Living With The Physical Environment - Natural Hazards Flashcards

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1
Q

Natural Hazards

A

A natural event that poses as a threat to humans and/or property

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2
Q

Atmospheric hazards

A

Tornadoes

Droughts

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3
Q

Geological hazards

A

Earthquakes

Volcanoes

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4
Q

Flooding hazards

A

Avalanches

Tsunami’s

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5
Q

Hazard risk

A

Chance of being affected by a natural hazard

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6
Q

Factors affecting risk

A

Urbanisation

Poverty

Farming

Climate change

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7
Q

Earthquakes

A

A sudden or violent movement within the earth crust

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8
Q

Volcano

A

A large landform, formed by a series of volcanic eruptions

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9
Q

Convection currents

A

Heat-driven cycles that occur in the mantle

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10
Q

Constructive plate margins/boundaries

A

Two plate boundaries move apart

As a gap appears magma forces its way
upwards breaking through the overlying crust

This causes earthquakes

E.g. Azares

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11
Q

Destructive plate margins/boundaries

A

Two plates are moving towards each other

When the two plates meet, a trench forms

The denser plate is subducted beneath the less dense

Friction causes strong earthquakes

One plate melts, forming magma that breaks through the surface to form a steep-sided volcano

E.g. Andes

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12
Q

Collision plate margins/boundaries

A

Two plates are moving towards each other

The two plates collide and the crust uplifts forming folded mountains

This process causes earthquakes

E.g. San Andreas Fault

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13
Q

Conservative plate margins/boundaries

A

Two plates move past each other

Friction causes earthquakes

E.g. The Himalayas

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14
Q

Nepal case study - Facts

A

Date - 25/4/2015

Magnitude - 7.9

Plate boundary - destructive

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15
Q

Nepal case study - Primary effects

A

Social - 9000 died, 20000 injured, 8 million (1/3 of the population) affected

Economic - cost $5 billion, 50% of shops destroyed

Environmental - no power or water supplies

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16
Q

Nepal case study - Secondary effects

A

Social - avalanche in Langtang region left 250 people missing

Economic - roads blocked

Environmental - landslide/avalanche killed 19 people

17
Q

Nepal case study - Immediate responses

A

Roads repaired

Landslides cleared

1/2 million tents provided

18
Q

Nepal case study - Long term responses

A

30000 migrated

Repairs to Everest base camp

7000 schools repaired

19
Q

Chile case study - Facts

A

Date - 27/2/2010

Magnitude - 8.8

Plate boundary - destructive

20
Q

Chile case study - Primary effects

A

Social - 500 died, 12000 injured, 800000 affected

Economic - cost $30 billion, 220000 homes destroyed

Environmental - no power, no water supplies

21
Q

Chile case study - Secondary effects

A

Social - coastal towns destroyed by waves

Economic - 1500km of roads destroyed, remote communications cut off

Environmental - Pacific countries struck by tsunami waves

22
Q

Chile case study - Immediate responses

A

Field hospitals

$60 million for emergency shelters

Power + water restored

23
Q

Chile case study - Long term responses

A

4 years to fully recover

Economy was rebuilt

Housing reconstruction plans

24
Q

Why do people choose to live in hazardous areas?

A

Poverty - cannot afford to move (V+E)

Location - want to live near family or friends (V+E)

Education - limited knowledge e.g. not knowing what to do (V+E)

Fertile soil and minerals - agricultural benefits, rocks = construction materials for buildings (V) (Used in Iceland - case study)

Geothermal energy - provides 90% of energy/electricity (V) (Used in Iceland - case study)

Monitoring - scientists can accurately tell when a disaster is going to happen through seismometers and animal behaviour (V+E)

Frequency - volcanoes don’t happen everyday, large earthquakes are rare (V+E)

25
Q

Reducing the risk - Earthquakes

A

Monitoring - earthquakes cannot be predicted

Prediction - no clear warning signs

Protection - walls are reinforced in steel, shock absorbers to absorb shaking, tsunami walls (protect people and important buildings e.g. nuclear power station)

Planning - use hazard maps as they show the effects of the earthquake

26
Q

Reducing the risk - Volcanoes

A

Monitoring - remote sensing (detect heat), gas (instruments detect gas), hydrology (measurement of gases dissolved in water)

Prediction - scientific monitoring

Protection - use earth embankments, use explosives to divert lava

Planning - use hazard maps to show the likely areas to be affected so people can be evacuated