Living with the Physical Environment

Question 1

What are tectonic plates?

Answer 1

Large sections of the Earth’s crust that move due to convection currents in the mantle.

Question 2

What are the three types of plate boundaries?

Answer 2

Destructive – Plates move towards each other, causing subduction or collision.
Constructive – Plates move apart, forming new crust.
Conservative – Plates slide past each other, causing friction.

Question 3

What happens at a destructive plate boundary?

Answer 3

The denser oceanic plate is forced under the continental plate (subduction), creating volcanoes and earthquakes.

Question 4

What happens at a constructive plate boundary?

Answer 4

Plates move apart, magma rises to fill the gap, forming new crust and volcanic islands.

Question 5

What happens at a conservative plate boundary?

Answer 5

Plates slide past each other, friction builds up, and when released, it causes earthquakes (e.g., San Andreas Fault).

Question 6

What are primary and secondary effects of earthquakes?

Answer 6

Primary: Ground shaking, buildings collapsing, deaths, infrastructure damage.
Secondary: Fires, tsunamis, landslides, disease outbreaks.

Question 7

How do we measure earthquakes?

Answer 7

Richter Scale (measures magnitude, logarithmic scale, increases by ten in power times each increased)
Mercalli Scale (measures effects, based on observations)

Question 8

What is a tsunami and how is it caused?

Answer 8

A large ocean wave caused by undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.

Question 9

What are the primary and secondary effects of volcanoes?

Answer 9

Primary: Lava flows, ash clouds, pyroclastic flows, gases.
Secondary: Landslides, climate effects, water contamination, disrupted transport.

Question 10

What are some short-term and long-term responses to tectonic hazards?

Answer 10

Short-term: Rescue efforts, medical aid, emergency shelter.
Long-term: Rebuilding infrastructure, improving warning systems, education.

Question 11

Where and when did the Chile earthquake occur?

Answer 11

Chile, 27th February 2010, magnitude 8.8, off the coast of central Chile.

Question 12

Where and when did the Nepal earthquake occur?

Answer 12

Nepal, 25th April 2015, magnitude 7.8, near Kathmandu.

Question 13

What type of plate boundary caused the Chile earthquake?

Answer 13

Destructive plate boundary – Nazca Plate subducting under the South American Plate.

Question 14

What type of plate boundary caused the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 14

Collision plate boundary – Indo-Australian Plate colliding with the Eurasian Plate.

Question 15

What were the primary effects of the Chile earthquake?

Answer 15

500 deaths, 12,000 injured.
220,000 homes destroyed.
Loss of power, water, and communication.
Cost of damage: $30 billion.

Question 16

What were the primary effects of the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 16

9,000 deaths, 20,000 injured.
3 million left homeless.
50% of schools destroyed.
Cost of damage: $5 billion.

Question 17

What were the secondary effects of the Chile earthquake?

Answer 17

Tsunami affected coastal areas.
Landslides blocked roads.
Fire at a chemical plant near Santiago.

Question 18

What were the secondary effects of the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 18

Landslides blocked roads and rivers.
Avalanches on Mount Everest killed 19 people.
Tourism, a major income source, declined.

Question 19

What were the immediate responses to the Chile earthquake?

Answer 19

Emergency services responded quickly.
Temporary repairs to key roads within 24 hours.
Power and water restored to 90% of homes within 10 days.

Question 20

What were the immediate responses to the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 20

International aid from countries like India and China.
Helicopters rescued people from Mount Everest.
Field hospitals set up for medical aid.

Question 21

What were the long-term responses to the Chile earthquake?

Answer 21

Government reconstruction plan for 200,000 homes.
Chile’s economy recovered quickly due to its strong industries.

Question 22

What were the long-term responses to the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 22

Stricter building regulations introduced.
Roads repaired, and thousands of homes rebuilt.
Tourism gradually recovered.

Question 23

What are tropical storms?

