Tectonic hazards Flashcards
what is a tectonic hazard?
threats caused by the movement of tectonic plates that have the potential to cause damage to life, property, the environment, human activity and or the economy
where do hazards mainly occur?
where the earths major plate boundaries meet
the movement occurs by convection currents in the earths mantle
distribution of earthquakes
75% of major earthquakes occur in the pacific ring of fire.
mid atlantic ridge- underwater mt range- n american and eurasian plate
the alpide earthquake belt is where 17% of the earths major earthquakes. eurasian and african plate
example of earthquake in the pacific ring of fire
boxing day earthquake 2004
9.0 on richter scale
example of an earthquake in the alpide earthquake belt
sumatra earthquake 2005
9.1 on richter scale
distribution of volcanoes
mostly on divergent and convergent plate boundaries
75% in ring of fire
others occur away from plate boundaries (hotspots)
example of volcano in ring of fire
mt pinatobu
example of hotspot volcano
yellow stone
distribution of tsunamis
convergent plate
70% in ring of fire
15% in the med
What causes earthquakes?
pressure built up in faults and released in seismic waves
focus point
point where pressure is released
epicentre
point on surface directly above where pressure is released
Hydro-meteorological
caused by climate processes
geo physical hazard
caused by land processes
plates earthquakes occur on
conservative
constructive
destructive
