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GCSE Edexcel geography > Hazardous Earth > Flashcards

Hazardous Earth Flashcards

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1
Q

Global atmospheric circulation

A

Movement of air around the atmosphere.

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2
Q

Anticyclone

A

Area of high atmospheric pressure where the air is sinking

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3
Q

What do anticyclones bring in the summer

A

Dry hot weather

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4
Q

What do anticyclones bring in the winter

A

Clear skies, frost and cold nights, light winds

May also bring fog & mist due to condensing cold air

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5
Q

Low pressure

A

Rising& unstable air, CCC( cools, condenses, clouds)

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6
Q

High pressure

A

Sinking & stable air, clear skies

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7
Q

Why is the equator hotter than the poles?

A

There’s a higher concentration of sunlight due to the earth’s tilt and spherical shape. Both the poles and the equator have an equal amount of sunlight, just over different size surface areas.

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8
Q

Why is there rainforests on the equator?

A

Because low pressure weather systems there lift up air so it CCC, creating a tropical climate.

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9
Q

Where’s the Sahara desert?

A

North of the equator and the Sahel (rainy climate).

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10
Q

What drives global circulation

A

Intense heating from the sun on the equator

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11
Q

0 degrees air pressure

A

Low

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12
Q

30 degrees air pressure (n&s)

A

High

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13
Q

60 degrees north and south air pressure

A

Low

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14
Q

Poles air pressure

A

High

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15
Q

Hadley cell

A

The convection current of air formed by rising warm air on the equator and cooling, sinking air at the tropics. It’s thermally direct.

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16
Q

Ferrell cell

A

Motion of air in the midlatitudes, sinking air in the tropics combined with rising air from the poles. It’s thermally indirect.

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17
Q

Polar cell

A

Sinking air from the poles is combined with the rising air at 60 degrees.

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18
Q

Westerlies

A

Air pulled towards the poles

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19
Q

North and southeast trade winds

A

Surface air flowing from 30 degrees north and south to the equator, due to rising air at equator.

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20
Q

Coriolis effect

A

Spin of the earth and how it affects the trade winds to curve. Right in the northern hemisphere and left in the southern.

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21
Q

Cells

A

Air currents such as Hadley, Ferrell and polar

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22
Q

Jet streams

A

Air currents between cells, narrow bands of strong air currents circling the globe 6-14 km off the ground.

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23
Q

Purpose of air and water currents

A

They regulate our global temp

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24
Q

Rising water

A

Warm, light water

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25
Q

Sinking water

A

Cold, salty and heavy water

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26
Q

What does water do at the equator?

A

It rises and spreads towards the poles

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27
Q

Ocean currents

A

Movements of surface water

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28
Q

How much of the earths surface does water take up?

A

67%

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29
Q

Current loops

A

Gyres

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30
Q

Current flow direction in north

A

Clockwise

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31
Q

Current direction in south

A

Anti-clockwise

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32
Q

What affects ocean currents

A 
Wind on the ocean surface
Size of the oceans
Trade winds
Coriolis effect
Uneven heating 
Salinity
Ocean floor shape
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33
Q

Gulf Stream location

A

SW of England, E of Canada & America, in North Atlantic Ocean

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34
Q

What’s the Gulf Stream driven by

A

Surface wind patterns and water density

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35
Q

What’s water in the North Atlantic cooled by and what’s the effect of this?

A

Arctic winds (north east trade winds) from the north cool the water, causing it to sink and replace water that then travels back to the equator. This drives warm currents into the Gulf of Mexico to be warmed to 30°C and be transported into North Atlantic onto Europe.

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36
Q

What happens to the ocean currents at the equator?

A

Water is evaporated due to high concentration of sunlight, this means the water has high salinity but isn’t too dense due to its high temp.

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37
Q

Where does the Gulf Stream carry water?

A

Warm water is moved from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic.

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38
Q

How much warmth does it bring to the UK and NW Europe?

A

5°C

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39
Q

What happened after our last ice age that affected the Gulf Stream?

A

An iceberg melted in the USA, causing a reduction in the salinity of the ocean and therefore of the Gulf Stream. This reduced NW Europe’s temp by 5°C.

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40
Q

What’s the intertropical convergence zone?

A

Where trade winds meet and solar energy causes the air to rise. It’s also a low pressure zone that creates a rainy season.

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41
Q

Where does the ITCZ migrate to in summer?

A

30° north

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42
Q

Where does the ITCZ migrate to in winter?

A

30° south

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43
Q

Where does the ITCZ generally move?

A

In between the tropics

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44
Q

What happens after the ITCZ moves away?

