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Natural Hazards Flashcards

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1
Q

define a natural hazard

A

a natural process which could cause death, destruction or disruption to humans or destroy property.

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2
Q

give three factors affecting a hazard risk

A
  • vulnerability
  • capacity to cope
  • nature of natural hazards
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3
Q

name the type of plate boundary where two plates are moving towards each other

A

destructive plate boundary

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4
Q

name the type of plate boundary where two plates are moving sideways against each other

A

conservative plate boundary

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5
Q

why do volcanoes form at destructive plate boundaries

A
  • denser oceanic plate forced down when they collide
  • plate melts making magma
  • magma rises, cracking the folded continental plate
  • magma rises into the hole in plate and volcano is formed
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6
Q

at which type of plate boundaries can earthquakes occur at

A

all boundaries:

  • destructive
  • conservative
  • contructive
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7
Q

give an example of an earthquake in a RICHER part of the world (location, date, magnitude)

A
  • l’aquila, italy
  • 6th april 2009
  • 6.3 richter scale
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8
Q

describe three primary effects of an earthquake in a RICHER part of the world

A
  • 300 people died (families without income/emotional trauma)
  • landmarks collapsed (tourism rate reduced, less income)
  • hospitals evacuated (injured couldnt be treated/worsens injuries- infections/further disease?)
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9
Q

give an example of an earthquake in a POORER part of the world (location, date, magnitude)

A
  • nepal
  • 25th april 2015
  • 7.9 richter scale
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10
Q

describe three primary effects of an earthquake in a POORER part of the world

A
  • 9000 died (families without income/emotional trauma)
  • 50% schools destroyed (lack of education/ unqualified for jobs)
  • reduced supply of food, work and electricity (quality of life reduced/cant support families)
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11
Q

why do people live in places prone to tectonic hazards

A
  • moving large numbers of people would be impractical
  • jobs are plentiful near volcanoes
  • tourism attracts thousands of people (eg mount Etna)
  • volcanic soil is fertile (mt Vesuvius grows olive trees)
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12
Q

describe global atmospheric circulation

A
  • warm air rises at equator
    -similar air mass on other side of equator forces other air mass to move north creating low pressure zone
    cools & sinks at 30*N then travels south back to equator and along replacing air that rose previously
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13
Q

describe the distribution of tropical storms

A
  • 5-25 north and south of equator

- mainly found over oceans

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14
Q

what conditions are required for a tropical storm to develop

A
  • 27*C sea
  • 5* - 25* north and south of equator
  • 60-70m deep sea
  • summer and autumn
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15
Q

in what direction does a tropical storm develop? which way does it move?

A
  • because of the coriolis effect, tropical storms spin anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere
  • in the southern hemisphere they spin clockwise
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16
Q

what can cause a tropical storm to lose strength

A
  • land (no energy from the sea)

- if sea cools down (not 27’C anymore)

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17
Q

describe three characteristics of the eye of tropical storm

A
  • 50km across & caused by descending air
  • low pressure, high temp
  • no clouds or rain
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18
Q

how might climate change effect tropical storms

A

warmer temp causes sea temp to rise

  • more areas of oceans above 27’C, more places experience tropical storms
  • oceans 27’C more often, no. of storms increase
  • higher temp = more energy for storm, stronger storm = more damage
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19
Q

using an example, describe three PRIMARY effects of tropical storms

A
  • 6000 people killed
  • 400mm of rain (widespread flooding)
  • Airport was badly damaged (no money from tourism)
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20
Q

using an example, describe three SECONDARY effects of tropical storms

A
  • Shortages of food and water (outbreaks of disease)
  • Jobs, schools and hospitals damaged (disrupting livelihood)
  • Flooding caused landslides (cut off aid)
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21
Q

using an example, describe the IMMEDIATE responses to a tropical storm

A
  • Temporary shelters provided by governments
  • Philippines Red Cross delivered food aid
  • 1200 evacuation centres set up for homeless
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22
Q

using an example, describe the LONG-TERM responses to a tropical storm

A
  • Thousands of homes built away from areas at risk of flooding
  • Rice farming and fishing industry re-established
  • Cyclone shelters built to accommodate evacuated people
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23
Q

list the types of extreme weather that can be experienced in the UK and 2 effects of each

