Hazardous earth Flashcards
Asthenosphere
Semi-molten layer at the top of the mantle which flows due to convection currents, moving the solid lithosphere above
Atmospheric circulation
The general movements of air around the Earth due to pressure and temperature
Climate change
A distinct change in global patterns of climate, such as changed in temperature/precipitation patterns
Conservative plate boundary
A plate boundary where 2 plates are moving alongside each other
Continental crust
The thicker, less dense crust that makes up the continents
Convergent plate boundary
A plate boundary where 2 plates are moving towards each other
Coriolis effect
The effects of the Earth’s rotation on wind movements
Divergent plate boundary
A plate boundary where 2 plates are moving away from each other
Eye of the storm
An area of a tropical cyclone with extremely low pressure and calm conditions
Eyewall of a storm
An area of a tropical cyclone with the most intense, powerful winds and torrential rain
Ferrel cell
At around 60’ either side of the equator, air rises, travels to lower latitudes at around 30’ where it sinks
Fossil fuels
Made up of the remains of organic material such as oil, coal and gas
Greenhouse gases
carbon dioxide and methane
Hadley cell
At the equator, air rises, moves to higher latitudes 30’ and sinks
Hazard risk
The probability that a natural hazard will negatively affect a population
Hotspot
An area where unusually hot magma breaks through the middle of a plate and travels up to the surface creating a volcano
Ice core
A cylinder of ice extracted from an ice sheet, which is used to analyse past environmental conditions
Inner core
A solid ball of iron at the Earth’s centre
Inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
An area surrounding the equator where global winds converge, causing an area of low pressure with rainy conditions
Lithosphere
Solid rock that lies on top of the asthenosphere, top of lithosphere is broken up into tectonic plates
Long-term responses
Action taken after the immediate responses
Immediate responses
Actions taken soon as the hazard happens
Magma
Molten rock found beneath the Earth’s surface
Mantle
The area underneath the crust which contains magma
Ocean currents
The continuous circulation of ocean water which transfers heat around the globe
Oceanic crust
The thinner, denser crust that makes up the ocean floor
Outer core
A molten layer of iron and nickel that transfers energy by convection currents
Plate boundary
The point at which 2 plates meet
Polar cell
At 60’ north or south of the equator air rises, travels to the poles 90’ and sinks
Precession
The point at which 2 plates meet
Pressure belt
A region of the Earth which is generally under the same pressure
Primary effects
The effect that are directly caused by the hazard itself
Richter scale
A logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes
Storm surge
A rise in sea level caused when a tropical cyclone pushes a large amount of sea water onto the shore
Subduction
A process that occurs at a destructive plate boundary when a plate is pushed below another plate, forcing it to sink into the asthenosphere
Tectonic hazard
A natural hazard caused by the movements of plates
Tectonic plates
Large slabs of the Earth’s crust that sit and move on top of the liquid mantle
The enhanced greenhouse effect
A process where the Earth’s surface is heated by the greenhouse effect at a higher rate due to increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities
The greenhouse effect
A natural process where greenhouse gases trap the energy from the Sun inside the Earth’s atmosphere warming the Earth’s surface
Tree rings
A ring in a tree trunk that grows annually indicating the conditions in the year it grew
Tropical cyclone
A very large, spinning storm with high winds and torrential rain that forms in the tropics
Tsunami
A large wave caused by a large amount of water being displaced when plates move
Where do Typhoons hit
India, Japan
Where do cyclones hit
Oceania, Madagascar
Where do hurricanes hit
USA, Latin America, Caribbean
Natural hazard
A naturally occurring event that is a threat to a population
Climate change - orbital change
cycles (stretch, tilt, wobble) affect the amount of solar radiation the Earth receives
Climate change - volcanic activity
Major volcanic eruptions eject large quantities of material (ash) particles reflect the Sun’s rays cooling the Earth
Climate change - solar output
The Sun’s output of energy isn’t constant it changes in short cycles
Climate change - asteroid collisions
Asteroids hitting the Earth’s surface can throw up huge amounts of dust into the atmosphere
Greenhouse effect - farming
- farming livestock produces methane
- rice paddies, flooded fields emit methane
Greenhouse effect - industry
industry uses a lot of energy releasing CO2 into the atmosphere
Greenhouse effect - transport
more cars means more congestion
Impacts of climate change
- low-lying coastal areas could be lost
- affecting farming
Development of tropical cyclones
- develop at sea (26.5’)
- at the tropics
- wind speed (118km/h)
- coriolis force
Tropical cyclones - physical hazards
- high winds (250km/h)
- intense rainfall
- storm surges
- coastal flooding
- landslides
Tropical cyclones impacts on people
- drown in storm surges
- destroy homes by wind
- shortage of resources cause diseases to spread
- damaged roads
Tropical cyclones impacts on the environment
- trees uprooted
- storm surges erode beaches
- landslides deposit sediment in river/lakes killing wildlife
- flooding damage buildings
Prepare and responds to a tropical cyclone
- when/where it will hit land gives people time to evacuate
- defences can be built (sea walls)
Location of Hurricane Katrina
- New Orleans (North America)
- New Orleans is north of the Gulf of Mexico
Formation of Hurricane Katrina
- formed 24 - 30th August 2005
- formed in the North Atlantic Ocean
- went through Florida (category 2)
- got more energy in Gulf of Mexico
- then went to New Orleans (category 4)
Impacts of Hurricane Katrina
- 1 million people made homeless
- 1,800 killed
- 300,000 houses destroyed
- 3 million without electricity
- storm surges reached over 6 metres
Defences of Hurricane Katrina
- flood defences failed
- 80% of the city was flooded
Responses of Hurricane Katrina
- coast guard rescued more than 33,500
- UK government sent food aid
- people went to the super bowl dome for safety
Location of cyclone Aila
- in Asia
- affected areas of India and Bangladesh
- formed over the Bay of Bengal
Formation of cyclone Aila
- hit Bangladesh on 23rd May 2009
- wind of 120km/h
Impacts of cyclone Aila
- flooding left over 200,000 people homeless
- crops destroyed
- diseases spread quickly due to lack of sanitation
- category 1
Responses of cyclone Aila
- government gives them 1000 tonnes of rice
Preparation for Hurricane Katrina
- an evacuation was not ordered until 20 hours until Katrina made landfall
Preparation for cyclone Aila
- around 500,000 people were evacuated
