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geography > Hazardous Earth > Flashcards

Hazardous Earth Flashcards

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1
Q

How does air move at the equator?

A

Air rises up

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2
Q

What is the normal weather conditions at a high pressure belt?

A

Low rainfall, often cloudless skies`

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3
Q

How does atmospheric circulation distribute heat energy from the equator to the poles?

A

The sun heats the earth at the equator causing air to warm up and rise. As the air rises it cools and moves away. The cool air sinks and some is drown towards the poles as surface winds

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4
Q

What are the theories about the causes of natural climate change?

A

The eruption theory
Asteroid collisions
The sunspot theory
The orbital theory

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5
Q

What is the eruption theory?

A

During big volcanic eruptions, ash and gas can block some sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface. This cools the planet and lowers the temperature

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6
Q

How can asteroid collisions cause natural climate change?

A

Large asteroid collisions would blast millions of tonnes of ash and dust into the atmosphere and cool the climate as the sunlight would be blocked.

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7
Q

What is sunspot theory?

A

These are black areas on the sun’s surface. Lots of spots means more solar energy being fired out from the sun towards the earth increasing the temperature

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8
Q

What is the orbital theory? (sometimes called Milankovitch cycles)

A

Changes in the earth’s orbit affect where sunlight falls on Earth

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9
Q

What is the difference between weather and climate?

A

Weather is the day to day conditions e.g. raining, snowing, sunny whereas climate is the average conditions for a time of year e.g. autumn, winter

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10
Q

What evidence is there for past climates?

A

Fossilised plants, animals and pollen that no longer live in the UK
Ice cores
Tree rings
Landforms like U shaped valleys

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11
Q

How do ice cores tell us about past climates?

A

Trapped in ice layers are air bubbles which contain carbon dioxide. Scientists measure the amount of carbon dioxide

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12
Q

How do tree rings tell us about past climates?

A

Each ring on a tree is a year’s growth. Scientists examine tree rings to learn about past climate conditions.

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13
Q

What are the greenhouse gases?

A

Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide

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14
Q

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

A

Pollution of the atmosphere with carbon dioxide

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15
Q

What is thermal expansion?

A

The sea expanding as it warms

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16
Q

By 2100, estimates predict temperature will increase by how much?

A

Between 1.1 and 6.4 degrees Celsius

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17
Q

By 2100, estimates predict sea levels will rise by how much?

A

30cm and 1m

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18
Q

Why is predicting future global warming difficult?

A

We don’t know what the future population will be, whether fossil fuels will continue to be used or if people will change their lifestyles and recycle more or use public transport

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19
Q

What are the impacts of climate change?

A

More frequent floods, droughts and heatwaves.
Stronger storms and hurricanes
Changes to farming as they adapt to new climates
Climate refugees as people evacuate low lying places that are no longer habitable.

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20
Q

What are the different names for tropical cyclones?

A

Hurricane
Cyclone
Typhoon

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21
Q

What is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane scale?

A

5 different categories to measure wind strength

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22
Q

Name the features of tropical cyclones?

A

Circular shape
Hundreds of km wide
Eye at the centre of the cyclone
In the eye, pressure is low and winds are light
Eye wall surrounds the eye
The eyewall have strong winds, torrential rain and a low temperature

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23
Q

What measurement is used to give the category rating of a cyclone?

A

Wind speed

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24
Q

What is needed for a tropical cyclone to form?

A 
Warm ocean with temperatures above 26.5degrees
Strong winds (to move the cyclone)
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25
Q

What are the physical hazards of tropical cyclones?

A 
High winds
Intense rainfalls
Storm surges
Coastal flooding 
Landslides
26
Q

Identify the ways tropical cyclones impact people?

A

Buildings destroyed
Roads damaged
Electricity supplies damaged

27
Q

Describe the impacts tropical cyclones can have on the environment

A

Trees may be uprooted by high winds
Beaches may be eroded by storm surges
Coral reefs may be damaged by storm surges
Harmful chemicals may pollute the environment

28
Q

How can we work out the predicted paths of cyclones?

