Managing natural hazards Flashcards
Supervolcano
A volcano that erupts at least 1000 km(3) of material
Natural hazard
A naturally occurring event that will have a negative impact on people
Risk
The probability of a natural hazard occurring and the losses or damage that might result from that natural hazard
Natural disaster
When a natural hazard causes damage and people affected are unable to cope
Vulnerability
The characteristics and circumstances of people in a community that make them susceptible to the impacts of a natural hazard.
Plate tectonics
a theory developed in the 1960s that helps explain the formation of some of the important features on the earth’s surface and how the continents move.
Fold mountains
Mountains created where two or more tectonic plates are pushed together, compressing the rocks and folding them upwards.
Asthenosphere
The layer of the Earth below the lithosphere, it is hotter and weaker than the lithosphere above and is capable of plastic flow (deformation of material that remains rigid)
Sima
Another name for the oceanic crust, which is rich in silicate and magnesium minerals.
Sial
Another name for the continental crust , which is rich in silicate and aluminium minerals.
Basalt
A fine-grained extrusive igneous rock formed by the cooling of lava at constructive plate margins.
Granite
A coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock comprising the minerals; quartz, feldspar and mica, it is formed at destructive plate margins.
Tectonic plate
A piece of lithosphere that moves slowly on the asthenosphere, seven major, eight minor and numerous micro plates have been identified.
Lithosphere
The outer and rigid layer of the Earth, comprising of the crust and upper part of the mantle
Convection currents
Transfer heat from place to place, denser, colder fluid sinks into warmer areas, heat from the Earth’s core causes convection currents in the mantle
