Tectonic Landscapes Flashcards

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1
Q

Name and describe each layer of the earth

A

Inner Core - Centre and hottest part, made of iron and nickel, heats earth

Outer Core - Liquid iron and nickel

Mantle - Widest section, made from semi - molten rock (magma)

Crust - solid outer layer, made from 2 types of plate - continental and oceanic

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2
Q

Explain how the Earth’s plates move

A
  • Heat in magma generated by radioactive decay in core
  • Heat rises and falls -> convection currents
  • Convection currents move plates

When currents converge - plates move together

When currents diverge - plates move apart

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3
Q

Name and describe the 3 types of plate boundary

A

Constructive - move apart

Destructive - move together

Transform - slide past

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4
Q

Describe how volcanoes form at a named constructive boundaries

A

As plates move apart, magma rises

Magma erupts to surfaces, alongside earthquakes

When magma reaches surfaces, cools, solidifies -> new crust of igneous rock

Repeated -> volcano

Large volcanoes at sea -> volcanic islands

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5
Q

Describe how volcanoes form at destructive boundaries

A
  • Oceanic plate is denser than continental plate
  • Forced underneath at subduction zone
  • Magma collects -> magma chamber
  • Rises through cracks in continental crust - as pressure builds -> volcanic eruption
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6
Q

Describe how fold mountains are formed and name the plate boundary they form at

A

Destructive plate boundary - 2 continental plates

Plates are squashed together and forced up
- creates fold mountains, such as the Alps

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7
Q

Describe how an earthquake happens

A
  • Tension caused by friction between plates
  • Pressure released from inside Earth’s crust
  • Energy released in seismic waves - spread out from focus, stronger at epicentre
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8
Q

What is the difference between the focus and the epicentre?

A

Focus = point where pressure released

Epicentre = point on surface above focus

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9
Q

What are the 3 main features of the Richter Scale?

A

Measures energy released in earthquake

Magnitude increases 10 fold as move up scale

No upper limit to scale

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10
Q

What are the 2 main features of the Mercalli scale?

A

Measures effects and impacts - damage done and moment felt

Measured in Roman Numerals from I to XII

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11
Q

Give 4 short term and 2 long term social impacts of an earthquake

A

Short Term:

  • Death and injury
  • Homes destroyed
  • Transport and communication links disrupted
  • Water supplies contaminated

Long Term:

  • Disease spreads
  • Refugees need rehousing
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12
Q

Give 3 short term and 3 long term economic impacts of an earthquake

A

Short Term:

  • Shops and businesses destroyed
  • Looting
  • Transport and communication links damaged, so hard to trade

Long Term:

  • Expensive to rebuild
  • Lost income
  • Area investment focused on rebuilding
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13
Q

Give 4 short term and 1 long term environmental impacts of an earthquake

A

Short Term:

  • Landscape destroyed
  • Fires spread due to gas pipe explosions
  • Landslides
  • Tsunamis if near coast

Long Term:
- Important landmarks lost

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14
Q

Explain 4 factors affecting the impact of an earthquake

A
  • Distance from epicentre: closer = stronger
  • Richter Scale: higher = stronger
  • Wealth of country: HICs better prepared
  • Time of day: worse at rush hour/ night
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15
Q

Explain 3 reasons why LICS are effected worse by earthquakes

A
  • Few communications: harder for help to arrive
  • Worse construction standards: more likely to collapse -> more deaths
  • Less money for clean up: can’t rebuild safely and quickly -> more in refugee camps
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16
Q

Give the cause of the 1995 7.4 Richter Earthquake in Kobe, Japan

A

Movement along Philippines, Pacific and Eurasian plate boundary

17
Q

Give 4 effects of the 1995 7.4 Richter Earthquake in Kobe, Japan

A

35,000 injured

Buildings and bridges collapsed

Fires caused by gas explosions destroyed buildings

316,000 left homeless - refugees -> temporary buildings

18
Q

Give 4 responses of the 1995 7.4 Richter Earthquake in Kobe, Japan

A
  • Evacuation of city, and emergency rations provided
  • Rescue teams searched for survivors for 10 days
  • Many permanently moved away
  • Created jobs in construction industry a when rebuilding
19
Q

Explain 3 ways of predicting earthquakes

A

Laser beams - detect plate movement

Seismometer - pick up vibrations: more = possible earthquake

Radon gas escapes from cracks in crust - sudden increase = earthquake

20
Q

Explain 3 ways of preparing for an earthquake

A

Training people: earthquake drills, forecasts

Emergency kits: first aid items, blankets and food

Earthquake proof buildings and roads in major cities: absorb earthquake energy, withstand earth movement

21
Q

Name and describe each part of a volcano

A

Magma chamber - collection of magma below volcano

Main vent - main outlet for magma escape

Secondary vents - smaller outlets

Crater - created after eruption blows off volcanoes

22
Q

Explain why a volcanic eruption happens

A

Pressure in magma chamber forces magma up and out of main vent and secondary vents

23
Q

Name the 3 levels of volcano activity

A

Active - frequently erupt

Dormant - temporarily inactive

Extinct - never erupt again

24
Q

Describe the 4 main features of a shield volcano

A
  • Found at constructive boundaries
  • Gentle slopes
  • Formed by eruptions of thin, runny lava
  • Frequent mild eruptions
25
Q

Describe the 3 main features of a composite volcano

A
  • Made from altering layers of lava and ash
  • Found at destructive boundaries
  • Fast pyroclastic flow: made from steam, ash, rock, dust and lava
26
Q

A supervolcano is a volcano on massive scale

Name a supervolcano and describe 4 main features of a supervolcano

A

Yellowstone

Erupts 1000km3 + of material

Forms depression called caldera when pressure builds

Ridge of higher land around it

Erupts less frequently - 100,000s years apart

27
Q

Explain 3 positive effects of a volcanic eruption

A
  • Dramatic scenery attracts tourists - brings income to area
  • Lava and ash provides nutrients for soil -> very fertile soil for agriculture
  • High heat levels -> geothermal energy
28
Q

Explain 3 negative effects of a volcanic eruption

A
  • Death and injury
  • Landscapes permanently destroyed
  • Ash and mud mixes with water -> fast flowing lahars -> destroy settlements
29
Q

Give 4 effects of the 1980 Mount St.Helens eruption near Seattle

A

63 dead due to poisonous gases

Lahars covered an extensive area around volcano

Hot ash/gas destroyed forests and logging camps

Ash blocked rivers -> flooding -> communications destroyed

30
Q

Give 4 responses to the 1980 Mount St.Helens eruption near Seattle

A

Communications repaired

People rehoused

Volcano now more carefully monitored

Tourism increased - boosts local economy

31
Q

Describe 3 ways of predicting volcanic eruptions

A

Seismometer detects small earthquakes caused by rising magma

Thermal imaging techniques detect rising heat around volcano

Chemical sensors measure rising sulfur levels

32
Q

Describe 3 ways of preparing for volcanic eruptions

A

Create exclusion zone around volcano

Evacuation plan and emergency basic provisions in place

Funds needed to deal with emergency