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Hazards Flashcards

1
Q

What is a natural hazard

A

An extreme event caused by environmental processes that can cause loss of life, damage to property and disrupt human activity

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2
Q

What is a tropical cyclone

A

A weather system of very low pressure formed over the tropical seas and involving strong winds and heavy rainfall

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3
Q

Eye of a tropical storm

A

Very low pressure, clearer skies, temperature warmer, calm

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4
Q

Vortex of a tropical storm

A

Dense cloud, violent wind in gusts, thunderstorm and torrential rain

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5
Q

Edge of a tropical storm

A

Pressure higher, temperature higher, less cloud and wind and rain

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6
Q

Hurricanes characteristics

A

Warm, moist air from tropical seas (27 degrees)
Warm sea and calm winds coming from different directions - low wind sheer
Cumulonimbus clouds (anvil shaped)
Moves towards coast at 20-50km/h
Storm surge (abnormal rise of water) at 5-8m
Winds at 120km/h

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7
Q

How to measure tropical storms

A

Saffir-Simpson Scale

1 (120km/h) - 5 (250km/h)

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8
Q

How does an imager work

A

Uses light to take a picture of the earths surface

Good for cloud formations and patterns

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9
Q

How does a sounder work

A

Sends an infrared sensor that measures temperature

It shows the energy being stored in the tropical storm and therefore intensityb

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10
Q

How does a radar work

A

It measures reflected sound waves

Shows direction and speed of the objects movement

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11
Q

Balsatic lava vs andestic lava

A

Balsatic lava is very fluid, 1200 degrees hot and fast travelling
Andestic lava is very viscous, 800 degrees and slow travelling
(Andestic lava could create a volcano plug)

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12
Q

Pyroclastic flow

A

Hot moving current of ash and gas
Can move at speeds up 450 mph and temperatures can reach 1000 C
Can only occurs when an andestic plug is formed

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13
Q

Gas emissions in volcanos

A

Sulphur, carbon dioxide and cyanide are released during volcanic eruption (potentially hazardous)

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14
Q

Ash clouds in volcanos

A

Ash is thrown into the air during violent eruptions

Causes damage by blanketing everything

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15
Q

Lahars in volcanos

A

A mudflow causes by water and debris mixing

Hot muddy flow at 90mph

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16
Q

Calderas in volcanos

A

Calderas are large and circular volcano depressions formed when magma is withdrawn or erupted from a shallow underground magma reservoir

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17
Q

How to measure volcanos

A

VEI (volcanic explosivity index)

Exponential scale

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18
Q

How to measure a volcano about to erupt

A

Thermometer (satellite/airplane/helicopter) - temperature
Spectrometer - gas emissions
Geological history
Tilt meter - land deformation

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19
Q

What is an earthquake

A

A sudden and brief period of intense shaking of the ground

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20
Q

What is the focus

A

The centre of the earthquake

Shock waves travel outwards

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21
Q

What is the epicentre

A

The point on the surface directly above the focus

22
Q

What is wind sheer

A

difference in wind speed or direction over a small distance in the atmosphere

23
Q

Measuring earthquakes

A

Seismometer or seismograph records the shaking of the earth

24
Q

Cause of tropical cyclones

A
  • warm wet air rises
  • the higher, the more water condenses
  • it rises and area of lower pressure is formed
  • winds spiral because of coriolis effect
  • thick layer of cool, dense cloud forms
  • drawing energy form warm, tropical oceans
  • eye of the storm is formed when cold air descends
25
Liquefaction
When focus is close to the surface and rocks are soft Shock waves causes rocks to lose their load bearing ability As a result the foundation of building often collapse
26
Scale of earthquakes
Richter scale- measures amount of energy released by an earthquake (exponential) Mercalli scale- measures the amount of shaking and describes the effects of the earthquake
27
What are volcanic hotspots
Usually occur when there is a unusually hot spot of the earths mantle These hot areas can result in large amounts of magma rising up and breaking through the crust to form a volcano As plates move, a series of volcanos are formed
28
Divergent / Constructive plate boundaries
Volcanos and gentle earthquakes | Ridge push is forcing the plates apart and magma rises to fill the gap
29
Destructive plate boundary
Volcanos and severe, large earthquakes Occurs when an oceanic plate is moving towards a continental plate (slab pull). The dense plate is subducted beneath the less dense plate and is dragged under Sea floor melts and creates a magma chamber
30
Collision plate boundary
Causes earthquakes only Two continental plates meet and are of equal density and strength Causes upheaval of land and neither plate can be pushed below the other Land between them is forced to form fold mountains
31
Conservative plate boundary
Forms only earthquakes Moving against each other Lots of friction and pressure (earthquakes near ground and therefore strong)
32
What is the coriolis effect
The spinning of the earth at 5 degrees north and south of the equator enables the hurricane to spin because of the coriolis effect
33
Reasons why people continue to live in areas at risk from hazard events
- a lack of education and awareness - the area may offer benefits such as fertile soil - people may not be able to move away owing to a lack of money, or not being able to find a job elsewhere - the cities in high risk areas represent centuries of investment
34
What is vulnerability
The potential to be harmed by a natural hazard
35
Physical factors for vulnerability
Magnitude of hazard Proximity to hazard Prediction
36
Social factors for vulnerability
Age and gender of people Population density Governance
37
Economic factors for vulnerability
Level of development | Building/infrastructure standards
38
Short term impacts of Eyafjallajokull Volcano
The water supply was cut off for a while Flights to Europe were cancelled (airports were losing 130 million a day) Parts of Icelands main routeway were washed away by flash flood Delivery trucks were held up
39
Long terms impacts of Eyafjallajokull Volcano
Countries like Kenya lost 2.4 million a day due to the lack of sales Airports lost 130 million a day Many buildings and bridges had to be rebuilt
40
Short term impacts of Typhoon Haiyan (Philippines)
500,000 people displaced Electricity and phone lines went down Transport was damaged
41
Long term impacts of Typhoon Haiyan
95,000 families still living in makeshift housing Economical damage to the country Many workers lost their income
42
Short term impacts of Japanese earthquake 2011
Parts of Japan were shifted 2.4 meters east 15,000 people were killed Shipping, commuting and travelling was disrupted
43
Long term impacts of Japanese earthquake 2011
Thousands of building had to be rebuilt Seawater contamination from the tsunami would affect rice crops for years Radiation levels are well above normal GDP shrank by 3.7 percent
44
Preparation for earthquakes
Warning systems (seismographs across the country), education, hazard mapping, risk assessments, evacuation, building design
45
Preparation for Japanese earthquake 2011
``` Japan is one of the only countries in the word to have an early warning system. Warnings are automatically sent to their phones Building designs (seismic base isolators) ```
46
Short term responses and aid
emergency aid, shelter and supplies
47
Preparation for Nepalese earthquake 2015
Knowledge - the country experiences several small to medium earthquakes a year Earthquake survival kits - NSET has designed these emergency kits
48
Short term responses for Japanese earthquake
Realtime websites to find water/supplies/people
49
Short term responses for Nepalese earthquake
India launched 16 military helicopters and 1000 people for help China gave 10 million dollars 5 million dollars dollars by humanitarian aid 3 million for emergency relief like assessing and search rescue and help
50
Long term responses for Japanese earthquake
nuclear power stations - robots are used where people cant go rebuilding
51
Long term responses for Nepalese earthquake
2 million for long term rebuilding | will inaugurate a new National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority

Geography (6 decks)

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