Answer 23

Intense low-pressure systems with strong winds and heavy rain, forming over warm ocean waters.

Question 24

What are the conditions needed for a tropical storm to form?

Answer 24

Warm ocean water (27°C or more).
Deep water (at least 50m).
Coriolis effect (due to the Earth’s rotation).
Low wind shear (so the storm can develop).

Question 25

Where do tropical storms form?

Answer 25

Between 5° and 30° latitude, over warm tropical oceans.(tropics)

Question 26

What are the different names for tropical storms?

Answer 26

Hurricanes (Atlantic & Eastern Pacific). Cyclones (Indian Ocean). Typhoons (Western Pacific

Question 27

What are the three key parts of a tropical storm?

Answer 27

Eye – Calm, clear centre. Eye Wall – Strongest winds and heaviest rain. Outer Bands – Heavy showers and winds.

Question 28

What are the primary and secondary effects of tropical storms?

Answer 28

Primary: Flooding, strong winds, storm surges, buildings destroyed. Secondary: Waterborne diseases, food shortages, economic losses.

Question 29

How can we reduce the impacts of tropical storms?

Answer 29

Monitoring & prediction (satellites, tracking systems). Protection (storm shelters, reinforced buildings). Planning (education, evacuation plans).

Question 30

What are UK extreme weather events?

Answer 30

Unusual or severe weather conditions in the UK, e.g.: Storms Flooding Heatwaves Snow & ice

Question 31

What are some examples of UK extreme weather events?

Answer 31

Beast from the East (2018) – Heavy snow, transport disruption. UK Heatwave (2003) – High temperatures, deaths, droughts. Cumbria Floods (2009) – Heavy rainfall, homes destroyed.

Question 32

Why is extreme weather increasing in the UK?

Answer 32

Due to climate change, leading to: Warmer oceans → more storms. Rising temperatures → heatwaves. Wetter winters → more floods.

Question 33

Where did Typhoon Haiyan occur?

Answer 33

The Philippines, particularly impacting Leyte and Samar islands.

Question 34

When did Typhoon Haiyan happen?

Answer 34

November 8, 2013.

Question 35

What category was Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 35

Category 5 (Super Typhoon) on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Question 36

What was the wind speed of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 36

Winds reached up to 315 km/h (195 mph).

Question 37

What were the primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 37

6,000+ deaths. Over 1 million homes destroyed or damaged. Infrastructure damage: roads, bridges, and airports affected. Widespread flooding and storm surges (particularly in coastal areas) 30 thousand fishing boats destroyed

Question 38

What were the secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 38

Homelessness: 4 million people displaced. Disease outbreaks: cholera and other waterborne diseases. Loss of livelihoods, especially in agriculture and fishing.

Question 39

How did Typhoon Haiyan impact the economy?

Answer 39

Economic losses estimated at $5.8 billion. Destruction of businesses, farms, and infrastructure led to long-term financial difficulties.

Question 40

What was the immediate response to Typhoon Haiyan? ✅

Answer 40

International aid quickly arrived from governments and NGOs. Rescue and relief operations provided food, shelter, and medical aid. Emergency shelters set up for displaced people.

Question 41

What was the long-term recovery plan after Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 41

Rebuilding homes and infrastructure (roads, schools, hospitals). Improving disaster preparedness and early warning systems. Ongoing support for the affected communities, with a focus on economic recovery.

Question 42

What were some of the key lessons learned from Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 42

Importance of early warning systems and disaster preparedness. Need for international cooperation in providing aid and recovery. Enhancing resilience in vulnerable communities to reduce the impact of future storms.

Question 43

When did the Somerset Levels floods occur?

Answer 43

Winter of 2013-2014, peaking in January and February 2014.

Question 44

Where did the Somerset Levels floods occur?

Answer 44

The Somerset Levels in southwest England.

Question 45

What caused the Somerset Levels floods?

