Hazards

Question 1

describe the formation of a volcano

Answer 1

Volcanoes form at plate boundaries where magma from the mantle rises through cracks in the Earth’s crust.

At destructive plate margins, the oceanic plate is subducted beneath the continental plate, melts, and forms magma.

The magma, being less dense than the surrounding rock, rises towards the surface.

Over time, it erupts through the crust, building up layers of lava and ash to form a volcano.

Question 2

Describe the formation of an earthquake

Answer 2

Earthquakes form when stress builds up along a fault line due to the movement of tectonic plates.
At conservative or destructive plate boundaries, plates either slide past each other or collide.
As they move, they become stuck due to friction, causing pressure to build.
When this pressure is suddenly released, it sends shockwaves through the Earth’s crust, causing an earthquake.

Question 3

Describe the formation of a tropical cyclone

Answer 3

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean water (above 26.5°C), where intense heating causes warm, moist air to rise, creating low pressure.
As this air rises and cools, it condenses to form large cumulonimbus clouds, releasing latent heat and powering the system.
The Coriolis effect causes the cyclone to spin.
When the cyclone reaches land, it loses energy because it is cut off from its moisture source and friction with land slows it down.

Question 4

What is used to record and measure earthquakes

Answer 4

Seismometer

Richter’s scale - measures the magnitude
Moment magnitude scale - more acuurate
Mercalli intensity scale - measures the effect

Question 5

What is used to record and measure tropical cyclones

Answer 5

Satellites
Saffir-Simpson scale - used to classify cyclones (1-5)