Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Unit 1/2 Geography > Hydro-metereological Hazards > Flashcards

Hydro-metereological Hazards Flashcards

1
Q

What are hydro-meteorological hazards?

A

Natural processes or phenomena of atmospheric, hydrological, or oceanographic nature that may cause economic, sociocultural, or environmental loss. Natural processes and cycles that maintain ecosystems.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

2 Causes of HM hazards

A

Climate and weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is weather?

A

Atmospheric conditions over a short period.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

High pressure system

A

Areas of fair, settled weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Low pressure system

A

Atmosphere is relatively thin. Winds blow inward towards these areas. This causes air to rise, producing wind, clouds, and condensation (rain)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Isobars

A

Lines on a map which connect areas with the same air pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Climate def.

A

The average weather at a location over a long period of time. Classified by temperature and precipitation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

6 Climate zones of Australia

A

Equatorial
Tropical
Subtropical
Arid
Grasslands
Temperate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

6 factors of weather

A

Humidity
Precipitation
Air pressure
Temperature
Wind
Cloud Cover

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Def. relief/ orographic rainfall

A

Formed when air if forced to cool when it rises over relief features in the landscape such as hills or mountains. As it rises, it cools, condenses and becomes rain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why does low pressure cause rain?

A

Air can rise and condense into cloud cover to bring rain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why doesn’t high pressure cause rain

A

Air descends towards the ground, air cannot rise and cannot condense into cloud cover

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Cold front

A

Colder air replacing the warmer. As cold front moves, moist unstable air is usually replaced by cold, dry, stable air.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Warm front

A

Boundary between warm and cool air
Warm air at the surface pushes the above cool air mass, making clouds and storms.
Replaces cool dry air with warm moist air

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

6 Factors causing variation in climate

A

Latitude
Distance from sea
Altitude
Topography
Broad patterns in the ocean and atmosphere (ENSO)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation)?

A

Variation in Pacific ocean’s temperatures, air pressure and trade winds
Each phase lasts between 1 and 3 years
Measured by differences in sea level air pressure.
Differences recorded on the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

3 phases of ENSO

A

La Nina
El Nino
Neutral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

La Nina

A

Warm water pushed west towards Australia
Strengthening of trade winds and Walker circulation
More precipitation
Flood and cyclone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

El Nino

A

Warm water pushed east towards South America
Walker circulation breaks down
Less precipitation
Drought, bushfire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Neutral phase of ENSO

A

Trae winds blow east to west
Warm water pushed west towards Australia
Less extreme weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Def. climate change

A

Long-term changes in average temperatures and weather patterns.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Def. global warming

A

Gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere generally due to the greenhouse effect as a result of natural or human activities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

