NATURAL HAZARDS

Question 1

What is a natural hazard?

Answer 1

A natural hazard is a naturally occurrinG event which poses potential risk of damage to property, people and the environment.

Question 2

Tectonic hazards?

Answer 2

An example of this type of hazard is an earthquake or a tsunami. These hazards involve the movement of tectonic plates

Question 3

Atmospheric hazards?

Answer 3

An example of this type of hazard is a hurricane

Question 4

Geomorphological hazards?

Answer 4

An example of this type of hazard is flooding.

These are hazards which occur on the earth’s surface

Question 5

Biological hazards?

Answer 5

An example of this type of hazard is a forest fire which

involve living or organisms

Question 6

Why do people continue to live in hazard prone areas?

Population density/pressures

Answer 6

Due to our population 􏰀rowin􏰀 rapidly, urban areas are becomin􏰀 densely populated and overcrowded with very little to no livin􏰀 space. This o􏰁ten results in people bein􏰀 pushed into hazardous areas where they are more vulnerable to natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions.

Question 7

Why do people continue to live in hazard prone areas?

Fertile soils

Answer 7

The lava and ash produced by volcanic eruptions when broken down and weathered, can add nutrients to the soil increasin􏰀 its 􏰁ertility. This increases crop yields and 􏰁ood supplies, however also 􏰀enerates more o􏰁 an income 􏰁or local 􏰁armers.

Question 8

Why do people continue to live in hazard prone areas?

Minerals

Answer 8

The naturally occurrin􏰀 minerals 􏰁ound in the 􏰀round o􏰁 volcanic landscapes o􏰁ten leads to the settin􏰀 up o􏰁 mines where minerals are extracted and sold 􏰁or profit. This benefits local people as the mines can provide them with employment, however it also benefits those business people involved when minerals are sold.

Question 9

Why do people continue to live in hazard prone areas?

Geothermal energy

Answer 9

The 􏰀eothermal ener􏰀y produced on volcanic landscapes can provide the people with a renewable ener􏰀y source which does not only have the potential to be cheaper, but it is also local meanin􏰀 they do not have to rely on usin􏰀 oil and other 􏰁uel sources 􏰁rom other areas to 􏰀enerate ener􏰀y.

Question 10

Why do people continue to live in hazard prone areas?

Tourism

Answer 10

Many volcanic landscapes are very picturesque with beauti􏰁ul scenery; this alon􏰀side an eruptin􏰀 volcano can attract lots o􏰁 tourists to the area. As a result many tourist services are built in the area e.􏰀. hotels and services such as shops which provide the local people with jobs.

Question 11

Why do people continue to live in hazard prone areas?

Family

Answer 11

Many people continue to live in hazardous area due to their 􏰁amilies livin􏰀 there. Many 􏰁amily members may be too old or 􏰁rail to move and many individuals with the ability to move may be carers 􏰁or elderly relatives. However others who have lived in the area all o􏰁 their lives may not want to move as they may 􏰁eel that the area or home that they live in holds sentimental value.

Question 12

Why do people continue to live in hazard prone areas?

Poverty

Answer 12

Many people continue to live on volcanic landscapes due to them havin􏰀 no other option as many people are too poor to move or rely on a job in the area which they cannot afford 􏰀ive up. For example i􏰁 they are 􏰁armers and land in the area is 􏰁ertile, it provides ,per􏰁ect conditions 􏰁or them to produce crops whereas they cannot 􏰀uarantee that the area they move to will have 􏰁ertile soils or land available 􏰁or 􏰁armin􏰀.

Question 13

Crust?

Answer 13

This is the outer layer of the earth. It is a thin layer between 0-60 km thick. The crust is the solid rock layer upon which we live.

Question 14

Mantle?

Answer 14

Mantle-​ This is the widest section of the Earth. It has a thickness of approximately 2,900 km. The mantle is made up of semi-molten rock called magma. In the upper
parts of the mantle the
rock is hard forming the lithosphere ​but lower down the rock is soft and beginning to melt the ​asthenosphere.

Question 15

Outer core?

Answer 15

This is the layer surrounding the inner core. It is a liquid layer, also made up of iron and nickel. It is still extremely hot, with temperatures similar to the inner core.

Question 16

Inner core?

Answer 16

This layer is in the centre and is the hottest part of the Earth. It is solid and made up of iron and nickel with temperatures of up to 5,500°C. With its immense heat energy, the inner core is like the engine room of the Earth.

Question 17

Plate tectonic theory?

Answer 17

The theory of plate tectonics is centred on the idea that the crust is not continuous over the surface of the Earth, but is broken into a series of large plates
● Although it is not apparent, these plates are in constant motion
● The average rate of movement is between 1 and 10 cm per year

Question 18

Slab pull?

Answer 18

At destructive plate margins, the ​denser plate sinks​ back into the mantle under the influence of gravity, which ​pulls the rest of the plate along behind it​. This is called ​slab pull.

Question 19

Convection currents?

Answer 19

● Convection currents are generated by heat from within the Earth’s core
● The heat from the core heats up magma in the asthenosphere
● As the material becomes heated, it becomes less dense and rises
● However as it moves towards the upper part of the mantle into the lithosphere, the material becomes cooler and denser causing the material to sink
● This continuous cycle generates currents which drive the movement of the tectonic plates