A
  • heavy rain (floods damage homes/force businesses to close)
  • strong winds (disrupts transport/ flying debris can injure people)
  • hailstorms (destroy crops/damage property)
  • heavy snow & ice (slipping causes injuries/ airports close = major economic impacts)
  • drought (crop failures/conserving water ie ban on hosepipes)
  • thunderstorms (rare deaths/fires that damage property)
  • heat waves (pollution builds up in air = death from breathing difficulties/ tourism may beneifit)
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24
Q

give 3 pieces of evidence of weather becoming more extreme in the UK

A
  • extreme temps (dec 2010 coldest winter in 100 years; april 2011 warmest april on record)
  • more rain (2013 wettest year recorded; dec 2015 wettest month on record)
  • major floods more often (cumbria had serious flood in 2005, 2009, 2015-16)
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25
Q

give an example of one extreme UK weather event and explain what caused it

A

somerset floods, december 2013/14

  • v. flat part of land
  • depression across atlantic brought 350mm of rain
  • rivers not dredged for 20 years (clogged sediment)
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26
Q

what is the quaternary period

A

most recent geological time period from 2.6 mill years ago to now
before this time, earths climate was warm & stable
shifted from cold glacial periods (10,000years) to warmer interglacial periods (100,000years)

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27
Q

give three pieces of evidence for climate changing in the quaternary period

A
  • ice cores - longterm(scientist drilled into ice cores & analysed gases trapped showing temp each year - increased rapidly)
  • tree rings - longterm(counted tree rings -new ring each year - ring is thicker in warm temp so tells us the climate)
  • temp records - shortterm(since 1850s temp recorded using thermometers)
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28
Q

what are the natural factors that can cause climate change

A
  • orbital changes (earth’s orbit around sun changes from perfect circle to ellipse every 96000 years)affects the amount of solar radiation earth gets
  • volcanic activity(when eruption occurs, particles reflect sun rays to space so earth cools)
  • solar output(suns energy output varies over periods of 11 years. reduced solar output may cause earth to cool in some areas)
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29
Q

what is the greenhouse effect

A
  • when greenhouse gases ie co2/methane absorb outgoing heat so less is lost to space
  • too much g.h. gases in atmosphere means too much trapped energy and plant warms up
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30
Q

how can human activities increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

A
  • burning fossil fuels (when burnt ie through petrol and coal, co2 is released)
  • farming (cows produce large amounts of methane when ridding gases from their bodies)
  • deforestation (trees remove co2 from atmosphere. when chopped down, stop taking in co2 & also release it when burned)
31
Q

give three effects of climate change on the environment

A
  • ice caps melt causing habitat loss and rising sea levels
  • coral reefs are bleached bc of rising sea temp
  • quantity of species (habitats are being destroyed by climate change & species adapted to cetrtain areas with certain climates which are now changing could become extinct)
32
Q

how might alternative energy production reduce the causes of climate change

A
  • less greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels
33
Q

define a GEOLOGICAL hazard and give three examples

A

caused by land and tectonic processes

  • volcanoes
  • earthquakes
  • avalanches
34
Q

define a METEORLOGICAL hazard and give three examples

A

caused by weather and climate

  • tropical storms
  • heatwaves
  • climate change
35
Q

describe the differences between continental and oceanic crust

A 
OCEANIC CRUST
- thinner (5-10km)
- more dense
CONTINENTAL CRUST 
- thicker (30-50km)
- less dense
36
Q

label the inner structure of the world

A

inner core, outer core, mantle, crust

37
Q

how are destructive plate boundaries formed

A
  • plates are moving bc of convection currents
  • oceanic crust moves towards continental plate
  • oceanic is more dense so subducts under mantle & destroyed
  • creates volcanoes & ocean trenches
  • two continental plates can collide and be forced upwards & fold creating mountain ranges
38
Q

