Tectonic Hazards

Question 1

Name the four layers of the earth ?

Answer 1

Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core

Question 2

What are the key features of the earth’s layers ?

Answer 2

Crust: made of rock and minerals
Mantle: made of iron and magnesium
Outer core: made of hot and liquid iron and nickel
Inner core: solid iron and nickel

Question 3

What is the difference between oceanic and continental crust ?

Answer 3

Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust

Question 4

What is the difference between a tectonic plate and a plate boundary ?

Answer 4

Plate tectonics refers to the movement of large prices of the earth crust. A plate boundary is a place where two or more tectonic plates met

Question 5

How do convection currents work ?

Answer 5

Tectonic plates move due to convection currents in the mantle . Heat from the core makes magma in the mantle rise towards the crust. As the hot current nears the crust, it begins to cool and sink back towards the core. As the magma sinks, it drags the plates across the surface of the Earth.

Question 6

Describe the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes ?

Answer 6

Along plate boundaries

Question 7

What is the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’?

Answer 7

It is a series of volcanoes located in the Pacific Ocean in the shape of a ring

Question 8

What happens at a CONVERGENT (destructive) plate boundary?

Answer 8

A convergent boundary is an area on Earth where two or more tectonic plates collide. One plate eventually slides beneath the other, a process known as subduction

Question 9

What happens at a DIVERGENT (constructive) plate boundary?

Answer 9

A divergent boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. Along these boundaries, earthquakes are common

Question 10

What happens at a CONSERVATIVE plate boundary?

Answer 10

They are plate boundaries where two plate are either slipping past each other in opposite directions or at different rates in the same direction. The plates do not move past each other smoothly.

Question 11

What is the difference between the epicentre and the focus?

Answer 11

The focus is the place inside Earth’s crust where an earthquake originates. The point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus is the epicenter.

Question 12

How are earthquakes measured?

Answer 12

The Richter scale measures the largest wiggle (amplitude) on the recording

Question 13

What are the features of an earthquake proof building? How do they help during an earthquake?

Answer 13

Thin walls with steel bars that help to reduce the movement of the building. Sprinkler system to put out any fires. Shock absorbers in the base can absorb the shock waves produced by the earthquake. Cross bracing on windows to stop any falling glass.

Question 14

Why was vulnerable to the earthquake ?

Answer 14

Haiti sits on a fault line between huge tectonic plates, big pieces of the Earth’s crust that slide past each other over time

Question 15

How did Haiti prepare for the earthquake ?

Answer 15

Since Haiti is an LEDC it didn’t have enough money to prepare by having earthquake proof buildings

Question 16

What were the impacts of the earthquake on Haiti?

Answer 16

killed more than 316,000 people, left over 1.5 million homeless, and destroyed 250,000 buildings with most of the airports collapsed and broken pipes spread collera

Question 17

How did Haiti respond to the earthquake ?

Answer 17

Haiti asked military from other countries to help them clear the rubble from the roads and Haiti have education on what to do in situations like this

Question 18

Why was Japan vulnerable to the earthquake?

Answer 18

Japan is located in the Pacific earthquake belt and is frequently struck by earthquakes, while its complex coastline is vulnerable to tsunamis.

Question 19

How did Japan prepare for the earthquake?

Answer 19

They’ve built seawalls to protect against tsunamis in some of their coastal cities. And the people there are learn early how to react in case of earthquakes and tsunamis. People learn from early childhood about feeling the ground shaking. They practice evacuation drills and they also have earthquake proof buildings

Question 20

What were the impacts of the earthquake on Japan ?

Answer 20

An estimated 20,000 people were dead or missing and close to 500,000 people were forced to evacuate. In addition, a nuclear power plant meltdown triggered a nuclear emergency. The direct economic loss from the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster is estimated at $360 billion.

Question 21

How did Japan respond to the earthquake?

Answer 21

In the first hours after the earthquake, Japanese Prime Minister moved to set up an emergency command centre in Tokyo, and a large number of rescue workers and some 100,000 members of the Japanese Self-Defense Force were rapidly mobilized to deal with the crisis.

Question 22

Name the features of a volcano ?

Answer 22

The main features of a volcano include the magma chamber, vents, craters and slopes.

Question 23

Which feature of a volcano are dangerous ?

Answer 23

Lava domes form when high-viscosity lava is slowly erupted from a volcano. Because of the high viscosity of the lava, it cannot travel far from the vent and a dome of lava builds up. These lava domes are particularly hazardous as they tend to be unstable and can collapse

Question 24

Name and explain the four main reasons why people continue to live near volcanoes despite the risks?

Answer 24

volcanic rock and ash provide fertile land which results in a higher crop yield for farmers

tourists are attracted to the volcano, which increases money to the local economy

geothermal energy can be harnessed, which provides cheaper electricity for locals

minerals are contained in lava, eg diamonds - these can be mined to make money