Physical geography main specification points Flashcards
How can the global distribution of tectonic hazards be explained?
- global distribution of hazards
- distribution of plate boundary’s
- intraplate earthquakes and volcanoes
What are the theoretical frameworks to explain plate movement?
- plate tectonic and key elements (earth structures, mantle convection, sea floor spreading ect)
- different plate margins and processes operating at them
- physical processes that impact magnitude and focal depth (Benioff zone)
What physical processes explain the cause of tectonic hazards?
- earthquakes waves and secondary hazards
- volcanic secondary hazards
- tsunamis formation
How can the occurrence of a disaster be explained?
- hazard risk equation (vulnerability and resilience) Deggs
- PAR model
- social and economic impacts of a tectonic hazard (HIC,LIC and NEE)
Why are tectonic hazard profile important to understand hazard impacts, vulnerably and resilience?
- Magnitude and intensity using scales
- comparing characteristics (Magnitude, speed of onset, areal extent, frequency and spatial predictability)
- profiles on the social and economic impacts
How is governance important in understanding disaster impact, vulnerability and resilience?
- Inequality to acesse to education, housing, healthcare and income opportunities affecting vulnerability and resilience
- governance affecting geographical factors (pop density, isolation and degree of urbanisation and development)
- compare hazard event to show different
How can tectonic hazard trends explain differential impacts?
- trends since 1960
- megadisasters
- multiple hazard zones and hydrometerological hazards
How do theoretical frameworks be used to understand the prediction, impact and management?
- prediction and forecasting accuracy
- stages in hazard management
- Parks model showing disaster on different stages of development
How can tectonic hazard be managed through mitigation and adaptation?
- modify the event (landuse and hazard resistance buildings, lava diversion)
- modify the vulnerability (monitoring, prediction, education and community preparedness)
- modify the loss (aid and insurance)
What is the littoral zone?
- littoral zone
- classification of coasts (long term and short term)
- type of coastlines
How does geological structure influence the development of coastal landscapes at a variety of scales?
- concordant vs disconcordant
- coastal morphology (Dalmation, Half, headland and bays)
- Geological structure (jointing, dip, faults) important for erosion and micro features
How does lithology affect rates of coastal recession and stability?
- bedrock lithology (type of rock), unconsolidated material
- differential erosion at alternating strata
- vegetation
How does marine erosion create distinct coastal landforms and coastal landscapes?
- wave type and how it varies
- erosional processes and influences
- erosional landforms
How does sediment transport create distinct landforms and contribute to coastal landscape?
- influence of sediment transport (angle of wave, long shore drift, tides and currents)
- depositional landforms
- sediment cells
How do subaerial processes influence coastal landforms and landscapes?
- weathering and types
- mass movement
- mass movement landforms (rotational scars, talus scree slopes and Terrance cliff profiles)
How does sea level change influence coasts on different timescales?
- long terms sea level rise eustatic and isostatic
- emergent and submerged coastlines and features
- contemporary sea level rise (global warming and tectonic activity)
How does rapid coastal retreat create threats to costal communities?
- causes of coastal recession (physical influenced by human)
- subaerial processes
- influences on rates of erosion
How is coastal flooding increasing risk for some coastlines?
- local factors (height of coastline, subsidence, vegetation removal) so increasing sea level increase risk
- storm surge events
- climate change (sea level rise, magnitude of storms)
How is increased risk of coastal recession and flooding having serious consequences?
- economic losses and social losses (partially bad in dense coastal development)
- impacts of coast flooding and storm surges
- climate change creating environmental refugees
What are the different approaches to managing risk of coastal recession and flooding?
- hard engineering
- soft engineering
- sustainable management
How are coastlines managed by ICZM?
- Littoral cells concept to manage coastlines
- Shoreline management policy decisions
- creating conflict
Why is the hydrological cycle importance to life on earth?
- the hydrological cycle (closed system)
- the relative importance and size of the water stores and annual fluxes
- the global water budget
What is the drainage basin (open system)?
- systems of linked processes and flows (inputs and outputs)
- physical factors in a drainages basin determent he relative importance of inputs, loss and outputs
- human interference
How does the hydrological cycle influence water budgets and river systems at a local scale?
- what are water budgets (show annual balance between inputs and outputs)
- river regimes
- storm hydrographs
What causes deficits within the hydrological cycle?
- courses of drought (precipitation deficit, ENSO, climate change)
- contribution of human activity (over abstraction)
- impact of droughts on ecosystem functioning (wetland and forest stress)
What causes surplus within the hydrological cycle?
- causes of flooding (intense storms, prolonged rainfall, extreme monsoon rainfall and snow melt)
- human action that exacerbate flood risk (changing land use, mismanagement)
- damage from flooding on environment (environmental and socio-economic)
How has climate change impacted the hydrological system globally and locally?
- affects inputs and outputs within the hydrological cycle
- affects stores and flows, size of snow and glacier mass, lakes amount go permafrost, soil moistures level and rates of surface runoff and stream flow)
- climate change is due to short term oscillation (ENSO) and creates uncertainties.
What are the causes of water insecurity?
- mismatch between supply and demand leading to a global pattern of water stress
- physical causes (climate change, salt water encroachment) and human causes (over-extraction and contamination)
- water in finite and facing pressure from rising demand (increase population, improving living standard and economic development)
What are the consequences and risks of water insecurity?
- causes and global pattern of physical water scarcity and economic scarcity and variation in price of water
- importance of water supply fro economic development (industry, energy supply and agriculture), and human wellbeing (sanitation, health and food preparation)
- potential of conflicts both transboundary and local
What are the different approaches to managing water?
- tehcnofixes and hard engineering (desalination, water transfer and mega dams)
- sustainable schemes (restoration of supply and water conservation)
- integrated drainage basin management and water sharing treaties