how are conservative plate boundaries formed

A
  • plates are moving bc of convection currents
  • two plates move sideways past each other (diff direction)/ same direction diff speeds
  • causes earthquakes
39
Q

what are the nature of natural hazards and how do they affect the hazard risk

A
  • type. higher hazard risk for more sudden hazards ie earthquakes - hard to predict
  • freq. some occur more than others increasing hazard risk
  • magnitude. more severe hazards cause greater effects than less severe ie 9.0 earthquake - 15000 dead; 6.3 earthquake 300 dead
40
Q

name all four management techniques

A

monitoring, prediction, protection, planning

41
Q

describe how tectonic hazards can be monitored

A
  • VCNO. seisometers monitor earth’s movements used as an early warning system
  • VCNO. scientists monitor signs that come before volcanic eruption ie escaping gas and tiny earthquakes
42
Q

describe how tectonic hazards can be predicted

A
  • ERQK. movement of tectonic plates monitored forecasting which areas should prep for earthquake
  • VCNO. if well monitored, predicting when it occurs gives ppl time to evactuate and reduces no. of deaths
43
Q

describe how tectonic hazards can be protected against

A

ERQK

  • buildings designed to withstand earthquakes ie reinforced concrete absorbs earthquakes energy
  • buildings strengthened ie pillars wrapped in steel frames so less likely to collapse bc of shaking from earthquake
  • automatic gas & electricity shut off switches fitted to prevent fires if earthquake is detected
44
Q

describe how tectonic hazards can be planned for

A
  • emergency services train for disasters, reducing no. of ppl killed ie practice saving ppl from collapsed building
  • emergency supplies ie blankets & food stockpiled so ppl have enough to survive if trapped
  • government plan evac. routes getting ppl out of dangerous areas quick preventing injuries from fires/ mudflows
45
Q

name and describe the features of a tropical storm

A
  • eye of storm has no wind/rain, low pressure

- rain bands surround the eye

46
Q

describe how tropical storms can be predicted

A
  • data from satellites used to monitor storms. computer models can predict the path of the storm
  • prediction give ppl time to protect their homes ie by boarding up windows
47
Q

describe how tropical storms can be planned for

A
  • emergency services prepare by practicing saving ppl from flooded areas reducing no. of ppl killed
  • governments plan evac. routes to get ppl away from storms quickly
48
Q

describe how tropical storms can be protected against

A
  • buildings designed to withstand tropical storms ie putting building on stilt away from floodwater
  • flood defences built along rivers and coats ie sea walls, reducing buildings detroyed and no. of ppl killed, injured & homeless
49
Q

describe how extreme weather in the UK can be predicted

A
  • prediction (warning systems ie Met office give ppl time to prepare)
50
Q

describe how extreme weather in the UK can be protected against

A

-protection (local authorities prepare before it happens ie stock up on grit/salt supplies)

51
Q

describe how extreme weather in the UK can be planned for

A
  • planning (local councils know how to prepare ie close schools when weather is too dangerous)
52
Q

give three effects of climate change on people

A
  • deaths due to heat increased
  • low crop yields could increase malnutrition & death from starvation in hotter countries
  • some places struggle supplying enough water to residents leading to political tensions
53
Q

define mitigation

A

taking action to reduce the causes of climate change

trying to prevent the problem from happening

54
Q

define adaptation

A

adjusting/ responding to the effects of climate change

coping with the negative effects of the problem

55
Q

describe three mitigation strategies

A
  • carbon capture (capturing CO2 & transporting it deep underground - reduces emissions from fossil fuels)
  • planting trees (increases the amount of CO2 absorbed through photosynthesis)
  • international agreements (countries set targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions in their country ie Kyoto protocol UK agreed 12.5% reduction)
56
Q

describe three adaptation strategies

A
  • agricultural change(change crop type grown suitable for new climate/create new crop varieties resistant to extreme weather ie S.A drought resistant millet)
  • managing water supply (water meters installed-ppl dont use as much water/ rainwater collected)
  • coping with rising sea levels (physical defences ie flood barrier in london/ houses built on earth embankments in bangladesh)
57
Q

describe how a place’s capacity to cope with natural hazards affect the hazard risk

