Physical - Hazardous Environments

Question 1

Hazard
def

Answer 1

an event that threatens or actually causes damage and destruction to people, their property and settlements

Question 2

Why are some places more vulnerable to Hazards [4]

Answer 2

• Some places experience more than one type of natural hazards events
• Some places experience natural disasters more frequently than others
• In some places, hazards are stronger and more destructive than others
• Some places are able to cope to the impact of disasters better

Question 3

Geological Hazards [3]

Answer 3

Earthquakes
Volcanic eruption
Landslides

Question 4

Climatic Hazards

Answer 4

Storms
Flood
Drought

Question 5

Biological Hazards

Answer 5

Fires
Pests
Diseases

Question 6

Technological Hazards

Answer 6

Nuclear Explosion
Transport accident
Pollution

Question 7

Formation of a tropical cyclone [5]

Answer 7

• High temperatures of air rise from the surface of the sea
• The rising causes local thunderstorms
• Small storms come together to create a strong flow of rapidly rising air
• Produces an are of increasingly low pressure
• Shear winds cause it to rotate, setting the tropical cyclone into motion

Question 8

Features of the eye of a tropical cyclone

Answer 8

Calm, low pressure

Question 9

Conditions for a tropical Cyclone to develop [5]

Answer 9

• Deep layer of warm(>27), humid and unstable air
• Supply of heat an moisture from the surface of the sea
• The sea must be at its warmest (summer)
• Circular motion of the air encouraged by the Coriolis Force
• Small changes in wind speed and direction with changes in altitude (shear)

Question 10

Distribution of tropical cyclones

Answer 10

Formed close to the equator, mostly reach unto within the tropics

Question 11

Characteristics of a tropical Cyclone [3]

Answer 11

• Strong winds
• Triggers landslides and mudslides
• Storm Surges

Question 12

Types of plate margins [4]

Answer 12

Collision: Land moving towards land, creates mountains
Destructive convergent: Oceanic and continental move together, oceanic submerges below
Constructive: Two plates move apart, volcanic eruptions, new land created
Conservative: Sliding across in different directions or speeds

Question 13

What causes tectonic plates to move

Answer 13

Convection currents in the magma

Question 14

Volcanic eruption characteristics [5]

Answer 14

• Lava Flow
• Ash cloud
• Rockfall
• Gas emmision
• Pyroclastic flow

Question 15

Earthquake epicenter vs focus

Answer 15

Focus: Point where pressure builds up
Epicenter: Above focus on ground level

Question 16

Hazard of earthquakes[4]

Answer 16

• Shake buildings
• Cause them to fall apart and collapse
• Causes damage to people and property
• Damages gas, electricity, fire

Question 17

Tsunami

Answer 17

Underwater earthquake

Question 18

Volcanic Eruption Scale

Answer 18

Volcanic Explosivity Index, 1-8, measures volume of gas etc

Question 19

Earthquake scale

Answer 19

Mercalli Scale (Impact seen)
Richter Scale (Energy released)

Question 20

Factors affecting damage caused by an earthquake [7]

Answer 20

• Energy of earthquake
• Size of area affected
• Population density
• Duration of event
• Warning
• Preparation
• Ability to cope

Question 21

Impact of an earthquake [4+3]

Answer 21

—primary—
- Collapsed Buildings
- People injured by falling material
- Broken water/gas pipes
- Downed electricity power lines
—secondary—
- Aftershocks
- Tsunamis
- Fires

Question 22

Impacts of Volcanic Eruption [3+3]

Answer 22

• Buildings, roads, crops destroyed by lava flows
• Death and injuries resulting directly from lava, ash and gas
• Contamination of water supplies by ash
  _______
• Lahars created by mud, ash and water mixing
• Fires caused by lava and pyroclastic flow
• Economic losses, psychological trauma

Question 23

Scale Tropical Cyclones

Answer 23

Safir Sympson Scale (1-5)

Question 24

Impacts of Tropical Cyclones
_{physical, social, economic, environmental}

Answer 24

Physical: Damage by wind, rain, storm surges
Social: Death, disruption of life
Economic: Infrastructure, businesses damaged
Environmental: Landslides, soil erosion, flooding

Question 25

Predicting an preparing for natural disasters steps

Answer 25

Identify threat
Risk assesment
Prediction
preperation
HAZARD EVENT
recovery
appraisal

Question 26

Preparation for earthquakes [3]

Answer 26

Earthquake resistant buildings: Shock absorbers, steel reinforcement, flexible buildings
Remote sensing and GIS: Predicting landslides, using other geographical information, predicting storm surges to tsunamis
Education: Education campaigns, evacuation plans, what to do in an emergency

Question 27

Emergency response [9]

Answer 27

• Releasing people from collapsed buildings
• Clearing debris
• Restoring basic services such as water
• Providing medical, psychological help to victims
• Organising distribution of rations etc
• Setting up temporary shelters
• transporting emergency supplies
• Emergency aid
• recovery of infrastructure and business

Question 28

Long term planning [5]

Answer 28

• reflecting on effectiveness
• revising if required
• Relocating settlement
• Better building planning
• Planning aid