Hazardous Earth Flashcards
What type of pressure does rising air cause and what does it form
Low pressure which forms unstable conditions. Caused by cool air rising
What type of air pressure does cool sinking air cause and what does it form as a result
High pressure which results in stable conditions and clear skies
Why is the equator hotter than polar regions
Because heat is mote focused on the equator and heat is distributed north and south due to the curvature of the earth
What is the ITCZ and name all the cells
The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone is made up of 3 different cells - polar, ferrel and hadley
Why is global circulation caused
Global circulation is caused by high and low air pressure
What is a jet stream and why is it caused
Caused by warm air and cold air colliding causing a strong funnel of wind. Depressions can be formed and jet streams are stronger at winter
Whats the correlation between co2 levels and temperature over time
Temperatures have fluctuated and when co2 levels are high so are temperature levels aswell.
What are glacials and interglacials
Glacials are periods of cold temperature whereas interglacials are periods in between (hot periods)
Explain the sunspot theory
Natural changes to the earths orbit and position that affect amounts of radiation from the sun
Explain the Eruption theory
Large volcanic eruptions spread around the earths atmosphere which stops sunlight causing lower temperatures
Explain Asteroid collision
An asteroid exploded and the ash from the explosion blocked sunlight causing cooling
Explain orbital theory
The earths orbit effects how much sunlight and radiation
Explain how tree rings can tell us of past climates
The width of the ring can tell us the past climate dependent on the size of the ring
Explain how ice cores can tell us about past climates
Air, co2 and elements can be found in ice cores and air bubbles can tell us of co2 levels in the past
Explain causes of greenhouse effect
Cars, planes, transport, fossil fuels, deforestation, factories and electricity
Impacts of climate change include
Floods, extreme weather, hot periods, precipitation increase, extinction
What are tropical cyclones
Harsh winds and storm surges caused by energy from the sea. Sea temps need to be around 26 degrees and are only formed in low pressure areas
What is storm track
The path a storm takes before dissipating
Explain secondary hazards of tropical cyclones
Landslides,floods,death,lack of supplies,distruction
What is vulnerability
When someone or something is at risk of being affected
Explain 3 ways how you can predict tropical cyclones
Measure atmospheric pressure,satellite and radar and modelling
What are plate tectonics
Theory that huge slabs of irregular shaped rocks make up the earths continents caused by convection currents
What are conservative plate boundaries
Two plates moving in opposite directions at different speeds
Explain divergent plate boundaries
Two plates moving in opposite directions under the ocean . Lava then erupts and hits water causing crusts to form
Explain convergent plate boundaries
Two continental plates move towards eachother causing earthquakes and mountains to form
Explain destructive plate boundaries
Two plates (oceanic and continental) move towards eachother. Oceanic is sub ducted underneath causing volcanoes
What plate boundaries do volcanoes form at
Destructive, convergent and hotspots
What are shield volcanoes
Found at constructive boundaries, low sloping side, thin runny lava, frequent but gentle eruptions
Composite volcanoes
Found at destructive boundaries, pyroclastic flow rather than lava
What is a hotspot
A piece of magma which forces itself up through the middle of oceanic plates
What boundaries do earthquakes form on
Constructive and conservative boundaries
What is the epicenter
The epicentre is the place above the hypocenter which the quake is most effective and we feel the most shaking
What do you measure an earthquake with
A seisomiter measures the shaking and magnitude of the earthquake
What are secondary hazards of an earthquake
Landslides tsunamis
How are tsunamis formed
On a convergent plate margin an oceanic and continental plate move towards eachother and the oceanic plate is sub-ducted underneath and when enough pressure is formed the continental plate is quickly sprung up and causes a large wave to form