A

Satellite photos
Computer models
Weather forecasting technology

29
Q

Is the air pressure high or low during a tropical cyclone?

A

Low

30
Q

Give an example of a tropical cyclone in a developed country

A

Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, USA

31
Q

Give an example of a tropical cyclone in a developing country

A

Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines or Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar

32
Q

How can we prepare for tropical cyclones?

A 
Weather forecasting
Satellite technology
Warning Systems
Evacuation strategies
Storm surge defences
33
Q

What are the 4 layers of the earth?

A

Inner Core
Outer Core
Mantle
Crust

34
Q

What is the lithosphere?

A

The uppermost layer of the Earth. It includes the very top of the mantle and the crust.

35
Q

Describe how continental crust is different from oceanic crust

A

Continental crust is thicker

Continental crust is less dense

36
Q

Explain how convection currents cause tectonic plates to move

A

The core heats the mantle causing the mantle to rise. As it rises it begins to cool and falls again in a circular motion. As the tectonic plates sit on top of the mantle, the circular motion causes the plates to move.

37
Q

What are the different plate boundaries?

A

Conservative
Divergent
Convergent

38
Q

What happens at a conservative plate boundary?

A

Two plates slide past each other creating earthquakes

39
Q

What happens at a divergent plate boundary?

A

Two plates move apart creating small earthquakes and not very explosive/dangerous volcanoes

40
Q

What happens at a convergent plate boundary?

A

Two plates collide creating large earthquakes, explosive volcanoes with the potential for tsunamis.

41
Q

What is a collision zone?

A

A type of convergent plate boundary creating mountain ranges such as the Himalayas. Earthquakes can also happen.

42
Q

What is subduction?

A

When oceanic crust sinks into the mantle at a convergent plate boundary.

43
Q

What are the different shapes of volcanoes?

A

Shield volcanoes

Composite volcanoes

44
Q

Explain how earthquakes are caused at convergent plate boundaries

A

Tension builds up as one plate get stuck as it moves down past the other into the mantle. The plates eventually jerk past each other sending our shock waves.

45
Q

What is the Richter scales?

A

A scale from 1-9 which measures the power of an earthquake MAGNITUDE!

46
Q

Where is the focus of an earthquake?

A

The point in the crust where the earthquake starts

47
Q

Where is the epicentre of an earthquake?

A

The point on the earth’s surface above the focus

48
Q

If the focus of an earthquake is shallow what is the earthquake like?

A

More destructive

49
Q

Give an example of an earthquake in a developed country

A

Sendai, Japan, 2011

50
Q

Give an example of a tropical cyclone in a developing country

A

Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 2010

51
Q

How can people prepare for earthquakes?

A

Earthquake drills
Emergency kits being prepared at home
Earthquake proof buildings where gas supplies cut off to reduce the risk of fire

52
Q

What is the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)?

A

It measure the destructive power of volcanoes on a scale of 1 to 8.

53
Q

What are primary effects?

A

Effects which are caused instantly

54
Q

What are secondary effects?

A

Effects which happen in the hours, days and week after the event

55
Q

What are the hazards produced by volcanoes?

A 
Pyroclastic flows
Landslides
Lava flows
Lahars (volcanic mudslide)
Lava bombs
Ash fall
56
Q

What are the benefits of volcanoes?

A

Creates fertile land suitable for farming

Hot springs can create tourist attractions

57
Q

How can we predict volcanoes?

A

Seismometers to measure the earthquake tremors which increase as magma rises
Boreholes to measure water temperature as magma heats it up
Tiltmeters to detect when the volcano swells as it fills with magma
Aircrafts to measure the amount of gas given off

58
Q

Why are people in the developing world at a greater risk from hazards than those in developed countries?

A

They build in risky location because there is nowhere else affordable to live
They can’t afford safe, well built houses
They don’t have insurance
Their governments don’t have the money and resources to provide aid
Communications are poor so warning and evacuation may not happen

59
Q

What is a refugee?

A

People who are forced to move due to natural hazards or war

60
Q

What is aid?

A

Aid is help given in an emergency.

geography (3 decks)

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