A

A dry season is created

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45
Q

Jetstreams

A

Very strong winds in the high parts of the atmosphere

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46
Q

How are jet-streams created?

A

When cold and warm air meet and are affected by the Coriolis effect.

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47
Q

How fast can jet-streams get?

A

200mph

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48
Q

How high up are jet-streams?

A

5-7 miles up

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49
Q

How long can they be

A

Thousands of miles long

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50
Q

How wide can they be?

A

Hundreds of miles wide

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51
Q

Where do jet streams flow?

A

West to East/ North to south

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52
Q

What boundaries to jet streams follow?

A

Boundaries between hot and cold air, also high and low pressure systems

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53
Q

What happens to the hot and cold air boundaries in winter?

A

The contrast between hot and cold is greater, meaning stronger jet streams. Greater the contrast, stronger the jet stream.

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54
Q

Where are jet streams formed?

A

In the upper troposphere

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55
Q

How does the Coriolis effect affect jet streams?

A

They try to flow from high to low pressure systems but Coriolis makes them flow East.

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56
Q

Troposphere

A

Lower region of the atmosphere, bordering the stratosphere

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57
Q

What do jet streams bring to the UK (low weather system)?

A

Depressions

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58
Q

Depression

A

An area of low atmospheric pressure which produces cloudy and rainy weather

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59
Q

Where do depressions often begin?

A

In The Atlantic to be brought to the UK.

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60
Q

What happens at the warm front?

A

Tropical maritime air meets polar maritime air and rises over it. As it rises, it CCC which creates steady rain, drizzle and then clear skies w high clouds.

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61
Q

What happens as the warm front passes over?

A

A short period of clear, dry weather

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62
Q

What happens when the high pressure air undercuts the warm air?

A

High winds and cold temperatures occur while the warm air CCC which creates thunderstorms.

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63
Q

What happens after the cold front moves east?

A

Clear skies

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64
Q

What’s the opposite of a depression?

A

Anticyclones

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65
Q

What are the climate change theories?

A

The eruption theory, asteroid collisions, sunspots, the orbital theory and glacials

66
Q

What’s the eruption theory?

A

Release of ash and sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere from a powerful eruption. Sulfur dioxide and sulphate aerosols reflect/ absorb some of the suns thermal and solar energy. Also absorbing IR radiation that would usually be reflected by greenhouse effect, further lowering earths temp.

67
Q

How long does the eruption theory last?

A

Up to 3 years

68
Q

When was the last significant eruption?

A

Mount Pinatubo in 1991 which lasted 2 years.

69
Q

What’s the asteroid collision theory?

A

When large asteroids (1km) collide w earth, sending tonnes of ash and dust into the atmosphere. Basically same effect of volcanic theory. It happens every 500,000 years.

70
Q

How long do the effects of the asteroid theory last?

A

5-10 years

71
Q

What’s the sunspot theory?

A

Cycles reappearing black spots on the suns surface that emit more energy and so increase the temp of the earth.

72
Q

What’s the orbital theory

A

The 3 Milankovich cycles: eccentricity, axial tilt, precession.

73
Q

What’s eccentricity?

A

Change in orbit

74
Q

What’s axial tilt

A

Change in tilt

75
Q

What’s precession?

A

Wobble of the axis

76
Q

How long can the effects of milankovich cycles last

A

Thousands of years

77
Q

Glacial period

A

Ice age

78
Q

Interglacial period

A

Non glacial points

79
Q

Geological time

A

Processes that occur over a very long time (millions of years). DISTANT PAST

80
Q

Historic time

A

Describes particular major events thought to have happened at a time. RECENT PAST

81
Q

How do you measure past climates?

A

Tree rings, ice cores or historic evidence

82
Q

How do tree rings show past climates?

A

Width of the tree rings convey how much rainfall, the temp and extremities that year. A new tree ring grows each year. It can give us 2000 years of info

83
Q

How do ice cores show past climates?

A

They preserve volcanic ash and air bubbles from up to 1.5 million years ago. You can see the amount of CO2 in the air at the time, correlating with the temp.

84
Q

Which historic evidence shows past climates?

A

Diaries, paintings and newspapers

85
Q

Shortwaves

A

Lift from the sun

86
Q

Long waves

A

Light from the earth

87
Q

How much does the greenhouse effect warm our earth by?

A

32°

88
Q

Name all greenhouse gases

A

CO2 (89%), halo carbons (1%), methane (7%)

89
Q

Where does CO2 come from?

A

Industry, farming, burning of fossil fuels

90
Q

Where do halo carbons come from being the most damaging?

A

Aerosols and fridges

91
Q

Where does methane come from?

