Natural Hazards Flashcards
Name the central part of the tropical storm
Eye
Other names for tropical storms
Cyclone, hurricane, typhoon
What temperature must the sea be for tropical storms to form
27 degrees or higher
First stage in formation of tropical storm once the sea is warm enough (27 degrees or higher)
Warm, moist (contains lots of water vapour) air rises rapidly from above surface of warm water and draws more air up with it to create an area of low pressure
What happens once the warm air has first risen in a tropical storm and an area of low pressure has been created
The warm rising air cools and condenses to form cumulonimbus clouds (thunderstorm clouds)
This process of condensation also releases heat to power the storm
What early process releases heat to power the tropical storm
Condensation (of rising warm air to form the cumulonimbus clouds)
This heat then causes more air to evaporate so more air is then condensed forming more, bigger cumulonimbus clouds
What wind conditions allow the cumulonimbus clouds (thunderstorms) to form
Low winds at high altitudes
What does the heat released from condensation of the warm rising air immediately do (as well as overall powering the tropical storm)
Makes more water evaporate into the air making it humid
True or false, once cumulonimbus clouds have formed they gather together, grow in strength and move over the warm ocean
True
What effect makes surrounding air be drawn into the quickening rising air and swirl clockwise/ anti-clockwise
Coriolis effect
What speed must the winds reached for it to be classified as a tropical storm
75 miles per hour
What direction over the warm water does the tropical storm move
West due to prevailing winds
When cool air descends rapidly into the low pressure zone inside the warm rising air what does this develop
The eye
True or false, it can take hours or days for a tropical storm to fully form
True
Conditions of the eye
Calm winds
Low pressure
Clear skies
No clouds or rain
True or false, the eye of the tropical storm is very calm
True
Is the eye wall rising or descending air
Rising
It is a spinning vortex of high winds (spiralling rising air) and heavy rain and clouds
What happens to the tropical storm once it reaches land
It’s energy supply (warm water) is cut off and friction with the land slows it down
True or false, once a tropical storm has reached the land if it meets warm water again it can regain strength
True (because it has got its energy supply back)
What determines which way the tropical storm spins
Hemisphere
Anti-clockwise in northern
Clockwise in southern
Which way do tropical storms spin in northern hemisphere
Anti clockwise
Which way do tropical storms spin in southern hemisphere
Clockwise
Where do tropical storms occur
Between tropics (hence name)
Usually between 5 and 30 degrees north/ south of equator
Where did Typhoon Haiyan occur
Phillipines
Is the Philippines LIC, NEE or HIC
NEE
What are the Philippines reliant on as their major source of income. Why is this a problem if a typhoon occurs
Fishing
Destroys the fishing boats and therefore source of income
(Typhoon Haiyan destroyed 30,000 boats)
How many boats were destroyed in Typhoon Haiyan and why is this bad for the economy
30,000
Philippine economy relies on fishing as major source of income to economy
How many were left homeless in Typhoon Haiyan
4.1 million
3 long term responses of Typhoon Haiyan
UN Habitat (NGO) partnered with Philippine government to rebuild homes and infrastructure
Oxfam (NGO) gave money to replace fishing boats
Received £500 million international aid
How much international aid do The Philippines receive after Typhoon Haiyan
£500 million
2 immediate responses of Typhoon Haiyan
Over 12,000 evacuation centres set up
Philippine Red Cross provided basic food aid including rice
1 secondary effect of Typhoon Haiyan
3/4 fisherman and farmers lost income leading to food shortages and looting (stealing) from shops
How many fisherman and farmers lost income due to Typhoon Haiyan
3/4
(Led to food shortages and looting of shops)
2 primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan
4.1 million homeless
30, 000 boats destroyed
True or false, the Philippines heavily relied on international and voluntary aid after Typhoon Haiyan
True
Received £500 million international support
Help from UN Habitat to rebuild homes and infrastructure
Help from Oxfam to pay for new fishing boats
Help from Philippine Red Cross to provide food aid
However the military helped clear roads to provide easy access to reach more remote towns that needed aid
One thing the Philippines did itself to help respond to Typhoon Haiyan
Ordered military to clear debris off roads for easy access to remote towns that needed aid
One reason why the Philippines relied so heavily on international aid to recover from Typhoon Haiyan
They are an NEE so lack wealth to allow for better protection and recovery
Why is climate change bad for the Philippines in terms of typhoons
Will increase strength and intensify the typhoons + increase impact of storm surge causing more flooding and damage
4 hazards of tropical storms
Heavy rainfall
Storm surge
Winds over 75mph
Lightning strikes
True or false, climate change will increase distribution of tropical storms
True
Sea levels are rising causing areas outside of the current hazard zone (between 5 and 30 degrees north and south of the equator) to become affected
Why are tropical storms becoming more distributed
Climate change- sea levels rising
More areas have sea warm enough (27 degrees or warmer) for tropical storms to form
Is the frequency (number) of tropical storms increasing or decreasing
Increasing
What 3 things might climate change effect about tropical storms
Intensity
Frequency
Distribution
Is the intensity of tropical storms increasing or decreasing
Increasing
Due to climate change (higher sea temperatures means the storms have more energy so are bigger, more powerful and cause more damage)
Types of weather hazards in the UK
Thunderstorms and lightning
Strong winds
Prolonged rainfall
Heavy snow
Drought/ extreme heat
Where was Boscastle flood
Cornwall
Social impacts of Boscastle flood
150 people stranded
80 houses destroyed (people homeless and put into temporary housing which can decrease unlit y of life and cause stress and strain on mental health)
How many people were stranded after Boscastle flood
150
How many houses were destroyed after Boscastle flood
80
Environmental impacts of Boscastle flood
Trees uprooted leading to habitat loss
Coastal pollution
Why did Boscastle flood cause habitat loss
Due to trees being uprooted
Economic impacts of Boscastle flood
£4 million worth of insurance claims made (including for destroyed cars and houses)
Distribution to local businesses
How many £ worth of insurance claims were made after Boscastle flood
£4 million
2 key Causes of Boscastle flood
Impermeable village surfaces (shale rock)
Heavy rainfall (130mm in 2 hours)
How much rainfall was there in 2 hours for Boscastle flood
130mm
What was done to the size of the river after Boscastle flood as part of a management strategy/ response
River deepened and widened to increase channel capacity to help reduce future risk of flooding
What did the Environment Agency do to help respond to Boscastle flood
Installed gauging system in river
Spent £4 million
Deepened and widened river
Raised car park and made it from permeable surfaces
Removed trees from edge of river but planted more trees upstream
How does volcanic eruptions contribute to climate change
When volcanoes erupt they release gases including CO2
When they erupt they release particles that reflect the sun’s rays back out to space causing the earth’s surface to cool
3 natural factors causing climate change
Orbital changes
Volcanic activity
Solar output
Give 3 key human causes of climate change
Agriculture
Deforestation
fossil fuels
Ways agriculture contributes to climate change
As population increases, more land needed for farming and
Deforestation for agriculture releases CO2
Cows release methane
Rice cultivation produces methane
Fertilisers release nitrous oxide
Agriculture is responsible for 54% methane emissions
What % methane emissions is agriculture responsible for
54
How do fossil fuels contribute to climate change
When burnt unwanted gases like CO2 are given off and so the concentration of fossil fuels in atmosphere gradually increases
As population increases and gets richer, there are more cars, more electricity needed etc so more fossil fuels burnt
What are fossil fuels
Coal, oil and natural gas that release heat energy when burned
Formed from remains of living organisms millions of years ago
How are fossil fuels formed
From remains of living organisms millions of years ago
What is deforestation
Permanent destruction of forests to make them available for other uses e.g building houses and farming
True or false, deforestation is one of the biggest contributing factores to climate change
True
How does deforestation contribute towards climate change
Cutting down trees means less CO2 can be absorbed so more of it is left in the atmosphere
When trees die (from being cut down) they release all their stored carbon
As population increases, more houses/ wood/ land for farming needed so more trees cut down
Every year how many million acres of forest are lost
Around 18 million (size of Panama)
Describe the greenhouse effect
Solar radiation emitted from sun towards earth
Most of the radiation is absorbed by earth’s surface
Some is reflected by earth back out to space
Some gets trapped and is reflected by greenhouse gases in atmosphere back down to earth’s surface so the earth heats up
Some escapes earth’s atmosphere again but most is trapped
True or false, volcanic eruptions can cause the earth’s surface to cool
True (although it is short term as it only cools it for a few years) + only very big eruptions have the impact
Eruptions release sulfur- rich gases creating particles that reflect radiation back out to space
There is also a layer of ash which darkens the planet so light can’t get through
3 types of orbital changes causing climate change
Eccentricity- earth’s orbit changes from being circular to elliptical
Precision- earth wobbles as it rotates
Axial tilt- earth spins on its axis
Evidence for climate change during quaternary period to present day
Ice cores
Temperature records
Rising sea levels
Glacial retreat and melting ice
Examples of effects of climate change on people
Cape Town water crisis
Fewer frosts mean longer food growing seasons increasing food security e.g in Cañada and New Zealand
Frosts kill pests and diseases that attack crops- less frost means more pests and diseases so also less crops
Some coastal areas flooding causing migration/ overcrowding in other areas
Examples of Effects of climate change on environment
Ice sheets and glaciers melting so loss of habitat
Coral reefs suffering from bleaching due to increased sea temperatures
How can a change in agricultural systems adapt to climate change
Introduce shade tress e.g in West Africa to cover crops from sun so that less water is needed
Replace maize with drought tolerant crops e.g Sorghum to increase food security
Lie pipeline with holes in directly under plant to increase time and water efficiency
What is meant by the quaternary period
The geological period of time referring to last 2.6 million years
How many of the last years does the quaternary period include
2.6 million
What 2 periods does the quaternary period consist of
Glacial
Interglacial
Glacial vs interglacial periods
Glacial- colder, 100,000 yrs long, ice exists
Interglacial- warmer, 10,000 yrs long, no ice exists
Which is longer, glacial or interglacial period
Glacial
(Glacial = 100,000 yrs, interglacial = 10,000 yrs)
True or false, deforestation is the permenant destruction of forests for other uses
True
What happens to most of the solar radiation that the sun emits towards the Earth
It’s absorbed by the Earth’s surface
True or false, frost kills pests and disease that attack crops
True
(That’s why climate change is bad because rising temperatures mean frost melts so less pests and diseases can be killed that destroy crops, increasing food insecurity)
Describe what the sunspot theory is and how it causes climate change
It is where the sun has black spots
When it has more dark spots it means there is more solar output/ solar energy so more heat is emitted (happens over 10 year cycle going from hotter (more spots) to colder (no spots)
Describe how eccentricity causes climate change
It’s where the earths orbit goes from being circular to elliptical
When it’s closer to the sun (I.e circular orbit) the Earth is warmer but when it is further away (elliptical) it’s colder e.g glacial period (lots of snow and ice)
What is meant by a subduction zone
Where the oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate at a destructive plate margin
What are pyroclastic flows
Currents of hot ash, lava and gases that move downhill during a volcano eruption at speeds of up to 500km/ hr
At what type of plate boundary will there be a subduction zone
Destructive (oceanic subducts beneath continental)
What is a volcanic winter
Where there is a reduction in sunlight and temperature caused by a large volcanic eruption
All facts for typhoon Haiyan case study
Occurred in Phillipines 2013 (NEE)
4.1 million homeless
30,000 fishing boats destroyed
3/4 farmers and fisherman lost income
Phillipines economy primarily relies on fishing so had huge negative impact with many losing their source of income + led to food shortages and looting of shops so shopkeepers also lost money
Short term response- 12,000 evacuation centres set up and rice given out + military clear roads for services to reach remote communities
Long term response- UN habitat helped Phillipine government to rebuild homes and infrastructure
+ Oxfam donate money to replace fishing boats + over £500 million donated as international aid
Overall- relied heavily on NGOs and international aid to recover although one thing they did themselves was get the military to clear the roads to allow emergency and rescue services to reach remote communities
What is a natural hazard
Naturally occurring event that can have a negative impact on people
3 types of natural hazard
Geological
Flooding
Atmospheric
How fast can pyroclastic flows reach
500km/ hr
4 layers of earth
Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
Which out of the 4 layers of the earth contains the 7 continents
Crust
Name for supercontinent
Pangea
(All 7 continents once joined together as one massive continent)
What was Alfred Wegener’s theory
All 7 continents were once all joined together as one big supercontinent (Pangea) but overtime they have drifted apart
Name for evidence where coastlines of continents appear to fit together
Jigsaw fit
An example of coastlines that appear to fit together as part of ‘jigsaw fit’ evidence to prove Wegener’s theory
East Coast of South America, West coast of Africa
In the jigsaw fit which continent does the East coast of south America fit with
West coast of Africa
Geological fit evidence to prove Wegener’s theory correct is that there are identical…found across different continents so they must have been formed at the same place together
Rocks
Name for evidence to support Wegener’s theory where identical rocks are found across different continents (rocks must have been formed at once place together)
Geological fit
Geological fit vs jigsaw fit evidence
Jigsaw fit- shape of continents fit together e.g east coast of South America and west coast of Africa
Geological fit- identical rocks found across different continents (these rocks must have been formed together in the same place hence why the continents where initially joined e.g East South America and West Africa)
What fossil evidence is there to suggest that Pangea once existed
Mesosaurus (crocodile like reptile) in South Africa and in the East of South America
Name for crocodile like reptile found in South Africa and in east of South America
Mesosaurus
What is fossil evidence to support Wegener’s theory
Same fossil found in different continents suggesting continents were once joined together
E.g Mesosaurus in east of South America and South Africa
Describe the processes that happen at a destructive plate boundary
1) Denser oceanic plate subducts under less dense continental plate, moving by convection currents in the mantle
2) As they move, friction builds up between them so they get stuck and then slip causing seismic waves (earthquakes)
3) When it reaches the hot mantle layer the oceanic plate melts and turns into magma
4) Magma rises up through the continental crust causing a violent composite come volcano with viscous (sticky) lava
Describe the processes that occur at a constructive plate margin
1) Two tectonic plates (of oceanic crust) move away from each other due to convection currents in the mantle
2) This allows magma to rise up through the surface as cracks form
3) As the magma breaks through the crust whilst rising through the surface it creates small earthquakes
4) The magma that reaches the surface is called lava but isn’t viscous (sticky) and creates wide, low shield volcanoes
Describe the processes that occur at a conservative plate margin
1) 2 tectonic plates move alongside each other in the same/ opposite direction due to convection currents in the mantle
2) Friction occurs between the 2 plates causing them to get stuck
3) As pressure builds up they eventually slip past each other which releases seismic waves of energy (earthquake) (no volcanoes)
Which 2 plate margins do volcanoes form at
Constructive and destructive
Why do no volcanoes from at the conservative plate margin
There is no rising magma
What type of volcanoes are found at destructive plate margins
Violent composite cone volcano, viscous lava
At which type of plate margin would you find a subduction zone and why
Destructive
It’s where the denser oceanic plate subducts under the less dense continental plate
(At the other plate margins the plates aren’t moving directly towards each other so one doesn’t sink under the other)
For all 3 types of plate margin why are the plates moving
Convection currents in the mantle
At a destructive plate margin what happens once the oceanic plate has subducted under the less dense continental plate
Friction builds up as they continue to move and then they get stuck and slip. The slip creates seismic waves of energy (earthquake)
At a destructive plate boundary what is it that causes the earthquake (creates seismic waves of energy)
The 2 plates get stuck and then slip due to friction as they continue to move due to convection currents
At a destructive plate boundary which plate turns into magma when it reaches the hot mantle and then what happens
Oceanic
Magma rises up through continental crust forming violent composite cone volcanoes
True or false, at destructive plate margins the volcanoes are violent composite cone volcanoes with viscous lava
True
At what stage of the constructive plate margin does an earthquake occur
Once magma has risen up through the surface after the 2 oceanic plates have moved apart and cracks have formed
True or false, it is the lava that causes the volcanoes to form at constructive and destructive plate boundaries
True
Viscous lava creates composite cone volcanoes (destructive)
Non viscous lava creates wide low shield volcanoes (constructive)
What are after shocks
Smaller earthquake after main large one
What does the crater hold
Bubbling molten lava
3 types of volcano based on level of activity
Dormant (may erupt in future but hasn’t erupted in very long time)
Active (has erupted in last 10,000 years)
Extinct (not likely to erupt again)
All facts about Chile Earthquake
HIC, destructive plate boundary, 2010, 8.8Mw
500 killed
5000 schools destroyed
1500km roads damaged by landslides
Coastal towns devastated by tsunami waves
Were able to recover from earthquake very quickly with little reliance on foreign help although did have international help for field hospitals
30,000 emergency shelters built (help treat injured and those who have lost homes)
Housing reconstruction plan launched one month after earthquake
Temporary repairs to damaged roads within 24hrs
All facts about Nepal earthquake
Collision plate boundary, LIC, 2015, 7.8Mw
9000 killed
3 million homeless
Half shops destroyed