A

if a place has enough money to protect themselves ie flood defences and repair costs) they can cope with natural hazard and the hazard risk is lower

58
Q

describe how a place’s vulnerability to natural hazards affect the hazard risk

A

the more people in areas exposed to natural hazards, the greater the probability they will be affected by it, the higher the hazard risk

59
Q

describe three secondary effects of an earthquake in a POORER part of the world

A
  • avalanche on mt everest killed 19 people
  • houses destroyed causing food shortages/no income
  • earthquake happened before monsoon season = more destruction
60
Q

describe three secondary effects of an earthquake in a RICHER part of the world

A
  • aftershocks caused landslides which damaged housing
  • central businesses cordoned off (bad for local economy)
  • decreased umber of uni students
61
Q

describe three short term responses to an earthquake in a POORER part of the world

A
  • $130 million raised by UK DEC (emergency aid)

- temp shelters set up for 200,000 homeless

62
Q

describe three short term responses to an earthquake in a RICHER part of the world

A
  • 40,000 tents for the homeless
  • italian red cross searching for survivors within hours
  • mortgages and bills for gas/ electricity suspended
63
Q

describe three long term responses to an earthquake in a RICHER part of the world

A
  • residents didnt have to pay taxes in 2010
  • students exempt from uni fees for 3 years/ given free transport
  • procession took place remembering those who died
64
Q

describe three long term responses to an earthquake in a POORER part of the world

A
  • heritage sites reopened to encourage more tourism
  • 8 months after a reported $270 million of aid was donated
  • 23 areas need rebuilding after a post disaster needs assessment was carried out
65
Q

give an example of a tropical storm (location, date)

A

typhoon haiyan
Tacloban, Philippines
2nd october 2013

66
Q

using an example, give the primary effects of an extreme weather event in UK (4)

A
  • 600 houses flood, in polluted water for 6 weeks
  • cost £10 million
  • 14,000 ha of farmland underwater for 4 weeks
67
Q

using an example, give immediate responses of an extreme weather event in UK (3)

A
  • local volunteers gave their support
  • villagers used boats to travel instead of cars
  • debris cleared
68
Q

using an example, give long term responses of an extreme weather event in UK (3)

A
  • 8km of river tone & river parratt dredged (increased capacity of river)
  • road level raised to maintain communication
  • vulnerable communities have flood defences
69
Q

using an example, give the secondary effects of an extreme weather event in UK

A
  • 1000 livestock had to be evacuated from 16 farms
  • power cut off
  • residents in temp accommodation for months
70
Q

how are constructive plate boundaries formed

A
  • plates are moving bc of convection currents
  • two plates move away from each other
  • magma rises from mantle to fill gap & cools creating new crust
  • creates volcanoes
71
Q

what is magma

A

molten rock

72
Q

what is lava

A

molten rock that reaches earths surface

73
Q

how does global atmospheric circulation lead to high and low pressure belts

A
  • warm air rises (air rises at the equator)
  • at areas of low pressure, winds on the ground move towards the low pressure areas
  • this fills the space left by the rising air
74
Q

how does a tropical storm develop

A
  • sun warms sea to 27* causing evaporation
  • the moist warm air rises causing low pressure conditions
  • as air rises, cools & condenses & draws in more moisture from sea causing strong winds
  • Coriolis effect causes air to spin upwards. some cooled air sinks down creating a calm central eye
  • as air rises & condenses forms large cumulonimbus clouds causing heavy rainfall
  • air rushes in from high pressure areas outside storm to lower pressure areas at centre of storm creating winds

Geography (11 decks)

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