4 natural processes that impact climate change

A

Solar variations
Volcanoes
Milankovitch theory
Albedo

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

Gases such as CO2 in the atmosphere trap heat from solar radiation, creating a warm and livable atmosphere. Natural process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Caused by human activities e.g. burning fossil fuels, which releases excessive greenhouse gases into atmosphere e.g. CO2 which trap more heat than normal
26
Bushfire def.
Wildfire is the internationally recognised term for describing a fire burning out of control in grass, scrub, or forested areas.
27
Bushfire danger ratings
Moderate, high, extreme, catastrophic
28
3 Types of fire
Ground fire- underground fire involving peat, coal or tree-roots Surface fire- low to high intensity fire burning surface litter, grass, shrub layers Crown fire- High intensity, spreading rapidly through the crown of trees/ canopy especially with high winds
29
Grassfires
Most common Up to 25 km/hr (fast) Flat Grassland or scrubland Potential to destroy crops, livestock and buildings
30
Forest fires
Forests and woodlands, mountainous areas that are less accessible. Steep terrain and dense forest can result in very rapid, intense fires which are extremely hazardous to homes, infrastructure and human life
31
7 factors that affect bushfire behaviour
Fuel load Wind speed Fuel moisture Ambient temperature Relative humidity Ignition source Slope angle
32
3 response to bushfires
Bushfire management Extinguishing fires Community preparedness
33
Impacts of 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires
19 million hectares burnt 33 people died 3500 homes destroyed
34
Causes of 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfire
Not enough rain Winds and heat Low humidity Dry fuels
35
Causes
Climate change Arson Land management
36
Location of Black Saturday bushfires
Kilmore, Kinglake, Murrindini, Marysville, North-east of Melbourne
37
Factors increasing bushfire rise in Black Saturday
2 months of hot, dry weather 3 days above 43 degrees 45.1 degrees Extremely low humidity levels North-westerly winds above 100km/h
38
Impacts of Black Saturday
173 deaths 400 individual fires 2100 homes destroyed 7562 people displaced $4.4 billion in insurance claims
39
Drought def.
A severe shortage of water relative to the needs of people, plants and animals in an area
40
Areas most likely to experience drought
Areas that receive 250-500mm annual rainfall Semi-arid areas
41
Impacts of Millennium drought in Coorong region
Decreasing agricultural productivity, especially dairy Decreased biodiversity, especially birds Increased water salinity and acidity Loss of jobs and livelihoods Farmers forced to pay $3000 a week for water
42
Why is Ballarat's water supply not guaranteed?
Location of town was not determined by water supply, but by gold. Ballarat located at a high elevation, covering the upper reaches of 4 catchment basins.
43
Will water stress in Ballarat increase? Why?
Yes Population is increasing Temperatures are increasing Rainfall is decreasing
44
Water stress responses
Water restrictions Harvest stormwater Water-sensitive urban design e.g. water tanks, catchments Bore water holes
45
4 types of drought
Meteorological drought Hydrological drought Agricultural drought Socioeconomic drought
45
How can the end of a drought be determined?
When there is enough water to meet the needs of all people and the environment
46
MODIS & FIRMS
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer locates fires as hotspots via a satellite. Collects data in the form of FIRMS (Fire information for Resource Management System) to be analysed
46
4 types of GIS used to respond to bushfires
MODIS FIRMS DEA ESRI
47
Weaknesses of GIS in bushfire management
MODIS cannot detect fires smaller than 100 m2 unless conditions are perfect. Satellite views can be obstructed by smoke, clouds or tree cover. Doesn't distinguish b/w different types of fires e.g. oil rig fires and volcanoes
48
Strengths of GIS in bushfire management
Combines info from a variety of sources Assists with damage assessments and the issuing of warnings A range of data can be collected Live feed of fire behaviour
49
DEA
Digital Earth Australia Hotspots is an Australian bushfire monitoring system using satellites to track the location and movement of bushfires
50
Def. flood
When water temporarily flows over land that is normally dry.
51
2 types of floods
River flood- Caused by rivers exceeding bank full capacity Coastal flood-Caused by low-lying areas being inundated by sea-water
52
5 main processes of hydrological cycle
Evaporation Transpiration Condensation Precipitation Runoff
53
Impacts of floods on people
Inundation/ loss of homes Damage to infrastructure e.g. bridges Destruction of agriculture Injury and death
54
Impacts of flood on environment
Cycles nutrients and replenishes aquifers Germinates dormant seeds Urban floods degrade water quality Carry pesticides and pollutes waterways
55
3 types of runoff and describe
Surface runoff- Fastest, flows over the surface, little friction Through flow- medium flow, flows through pore spaces in soil and rock Groundwater flow- Slowest, flows through saturated soil and bedrock
56
Storm surge
Change in sea level caused by a storm. Large winds and waves push water inwards e.g. extreme winds, low pressure, heavy rains
57
Factors influencing flood hazards
Location Vegetation Urbanization Soil type Topography Income Recent weather
58
4 types of flood
Slow on-set floods-Ample warning to prepare, lasts several weeks to months Rapid on-set floods- sudden large amounts of rainfall, one to two days Coastal floods- caused by strong winds from tropical cyclones, storms, and tsunamis. Sea water inundates low-lying coastal floods Flash floods- short, intense rainfalls, that affect isolated locations on a small scale, lack of warning and predictability causes death and injury
59
Tropical storm
Winds exceed 63 km/hr
60
Tropical storm names depending on location
North atlantic/ pacific= hurricane North-west pacific= typhoon South pacific and Indian= tropical cyclone
61
2 conditions required for a tropical storm
Large, warm, still ocean area (above 26.5 c) Low altitude winds (blowing different directions)

Unit 1/2 Geography (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions