Natural Hazards Flashcards
What is a tsunami?
A tsunami is formed when an earthquake starts under the ocean.
Tsunamis are large ocean waves typically caused by underwater earthquakes.
How many people were killed in the 2010 Chile Earthquake?
500 people were killed.
This was one of the significant primary effects of the earthquake.
What was the estimated damage cost of the 2010 Chile Earthquake?
$30 billion in damage.
This includes damages to infrastructure and property.
Which two tectonic plates were involved in the 2010 Chile Earthquake?
Nazca plate and South American plate.
This interaction occurred at a destructive plate margin.
What was a significant secondary effect of the 2010 Chile Earthquake?
1500 km of roads were damaged, mainly by landslides.
This impacted transportation and accessibility to affected areas.
True or False: The Port of Talcahuano was badly destroyed in the 2010 Chile Earthquake.
True.
The port was one of the critical infrastructures affected.
Fill in the blank: The 2010 Chile Earthquake resulted in the destruction of _______ schools.
4500 schools.
This significantly impacted education in the affected regions.
What were some of the impacts on remote communities after the 2010 Chile Earthquake?
Remote communities were cut off for many days.
This isolation hindered immediate relief efforts.
What caused evacuations near Santiago after the earthquake?
A chemical plant fire.
The fire was a secondary effect of the earthquake.
What type of aid was provided during the Nepal 2015 earthquake recovery?
Aid included helicopters for search & rescue and supply drops in remote areas like on Mount Everest, and half a million tents needed to provide shelter.
What role did social media play during the Nepal 2015 earthquake response?
Social media was widely used in search & rescue operations, and satellites mapped damaged areas.
What is an earthquake?
Intense vibrations within the earth’s crust that make the ground shake, caused at plate boundaries by sudden plate movements.
What is the point of rupture in an earthquake?
The point where earthquakes actually happen underground, known as the focus.
What are seismic waves?
Shock waves that radiate out from the focus of an earthquake.
What is the epicenter of an earthquake?
The point on the ground surface directly above the focus where the greatest force of the earthquake is felt.
What causes an earthquake?
Build-up of pressure caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
How is earthquake magnitude measured?
It is a measure of the amount of energy released in an earthquake.
What scale is used to quantify the energy released in an earthquake?
The Richter scale.
What instrument is used to measure an earthquake’s magnitude?
Seismometer.
What type of plate margin was involved in the Nepal 2015 earthquake?
Destructive.
Which two tectonic plates were involved in the Nepal 2015 earthquake?
Indian & Eurasian.
What equipment is used for monitoring earthquakes?
Seismometers.
How can protection be achieved for volcanoes?
By diverting lava away from towns using lava channels and building concrete shelters.
How can protection be achieved for earthquakes?
By designing earthquake-proof buildings and having strict building codes.
Can volcanoes be predicted?
Yes, the better the equipment, the more accurate the prediction.
Is it easy to predict earthquakes?
No, it is very hard and almost impossible, for example, in Istanbul.
Why are earthquakes and volcanic eruptions often not seen as great threats?
Because they are rare events.
How can earthquake-proof buildings reduce risk?
They are designed to withstand seismic activity.
What benefits can effective monitoring of volcanoes and tsunami waves provide?
It allows for evacuation warnings.
Why do people live in risky areas near tectonic hazards?
Plate margins often coincide with favorable areas for settlement and trade, such as flat coastal areas.
What are some benefits of volcanoes?
They provide fertile soils, rich mineral deposits, and hot water.
What advantage do earthquake fault lines provide?
They allow water to reach the surface.
