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Geography > Hazardous Environments > Flashcards

Hazardous Environments Flashcards

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1
Q

hazard

A

event that threatens or causes damage and destruction to people, their property and settlements

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2
Q

why are some places more hazardous than others? (4)

A
  • some expereince more than one type of hazard
  • some experience natural hazards more frequently than others
  • in some places the hazards are stronger and more destructive than in others
  • some places are better able to cope with the damaging impacts of natural hazards
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3
Q

examples of geological hazards (3)

A
  • earthquakes
  • volcanic eruptions
  • landslides
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4
Q

examples of climatic hazards (3)

A
  • storms
  • floods
  • drought
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5
Q

examples of biological hazards (3)

A
  • fires
  • pests
  • disease
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6
Q

examples of technological hazards (3)

A
  • nuclear explosion
  • transport accidents
  • pollution
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7
Q

conditions needed for the development of a tropical cyclone (5)

A
  • a deep layer of humid, warm and unstable air
  • supply of energy (heat and moisture) from the surface of the sea
  • sea must be at its warmest
  • there must be circulatory motion of the air, this is encouraged by the coriolis force
  • small changes in wind speed and direction with increasing altitude encourages the circulatory motion within the cyclone
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8
Q

how does a tropical cyclone form (3)

A
  • when high temperatures cause air to rise from the surface of the sea
  • the rising air causes thunderstorms
  • sometimes these small storms come together and create a strong flow of warm, rapidly rising air, which produces an area of increasingly low pressure
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9
Q

coriolis force

A

the force created by the earth’s rotation that deflects any object moving at the earth’s surface

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10
Q

how is cyclone built up? (3)

A
  • rotating and vigorous upward spiral of humid, warm air
  • in the eye (centre) there is an area of sinking air with calm conditions and clear skies
  • surrounding eye is eye wall, where the most destructive energy occurs
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11
Q

characteristics of tropical cyclone (6)

A
  • areas of very low pressure
  • bring torrential rain, thunder and lightning and very strong winds
  • they follow the direction of the prevailing winds and ocean currents
  • the further it travels over the sea, the more energy it gathers from contact with the warm ocean water, which increases its strength
  • when it reaches land the supply of energy is cut off, it loses strength and moves more slowly
  • average duration= 10 days
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12
Q

tectonic plates (2)

A
  • a rigid segment of the earth’s crust which can float across the heavier, semi molten rocks below
  • they are constantly moving
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13
Q

constructive or divergent plate margin

A

the margin between two plates that MOVE APART

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14
Q

destructive or convergent plate margin

A

the margin between two plates that are moving TOWARDS EACHOTHER

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15
Q

subduction (3)

A
  • when the edge of a plate margin is being destroyed as it plunges beneath the other plate that is meeting it head on.
  • molten rocks rise to the surface to form volcanoes
  • the friction between plates causes earthquakes
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16
Q

collision plate margin (2)

A
  • occurs where two plates meet head on and are of equal density and strenth
  • the sediment between the two plates is squeezed upwards and forms mountains and earthquakes
17
Q

conservative plate margin

A

occurs when two plates are sliding past eachother, the friction can make earthquakes

18
Q

hotspots (2)

A
  • locations beneath the earth’s crust where strong and rising currents of magma occur
  • when the crust above is weak, volcanos occur
19
Q

where do volcanoes and earthquakes occur?

A

along tectonic plate boundaries

20
Q

different forms of volcanic eruption (3)

A
  • lava flows
  • ash
  • gas emission
21
Q

lava flows

A

do not cause that much death, because they only reach about 10 km.

22
Q

ash (4)

A
  • can be thrown into air during a violent eruption
  • carried in wind, so affects a large area
  • ash causes damage because it covers everything, roofs can collapse etc.
  • air thick with ash can asphyxiate people and animals
23
Q

gas emission (2)

A
  • sulphur gases, carbon dioxide and cyanide can kill
  • because they are dense, they stay close to the ground
24
Q

characteristics of earthquakes (4)

A
  • centre of earthquake underground is called focus
  • shock waves travel outwards from the focus
  • strongest close to the epicenter
  • aftereffect of earthquake is tidal wave or tsunami
25
Q

epicenter

A

point on the surface directly above the focus

26
Q

damage from earthquakes (3)

A
  • damage depends on depth of focus and type of rock
  • worst damage occurs where focus is closest to surface and where the rock is soft
  • shake buildings, causing them to collapse, can cause fire
27
Q

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) (2)

A
  • measures the intensity on a scale of 1 to 8
  • explosivity is measured in terms of ash ejected and the height it reaches
28
Q

limitations to VEI

A
  • ash is not the main product of all volcanic eruptions, so only suited for one type of volcanic eruption
29
Q

different types of scales for measuring earthquakes (3)

A
  • richter scale
  • mercalli scale
  • moment magnitude scale (MMS)
30
Q

Richter Scale (3)

A
  • measures an earthquakes strength according to the amount of energy released during event
  • energy is measured by a seismograph
  • runs from 2.4- 8 or more
31
Q

Mercalli Scale

A

based on what people experience and the amount of damage done

32
Q

Moment Magnitude Scale (MMS) (3)

A
  • most commonly used method
  • measures energy released on a logorithmic scale
  • the assesment of energy is based on the amount of rock movement along the fault or fracture and the area of the fault or fracture surface
33
Q

Factors that affect amount of damage from natural disaster (6)

A
  • size of area affected
  • density of populationin affected area
  • how long it lasts
  • degree to which people are warned beforehand
  • the degree to which people are prepared
  • ability of country or region to deal with aftermath
34
Q

primary imacts of earthquakes (3)

A
  • collapsed buildings, and the people killed by them
  • broken water, gas and sewage pipelines
  • downed electric power lines
35
Q

secondary impacts of earthquakes (3)

A
  • tsunamis
  • aftershocks
  • fires due to ruptured gas mains
36
Q

primary impacts of volcanic eruptions (3)

A
  • buildings, rodas etc destroyed by lava flows
  • death and injuries resulting directly from lava, ash and gas
  • contamination of water supplies from ash
37
Q

secondary impacts of volcanic eruptions (3)

A
  • lahars created by the mixing of volcanic ash and mud with rainwater
  • fires started by lava and pyroclastic flows
  • psychological trauma

Geography (30 decks)

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