A

Farming

92
Q

Impacts of climate change

A

Environmental refugees, sea levels rising, currents changing, animal extinction and unpredictable weather

93
Q

By 2050, how many environmental refugees will there be?

A

150 million

94
Q

Why do people living in the Maldives need to leave?

A

Rising sea levels and acidification of coral

95
Q

Why are sea levels rising?

A

Expansion and melting of ice

96
Q

Why are currents changing?

A

Melting ice caps, fluctuating sea temps and lowering of salinity

97
Q

Why are animals going extinct?

A

Deforestation, rising sea levels, soil and sea acidification, extreme weather, temp rise not allowing them to adapt

98
Q

Why is unpredictable weather occurring?

A

Flooding (rising sea levels), droughts (temp increase), hurricane (temp increase suits conditions for a hurricane)

99
Q

Why are scientists so uncertain about the future?

A

Population, renewable energy prices/ efficiency, economies, fossil fuel stores, deforestation

100
Q

Positive feedback mechanisms

A

How we are stuck in a spiral of unrenewable energy

101
Q

Acronym for reasons why climate change is real

A

SHEEP (social, historical, economic, environmental, political)

102
Q

Name 3 types of storms

A

Typhoon, cyclone, hurricane

103
Q

Typhoon

A

Storm in the Pacific

104
Q

Cyclone

A

Storm in the Indian Ocean

105
Q

Hurricane

A

Storm in The Atlantic

106
Q

What wind speed do they need to be to classify as a tropical storm?

A

74 mph

107
Q

Impacts of tropical storms

A

Heavy rain, strong winds, storm surges, pressure drops, flooding

108
Q

What temp do oceans need to be for tropical storms?

A

26°C and over

109
Q

What do tropical storms gain energy from?

A

Warm oceans and moisture

110
Q

What pressure do tropical storms form in?

A

Low

111
Q

Where do they form?

A

8-20° north of the equator where the easterly trade winds meet

112
Q

Why do tropical storms spin?

A

Coriolis effect

113
Q

What’s the center of a storm called?

A

The 👁 eye ( completely calm)

114
Q

Where are tropical storms most destructive?

A

The eyewall

115
Q

How do tropical storms form?

A

26°C ocean evaporates water into air, creating a low pressure system. As it rises, it CCC generating huge amounts of energy which fuels it. When air reaches the top it flows outwards and down ready to be heated again. The Coriolis effect spins it.

116
Q

Where do tropical storms move?

A

In a westerly then northerly direction

117
Q

What do you need for a storm surge to occur ?

A

Low pressure, high tides and strong winds

118
Q

How do storm surges form?

A

Zones of rising air lift weight off the oceans surface creating a bulge which is pushed by strong winds towards the coast. It’s affected by the topography of the land.

119
Q

Secondary impacts

A

Impacts of a hazard

120
Q

Secondary impacts of tropical storms

A

Property damage, damage to flora and fauna, flying debris, fast moving water, contamination of drinking water,landslides

121
Q

Vulnerability

A

The diminished capacity of an individual/ group to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of a natural/ man made hazard. Physical social and economic

122
Q

Example of physical susceptibility

A

Coastal areas are more exposed to tropical cyclones rather than inland areas/ landlocked countries. Relief affects your vulnerability from wind, rain, flooding & landslides.

123
Q

Example of social susceptibility

A

Areas of poverty are mores susceptible due to poorer housing and lack in supplies/ preparation. Areas with high dependency populations are more susceptible as these are harder to evacuate. If you don’t own a car then you it’s harder to evacuate and so you are more vulnerable.

124
Q

Example of economic vulnerability

A

Having technology means that you can anticipate and prepare for these natural hazards, wealth affects the country’s ability to cope/ make well-established evacuation plans.

125
Q

Layers of the earth

A

Crust, upper mantle, asthenosphere, lower mantle, outer core, inner core

126
Q

What’s the lithosphere made up of

A

The crust and upper mantle

127
Q

What’s the crust made out of

A

Silicon based rocks. Continental (granite) and oceanic (basalt).

128
Q

Characteristics of continental crust

A

Older, thicker, less dense and so lighter. 45-50 km thick

129
Q

Characteristics of oceanic plates

A

Thinner, younger, more dense and so heavier. 6-10 km thick

130
Q

What’s the mantle made up of

A

Silicon based rocks. Lower mantle, asthenosphere, upper mantle. Molten/ semi molten magma.

131
Q

What’s the asthenosphere?

A

Upper part of the mantle upon which the plates shift

132
Q

What’s the core made out of?

A

Iron and nickel

133
Q

Characteristics of the core

A

4400°C-6000°C

Inner is solid due to center of gravity and outer is liquid.

