T1:Hazordous Earth Flashcards
What is global atmospheric circulation?
A system of winds transferring heat from the equator to the poles. It’s made up of three cells: Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar, which create belts of low and high pressure influencing climate.
Why does the equator receive more radiation than the poles?
The sun’s rays hit the equator at a direct angle, heating a smaller surface area more intensely than the poles.
What causes wind on Earth?
Wind is caused by air moving from high to low pressure. The Coriolis effect causes it to deflect right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere due to Earth’s rotation.
What are jet streams?
Fast-flowing air currents found at the boundaries of circulation cells, influencing weather patterns like storm tracks.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Without them, Earth would be about 33°C cooler.
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Caused by human activity increasing CO₂, CH₄, and other gases, intensifying natural warming.
Milankovitch cycles – what are they?
Long-term changes in Earth’s orbit and tilt that affect climate:
Eccentricity: Orbit shape changes every 100,000 years.
Obliquity: Tilt varies every 41,000 years.
Precession: Wobble every 26,000 years.
Volcanic eruptions and solar output – how do they affect climate?
Volcanic ash and gases can reflect sunlight, cooling the Earth. Solar output changes in 11-year cycles, influencing temperature slightly.
What are the effects of climate change?
More extreme weather
Melting glaciers and sea level rise
Ecosystem shifts and biodiversity loss
Increased droughts and floods
How do tectonic plates move?
Due to convection currents in the mantle, slab pull, and ridge push.
Types of plate boundaries?
Divergent: Plates move apart (e.g., Mid-Atlantic Ridge)
Convergent: Plates collide (e.g., Andes)
Conservative: Plates slide past (e.g., San Andreas Fault)
Primary vs Secondary impacts of earthquakes
Primary: Direct (e.g., building collapse, deaths)
Secondary: Indirect (e.g., fires, disease, tsunamis)
Case Study: Haiti 2010 Earthquake
7.0 magnitude, 230,000 deaths, poor infrastructure, long-term aid needed.
Case Study: Japan 2011 Earthquake
9.0 magnitude, tsunami, 15,000+ deaths, high cost (£130 billion), nuclear disaster.
What are tropical cyclones and how do they form?
Large low-pressure systems forming over warm ocean water (26.5°C+), needing Coriolis force, high humidity, and low wind shear.
Cyclone Nargis (Myanmar, 2008)
138,000 deaths, poor warning, major flooding, weak government response.
Hurricane Katrina (USA, 2005)
$100 billion damage, 1,800+ deaths, poor response in low-income areas like New Orleans.
At the poles, cool air sinks creating high pressure. The high-pressure air is drawn back towards the equator as suface winds. Is this true or false?
True
2 natural causes of climate change
. Orbital changes
. Volcanic eruptions
Why is there little rain associated with areas of high pressure?
The air in these areas sink. As air decends it compresses and warms up meaning it wont form a cloud
Example of a high pressure area
Autralia
2 pieces of evidence of climate change
. Tree rings
. Ice cores
When does a tropical storm lose its energy?
When it makes itself to land
Why is it more common for cyclones to form Between the equator and tropic of cancer,Between the equator and tropic of Capicon?
This is because the temperatures between these areas are warmer of atleast 26.5 degrees
What are the names of our 2 tropical cyclone case studies?
Cyclone nargis (myanmar), hurricane katrina (united states)
Short term effects in hurricane katrina and cyclone nargis
Katrina
. Around 1400 deathes
. Flooding
. Thousands displaced
Nargis
. 140,000 lives lost
. Infrastructure Collapse
. Government Restrictions on Aid
Long term effects on cyclone nargis and hurricane katrina
Cyclone nargis- severe flooding
Hurdicane katrina- sewage system probems
Preperation for katrina and nargis (hurricanes in general)
Katrina
. Satellite tracking
. Good Building design
Nargis
. Myanmar doesn’t have a dedicated monitoring centre for tropical cyclones
. Forests help protect from flooding
Volcanic activity can cause long term changes in climate. Is this true or false?
True
Explain how transport contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases that are released by card etc, trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere.
What was an impacts of the Little Ice Age?
Killed people, animals
What is a storm surge?
A storm surge is a sudden rise in sea level caused by strong winds (hurricane)
How do countries prepare for tropical storms?
Countries will prepare for a tropical storm hours before it hits. When they do this an alarm will go of indicating that a tropical stom will happen. Countries will set up shelters in places like subways or tell them to evacuate the area.
Two environmental impacts of tropical storms
Erosion, Destruction of Ecosystems eg forests
How do earthquakes occur?
Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other horizontally.
What are the two types of volcanos?
Shield volcano (in the ground), composite (sticking out)
What are the two plate margins?
Convergent- land moves into eachother
Divergent- land seperate and pulls away from eachother
One way the government helped people after the earthquake in chili
. Made 300,000 houses
