Natural hazards

Question 1

Hazard risk

Answer 1

The probability or chance that a natural hazard may take place.

Question 2

Natural hazard

Answer 2

A natural event (for example an earthquake, volcanic eruption, tropical storm, flood) that threatens people or has the potential to cause damage, destruction and death.

Question 3

Conservative plate margins

Answer 3

Tectonic plate margin where two tectonic plates slide past each other.

Question 4

Destructive plate margin

Answer 4

Tectonic plate margin where two plates are converging or coming together and oceanic plate is subducted. It can be associated with violent earthquakes and explosive volcanoes.

Question 5

Earthquake

Answer 5

A sudden or violent movement within the Earth’s crust followed by a series of shocks.

Question 6

Immediate responses

Answer 6

The reaction of people as the disaster happens and in the immediate aftermath.

Question 7

Long-term responses

Answer 7

Later reactions that occur in the weeks, months and years after the event.

Question 8

Monitoring

Answer 8

Recording physical changes, such as earthquake tremors around a volcano, to help forecast when and where a natural hazard might strike.

Question 9

Plate margin

Answer 9

The margin or boundary between two tectonic plates.

Question 10

Planning

Answer 10

Actions taken to enable communities to respond to, and recover from, natural disasters, through measures such as emergency evacuation plans, information management, communications and warning systems.

Question 11

Prediction

Answer 11

Attempts to forecast when and where a natural hazard will strike, based on current knowledge. This can be done to some extent for volcanic eruptions (and tropical storms), but less reliably for earthquakes.

Question 12

Primary effects

Answer 12

The initial impact of a natural event on people and property, caused directly by it, for instance the ground buildings collapsing following an earthquake.

Question 13

Protection

Answer 13

Actions taken before a hazard strikes to reduce its impact, such as educating people or improving building design.

Question 14

Secondary effects

Answer 14

The after-effects that occur as indirect impacts of a natural event, sometimes on a longer timescale, for instance fires due to ruptured gas mains resulting from the ground shaking.

Question 15

Tectonic hazard

Answer 15

A rigid segment of the Earth’s crust which can ‘float’ across the heavier, semi- molten rock below. Continental plates are less dense, but thicker than oceanic plates.

Question 16

Volcano

Answer 16

An opening in the Earth’s crust from which lava, ash and gases erupt.

Question 17

Adaptation

Answer 17

Actions taken to adjust to natural events such as climate change, to reduce potential damage, limit the impacts, take advantage of opportunities, or cope with the consequences.

Question 18

Climate change

Answer 18

A long-term change in the earth’s climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature.

Question 19

Mitigation

Answer 19

Action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from natural hazards, such as building earthquake-proof buildings or making international agreements about carbon reduction targets.

Question 20

Orbital changes

Answer 20

Changes in the pathway of the Earth around the Sun.

Question 21

Quaternary period

Answer 21

The period of geological time from about 2.6 million years ago to the present. It is characterised by the appearance and development of humans and includes the Pleistocene and Holocene Epochs.

Question 22

Economic impact

Answer 22

The effect of an event on the wealth of an area or community.

Question 23

Environmental impact

Answer 23

The effect of an event on the landscape and ecology of the surrounding area.

Question 24

Extreme weather

Answer 24

This is when a weather event is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern, and is especially severe or unseasonal. This may take place over one day or a period of time. A severe snow blizzard or heat wave are two examples of extreme weather in the UK.

Question 25

Global atmospheric circulation

Answer 25

The worldwide system of winds, which transports heat from tropical to polar latitudes. In each hemisphere, air also circulates through the entire depth of the troposphere which extends up to 15 km.

Question 26

Immediate responses

Answer 26

The reaction of people as the disaster happens and in the immediate aftermath.

Question 27

Long-term responses

Answer 27

Later reactions that occur in the weeks, months and years after the event.

Question 28

Management strategies

Answer 28

Techniques of controlling, responding to, or dealing with an event.

Question 29

Monitoring

Answer 29

Recording physical changes, such as tracking a tropical storm by satellite, to help forecast when and where a natural hazard might strike.

Question 30

Planning

Answer 30

Actions taken to enable communities to respond to, and recover from, natural disasters, through measures such as emergency evacuation plans, information management, communications and warning systems.

Question 31

Prediction

Answer 31

Attempts to forecast when and where a natural hazard will strike, based on current knowledge. This can be done to some extent for tropical storms (and volcanic eruptions, but less reliably for earthquakes).

Question 32

Primary effects

Answer 32

The initial impact of a natural event on people and property, caused directly by it, for instance buildings being partially or wholly destroyed by a tropical storm.

Question 33

Protection

Answer 33

Actions taken before a hazard strikes to reduce its impact, such as educating people or improving building design.

Question 34

Secondary effects

Answer 34

The after-effects that occur as indirect impacts of a natural event, sometimes on a longer timescale, for instance impact on access to potable water can lead to spread of disease.

Question 35

Social impact

Answer 35

The effect of an event on the lives of people or community.

Question 36

Tropical storm (hurricane, cyclone, typhoon)

Answer 36

An area of low pressure with winds moving in a spiral around the calm central point called the eye of the storm. Winds are powerful and rainfall is heavy.