134
Q

Why do convection currents occur in the mantle?

A

Radioactive decay of elements like uranium in the mantle/ core produce heat, making magma become less dense and rise before cooling and sinking back down again. This forms circular movements.

135
Q

How do convection currents move tectonic plates?

A

They create drag on the base of the tectonic plates.

136
Q

Who proposed the continental drift theory and when?

A

Alfred Wegener at the beginning of the 20th century, based on similar species/fossils on far continents.

137
Q

What is the theory of continental drift?

A

The theory that 250 million years ago, there was one supercontinent called PANGEA. Convection currents then caused it to split into Gondwana land & Laurasia before it formed what it now is today.

138
Q

What are the names of all the plate boundaries ?

A

Convergent, divergent and transform

139
Q

What is a convergent plate boundary?

A

When more dense oceanic plate is being forced under (subducted) the less dense continental. Friction causes melting of the oceanic plate. These create ocean trenches, volcanoes, tsunamis or earthquakes. Eg: the Nazca plate under the S American plate

140
Q

What is a divergent plate boundary?

A

(Constructive) when plates move apart, causing magma to well up and harden. Can form volcanoes. Eg: the mid-atlantic ridge.

141
Q

What’s a transform plate boundary?

A

(Conservative) when plates slide past each other in opposite directions or at different speeds. Friction is eventually overcome, forming a sudden movement that further creates shockwaves leading to earthquakes. Eg: San Andreas fault in California.

142
Q

Where do volcanic hazards occur at?

A

Convergent and divergent plate boundaries or hot spots.

143
Q

What are hot spots?

A

They are found on the interior of tectonic plates when a magma plume from the asthenosphere breaks/melts the rock in the lithosphere. These can create volcanoes or new islands. The crust above them can shift which causes a chain of volcanic islands. Eg: Hawaii on the Pacific plate.

144
Q

Where do composite (strato) volcanoes occur?

A

Convergent boundaries

145
Q

What are the characteristics of a composite volcano?

A

Pyroclastic flows, steep sides, lava & ash layers, explosive and destructive, infrequent eruptions

146
Q

What lava does composite volcanoes erupt?

A

Andesitic lava (high silica content) which is more viscous.

147
Q

Why do composite volcanoes occur ?

A

Because oceanic crust contains water that reacts with the magma, trapping gases and therefore building pressure that causes the crust to erupt. Due to the high viscosity, andesitic lava that cant flow far, a cone shape is formed. Eg: Mount Fuji in Japan

148
Q

Where do shield volcanoes occur?

A

At divergent plate boundaries or hotspots.

149
Q

What are the characteristics of shield volcanoes?

A

Low, flat sides, layers of lava, less viscous lava, frequent eruptions, low explosiveness, only produce lava

150
Q

What type of lava do they produce?

A

Basaltic lava with low silica content meaning it’s less viscous and so flows quickly, covering distance to create gentle sides.

151
Q

What are the primary hazards of volcanoes?

A 
Lava
Pyroclastic flows
Volcanic bombs
Ash
Gases
152
Q

Secondary impacts of volcanoes

A 
Acid rain
Lahar (mud flows)
Landslides 
Tourism increase 
Nutrients in agricultural soil
Geothermal energy opportunities 
Destruction of landscapes
153
Q

Short term relief

A

The immediate causes of action when a hazard strikes initially, lasting no more than a couple months.

154
Q

How do you prepare for an earthquake?

A

Creating a good communication system (so people can evacuate) like mobile alerts and police cars to disadvantaged areas
Building earthquake proof buildings
Automatic shutters on windows (prevents falling glass)
Shock absorbers on buildings (absorb tremors)
Make evacuation routes

155
Q

What makes a good evacuation center ?

A

Being away from the hazard, having suitable supplies and accessible

156
Q

How are tsunamis formed?

A

Convergent plate boundaries under the sea subduction the oceanic plate, building up pressure as the continental plate is dragged downwards. A release of pressure (fault) thrusts the continental plate upwards, displacing and lifting water which creates a wave. As they hit shallower sea, the waves become bigger due to a shorter trough.

157
Q

Human factors affecting vulnerability to tectonic hazards

A

Knowledge (education), economy (money invested in relief), population, government, structural integrity

158
Q

Physical factors affecting susceptibility to tectonic hazards

A

Distance from epicentre, focal depth, geology, relief of land, magnitude of quake

159
Q

Chloropleth diagram

A

A map that displays regions of color

160
Q

Where does wind blow?

A

High to low pressure

161
Q

How do you measure earthquakes?

A

Seismometers

GCSE Edexcel geography (8 decks)

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