Answer 45

Persistent heavy rainfall over several months. High tides and storm surges from the Bristol Channel. River management issues (rivers had not been dredged in many years). Low-lying land (some areas are below sea level).

Question 46

What were the primary effects of the Somerset Levels floods?

Answer 46

600 homes flooded. Over 16,000 hectares of farmland were submerged. Disruption to transport: roads and railways closed. Power cuts and loss of water supply to many homes.

Question 47

What were the secondary effects of the Somerset Levels floods?

Answer 47

Displacement of thousands of people. Damage to crops and livestock, leading to economic losses. Increased risk of disease due to contaminated water and poor sanitation. Psychological impacts on residents (stress, trauma).

Question 48

What were the immediate responses to the Somerset Levels floods?

Answer 48

Rescue operations by emergency services. Temporary accommodation set up for displaced people. Sandbags and barriers used to protect properties. Volunteer groups provided aid and supplies.

Question 49

What were the long-term responses to the Somerset Levels floods?

Answer 49

River dredging to improve water flow and reduce flooding risk. Flood defenses like barriers and pumping stations were built. Better flood management plans and improvements to drainage systems. Restoration of riverbanks to prevent future flooding.

Question 50

What lessons were learned from the Somerset Levels floods?

Answer 50

Importance of regular maintenance of flood defenses (dredging). Need for better flood risk management in flood-prone areas. The value of community preparedness and clear emergency plans.

Question 51

What are the main causes of climate change?

Answer 51

Greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂, methane, nitrous oxide). Deforestation (reduces carbon storage). Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) for energy. Industrial processes (e.g., cement production). Agriculture (livestock produce methane, rice paddies emit methane).

Question 52

What are greenhouse gases and how do they cause climate change?

Answer 52

Greenhouse gases: CO₂, methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and water vapour. They trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, causing the greenhouse effect, which warms the planet.

Question 53

What are the primary effects of climate change?

Answer 53

Rising temperatures (global warming). Melting ice caps and glaciers, leading to rising sea levels. More extreme weather events (heatwaves, storms, floods). Ocean acidification (affects marine life). Loss of biodiversity and changes to ecosystems.

Question 54

How does climate change affect the oceans?

Answer 54

Ocean acidification: Increased CO₂ absorbed by oceans makes them more acidic. Rising sea levels: Melting ice and thermal expansion of water. Disruption to marine life: Coral reefs affected by heat and acidity.

Question 55

How does climate change affect weather patterns?

Answer 55

More frequent heatwaves and prolonged droughts. More intense storms (e.g., hurricanes, typhoons). Shifts in rainfall patterns, leading to areas becoming drier or wetter. Flooding from heavier rainfall and rising sea levels.

Question 56

What are the social and economic impacts of climate change?

Answer 56

Displacement of communities due to rising sea levels or extreme weather. Food security issues (crop failure, reduced agricultural productivity). Health problems: Heat-related illnesses, spread of diseases (e.g., malaria). Economic losses: Damage to infrastructure, lost productivity, costs of rebuilding.

Question 57

What is mitigation in the context of climate change?

Answer 57

Mitigation involves reducing or preventing the emission of greenhouse gases. Examples include using renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro), improving energy efficiency, and reducing deforestation.

Question 58

What are the main responses to climate change?

Answer 58

Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., renewable energy, carbon capture). Adaptation: Adjusting to the impacts (e.g., building flood defenses, drought-resistant crops). International agreements: The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Reforestation and afforestation to absorb CO₂.

Question 59

What is adaptation in the context of climate change?

Answer 59

Adaptation involves adjusting to the impacts of climate change. Examples include building flood defenses, growing drought-resistant crops, and water conservation methods.

Question 60

What is the Paris Agreement?

Answer 60

An international treaty on climate change, adopted in 2015. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2°C, aiming for 1.5°C. Countries are encouraged to reduce emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change.

Question 61

What role does renewable energy play in combating climate change?

Answer 61

Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables reduces carbon emissions, helping mitigate climate change.