plates collide and are forced up
(Fold Mountains e.g Himalayas)
Divergent Plate Boundry
Two plates move away from each other and magma rises between the two plates.
Conservative Plate Boundary
Two plates slide past each other causing friction.
The release causes a hazard.
(Tsunami, Earthquake)
Characteristics of Shield Volcano
Gentle Slopes + Wide Base
Non Viscous Lava
Non Explosive Eruptions
Basaltic Lava
Characteristics of Composite Volcano
Tall and Narrow Base
Formed on Convergent Plate Boundary
Viscous Lava
Explosive Eruptions
Andesitic Lava
Hotspots
An area that exists over Mantle Plume
Volcanoes are formed over hotspots then carried away via tectonic movement for another volcano to form.
Cooling Period in Earths History
Glacial Period
4 Natural Causes of Climate Change
Orbital Theory
Solar Activity - Sunspots
Asteroid Collisions
Volcanic Activity
Volcanic Activity - Climate Change
Ash and Gases block the suns rays causing the planet to cool.
Solar Activity - Climate Change
Sunspots give bursts of energy / heat that cause a surplus and that rises temperature.
Evidence for Past Climate Change
Ice Core Analasis
Tree Ring Analasis
Historical Records
Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse Gases trap heat in the atmosphere.
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Human Activities enhance the greehouse effect to further warm the earth.
(Energy Production, Agriculture)
Evidence for Human Induced Climate Change
Melting Ice Caps
Rising Sea Levels
Extreme Weather
Thermal Expansion
As the Oceans get warmer they expand and cause sea levels to rise.
Consequences of Climate Change
Coastal Flooding
Droughts
Extreme Weather
Haiti Earthquake - Backround
2010
7.0 Magnitude
Developing Country
Happened near Port au Prince (Capital)
Haiti Earthquake - Primary Impacts
316, 000 died
All Hospitals Collapsed
180,000 homes destroyed
Haiti Earthquake - Secondary Impacts
Police and gov collapses —> Looting started
Cholera broke out in squatter camps
Haiti Earthquake - Short Term Responses
International Rescue Teams
Engineers Cleared Port for medical aid
Haiti Earthquake - Long Term Responses
235, 000 people relocated to less damaged areas
World bank cancelled Haiti’s debt for 5 years
Hurricane Katrina - Backround
1800 People died
Economic cost of $100 Billion
Hurricane Katrina - Preperation
Levis for flooding but we’re breached
Forecasting and alerts
Evacuation
Hurricane Katrina - Responses
National Guard to restore order
Fire department helped rescue
$20 Billion on flood defences