(Relied heavily on foreign support to help recover, especially as so much damage was done due to lack of wealth for well constructed building + high population density
Medical supplies from UK, India and China
2015 Nepal held international conference to seek support from other countries
What are lahars
Volcanic mudflows
Like wet flowing concrete,extremely powerful, destroy everything in their path
2 examples of ways to plan for earthquake
Emergency kit put together in event of evacuation- first aid kit to treat injuries + tinned food and water to prevent starvation
Earthquake drills- know what to do in event of earthquake e.g Japan has annual preparation disaster day
2 examples of protection against earthquakes in HICs
Pyramid shape building- strong base to remain stable in shaking and prevent from collapsing
Rolling weights on roof- counteract shock waves
2 examples of ways to monitor volcano
Gas monitor- measure gases in atmosphere as some gases like high sulphur indicate an eruption
Ground deformation- movement of magma in crust can deform ground above, making it swell
Name of surface winds 30 degrees north and south of equator
Northeast/ southeast trade winds
Where are the north east and south east trade winds located
Between 0-30 degrees north and south of equator
Name of surface winds between 30 and 60 degrees north/ south of equator
Westerlies
Name of surface winds between 60 and 90 degrees north and south of equator
Polar easterlies
Where are the polar easterlies surface winds located
Between 60 and 90 degrees north and south of equator
Where are the westerlies surface winds located
Between 30 and 60 degrees north and south of equator
3 types of surface winds
Northeast/ southeast trade winds
Westerlies
Polar easterlies
Surface winds are described as the direction that it…
Comes from
E.g northeast trade winds come from north east
Name of cell found 30 degree north and south of equator
Hadley
Name of cell found between 30 and 60 degrees north and south of equator
Ferrel
Name of cell found between 60 and 90 degrees north and south of equator
Polar
Name for 3 types of atmospheric circulation cells
Hadley
Ferrel
Polar
Which atmospheric circulation cell is closest to the equator
Hadley
Name of 3 different pressure belts in atmospheric circulation model
Equatorial low
Sub tropical high
Sub polar low
If air is more dense or less dense does it rise
Less dense (warm air)
Does warm rising air create low or high pressure areas
Low pressure
Does cool descending air create low or high pressure zone
High pressure
2 examples of protection against tropical storm
Building on stilts prevents flooding
Shutters reduce risk of injury/ damage from broken glass in strong winds
True or false, planning for earthquakes and tropical storms are basically the same
True- both involve preparing emergency kits, evacuation kits and earthquake drills/ natural disaster awareness week
Both involve well constructed buildings
4 easy ways to mitigate climate change
Plant trees
Alternative energy poduction
International agreements
Carbon capture and storage
Facts about Paris Climate agreement
Held in Paris 2015 and signed by 195 countries
Agree to limit global temperature increase to 2 degrees above pre industrial levels with stretch goal of 1.5 degrees
Uk aims to be net zero by 2050
Briefly explain how carbon capture storage works (helps mitigate climate change)
Carbon collected and injected deep into ground after being compressed. Stored in porous rock surrounded by impermeable rock (cap) to trap it in place and prevent it from leaking
Slab pull meaning
Oceanic plate sinks into mantle due to gravity
What is meant by the Coriolis effect
Where Earth rotates faster at equator than poles due to the earth being wider at the equator. It makes it appear that the winds are deflected.
4 key bits of evidence that climate change is real
Ice cores
Glacial retreat
Rising sea levels
Temperature records
How ice cores show that climate change is real
Ice core is a small sample (cylinder) of ice that reveals the atmospheric gas concentration at the time the snow fell which allows scientists to detect changes in temperature
Has provided evidence that there has been rapid increase in temperatures over last few decades
How glacial retreat shows that climate change is real
Photographic evidence reveals that glaciares and ice have been decreasing in size due to increases temperatures
Arctic sea ice has thinned by 65% since 1975
Arctic sea ice has thinned by what % since 1975
65%
(Shows climate change is real as glaciers are retreating due to increased temperatures)
Ice cores reveal the what at the time the snow fell which then allows us to detect changes in temperature
Atmospheric gas concentration
Briefly outline how Thames flood barrier works (way to adapt to climate change- specifically rising sea levels)
Barrier goes across width of river and holds back rising tide from North Sea to stop London from flooding
Still allows boats to pass through when barrier isn’t down
Specific name for underground pipes in Africa used to directly water crops to help adapt to climate change
Drip irrigation
