natural processes Flashcards
natural hazard
A physical/natural event that poses a threat to human systems
natural event
an event that does not pose a threat to human systems
natural disaster
the situation after a natural hazard has cause deaths, damage and destruction.
Hydro-meteorological hazards
Hazards resulting from weather processes
geophysical hazards
hazards resulting from tectonic processes.
volcano
an opening/vent in the earths crust where molten material comes out.
pangea
continents were once joined
constructive plate boundary
.Where two tectonic plates move apart creating new land and small earthquakes and volcanoes.
destructive plate boundary
towards each other, and one is forced under the other. This creates powerful volcanoes and earthquakes.
conservative plate boundary
Where two tectonic plates are moving past each other. This causes earthquakes as the plates may stick.
collision plate boundary
Where two plates move towards each other and are both forced upwards creating mountains and earthquakes.
convection currrents
The movement in the mantle where rock is heated up and rises, before cooling and sinking.
dormant volcano
a volcano that hasn’t erupted for years but can still erupt.
extinct volcano
a volcano that hasn’t erupted for a million years and will not erupt.
active volcano
a volcano that has recently erupted and will erupt shortly
vent
a hole through which lava erupts
crater
The depression at the top of the vent
magma
molten rock below earths surface
shield volcano
a gently sloped volcano -has small runny lava
composite volcano
a tall volcano made by layers of lava and ash
inner core
The solid, internal centre of the Earth that is the same temperature as the sun.
outer core
The liquid layer of the Earth made of iron and nickel.
mantle
The middle layer of the Earth. This is a thick, semi-solid liquid that moves very slowly and causes the crust to move.
crust
Thin, outer layer of the Earth made of rock.
continental crust
Land, 30-50km, thick and less dense mostly made of granite. Cannot be renewed or destroyed.
oceanic crust
Under the ocean, 6-8km, light but dense made of basalt. Can be renewed and destroyed.
