natural hazards Flashcards
Where do tropical storms typically occur?
Between 5° and 30° north and south of the equator
What ocean temperature is necessary for tropical storms to form?
Above 27° C
During which seasons do tropical storms generally occur?
Between summer and autumn
What is the first step in the sequence of a tropical storm?
Air is heated above warm tropical oceans
What phenomenon causes air to spin around the calm eye of a tropical storm?
Coriolis effect
What happens to a tropical storm when it meets land?
It loses its source of heat and moisture, thus losing power
True or False: Climate change is expected to lead to more frequent tropical storms.
False
What extreme weather events can cause flooding in the UK?
Rain, snow, ice, hail, drought, wind, thunderstorms, heat waves
What has been the average temperature increase in the UK since 1980?
1 degree
What were the primary effects of Typhoon Halyan in the Philippines?
- At least 6340 killed
- 314 km/hr wind speeds
- 5m Storm Surge
- 90% buildings in Tacloban destroyed
How many emergency shelters were set up immediately after Typhoon Halyan?
1,069 emergency shelters
What was the total estimated damage cost from Typhoon Halyan?
$14 Billion
What are two long-term responses to Typhoon Halyan?
- UN appeal raised $300 million
- Typhoon warning systems improved
What caused the flooding in Somerset Levels in 2014?
Wettest January on record, high tides, and storm surge
River tome and parrot weren’t dredges
How many houses were flooded during the Somerset Levels flooding?
Over 600 houses
What are two natural causes of climate change?
- Orbital changes
- Volcanic activity
What human activities contribute to greenhouse gas emissions?
- Fossil fuels
- Agriculture
- Deforestation
What is one environmental effect of climate change?
Less ice in Arctic Ocean
What method uses ice cores to study climate change?
Ice and sediment cores analysis
What is one social effect of climate change?
Increased disease such as skin cancer and heat stroke
Fill in the blank: The Met Office has reliable climate evidence since _______.
1914
What is one management strategy for climate change?
Alternative energy production to reduce CO2 production
What is the purpose of the Thames Flood Barrier?
To reduce risk from rising sea levels
What does carbon capture do?
Takes carbon dioxide from emission sources and stores it underground
What are Natural Hazards?
Physical events such as earthquakes and volcanoes that can damage humans and property.
Includes tectonic hazards, tropical storms, and forest fires.
What factors affect hazard risk?
- Population growth
- Global climate change
- Deforestation
- Wealth - particularly in LICs due to lack of resources
What are the four layers of the Earth?
- Core (inner and outer)
- Mantle
- Crust
The crust is divided into tectonic plates.
What are the types of tectonic plate movements?
- Destructive margin
- Constructive margin
- Conservative margin
Each type of margin has different geological activities associated with it.
What are the two types of crust?
- Oceanic (thin, young, dense)
- Continental (old, thick, less dense)
The differences in crust types affect tectonic activities.
What causes tectonic plates to move?
Convection currents in the mantle.
These movements can lead to tectonic activity like earthquakes and volcanoes.
What are the primary effects of earthquakes?
- Property and buildings destroyed
- People injured or killed
- Ports, roads, railways damaged
- Broken pipes and cables
These effects occur immediately after an earthquake.
What are the secondary effects of earthquakes?
- Reduced business activity
- Blocked transport hindering emergency services
- Fires from broken gas pipes
- Lack of fresh water from broken water pipes
Secondary effects occur as a result of the primary effects.
What are the primary effects of volcanoes?
- Property and farmland destroyed
- People and animals killed or injured
- Air travel halted due to ash
- Contaminated water supplies
These effects happen immediately when a volcano erupts.
What are the secondary effects of volcanoes?
- Economy slows down
- Emergency services struggle to arrive
- Possible flooding from melting ice
- Increased tourism due to volcanic activity
Secondary effects often occur after the initial eruption.
What was the magnitude and impact of the Nepal earthquake in April 2015?
Magnitude 7.8
* 9000 deaths
* 23000 injured
* Over 500,000 homes destroyed
What were the immediate responses to tectonic hazards?
- Issue warnings
- Search for survivors
- Provide food and shelter
- Recover bodies
- Extinguish fires
Immediate responses focus on saving lives and providing basic needs.
What were the long-term responses to tectonic hazards?
- Repair and rebuild properties
- Improve building regulations
- Restore utilities
- Resettle locals
- Develop economic recovery opportunities
Long-term responses aim to rebuild and enhance resilience for future events.
What were the primary effects of the Chile earthquake in February 2010?
- 500 deaths
- 12000 injured
- 220,000 homes destroyed
- Damage to ports and airports
The earthquake significantly impacted infrastructure and human life.
What is the ‘Ring of Fire’?
A zone of high tectonic activity around the Pacific Ocean.
It is characterized by frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
What is the Coriolis effect?
The turning of the Earth that causes winds to curve from high pressure to low pressure.
This effect influences global weather patterns.
Fill in the blank: The Earth has _____ layers.
four layers
The layers are core, mantle, and crust.
True or False: LICs are more prepared for natural disasters than HICs.
False
LICs typically suffer more because they lack resources for effective disaster response.
What is a destructive margin?
Where an oceanic plate subducts under a continental plate, causing friction and volcanic activity.
This type of margin can lead to violent earthquakes and composite volcanoes.
What is the role of monitoring in reducing the impact of tectonic hazards?
Seismometers measure earth movement and gases from volcanoes help in evacuation predictions.
Monitoring technology is crucial for early warning systems.
