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A-level Geography > Tectonic Processes and Hazards - Key Term Glossary > Flashcards

Tectonic Processes and Hazards - Key Term Glossary Flashcards

1
Q

Ash

A

The very fine particles of rock ejected during a volcanic eruption. These volcanic particles form part of tephra, which is a term for all sizes of ejected volcanic material

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2
Q

Asthenosphere

A

The part of the mantle, below the lithosphere, where rock is semi-molten

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3
Q

Benioff zone

A

The area where friction is created between colliding tectonic plates, resulting in intermediate and deep earthquakes

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4
Q

Collision plate boundary

A

Where two plates move towards each other causing a very slow collision which is likely to cause folding and faulting of crustal rocks and the uplift of continental crust to form fold mountains. e.g. the Himalayas

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5
Q

Community adaptation/preparedness

A

People within communities, either whole or parts of settlements, work together to change their way of life so that the impact of a tectonic hazard event is not as hazardous

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6
Q

Conservative plate movement

A

Where two plates meet and move alongside each other in a similar direction or opposite direction, usually at different speeds. Friction between the two plates is great and stresses and strains build up to create shallow earthquake foci
*Also known as a transform plate boundary

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7
Q

Divergent plate boundary

A

Where two plates move in opposite directions, leaving a zone of faulting and a gap into which magma from the asthenosphere rises
*Also known as a constructive plate boundary

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8
Q

Convection currents

A

Hot, liquid magma currents moving in the asthenosphere

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9
Q

Convergent plate boundary

A

Where two plates move towards each other, and at the boundary, the denser oceanic plate (basaltic) is subducted beneath the less dense continental plate (granitic), creating surface features such as a trench, and deep features such as the Benioff zone
*Also known as a destructive plate boundary

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10
Q

Crustal fracturing

A

When energy released during an earthquake causes the Earth’s crust to crack

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11
Q

Epicentre

A

The point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake

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12
Q

Focal depth

A

The depth at which an earthquake starts (focus). It is divided into shallow, intermediate and deep. Shallow earthquakes have the greatest impacts, as the seismic waves have not lost much of their energy by the time they reach the surface

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13
Q

Focus

A

The point inside the Earth’s crust from which the pressure is released when an earthquake occurs

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14
Q

Geological structure

A

The arrangement of rock in layers, or folds and the joints and bedding planes within them

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15
Q

Hazard-management cycle

A

A theoretical model of hazard management as a continuous four-stage cycle involving mitigation, preparation, response and recovery

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16
Q

Hazard profile

A

An analysis of different types of hazard, or actual events, based on a range of criteria. This allows a useful comparison to be made

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17
Q

Hot spot

A

Points within the middle of a tectonic plate where plumes of hot magma rise and erupt

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18
Q

Hydrometerological hazards

A

Natural hazards caused by climate processes (including droughts, floods, hurricanes and storms)

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19
Q

Intra-plate earthquakes

A

Earthquakes which occur far from plate margins

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20
Q

L-waves

A

The slowest seismic waves, which focus all their energy on the Earth’s surface

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21
Q

Lahar

A

A mixture of meltwater from snow and ice on top of an active volcano and tephra (volcanic material such as ash) from eruptions that travels very quickly down existing river valleys, reaching some distance away from the volcano

22
Q

Land-use zoning

A

A process by which local government regulates how land in a community may be used

23
Q

Landslide

A

A mass movement of rock and soil down a steep slope under the influence of gravity, perhaps triggered by an earthquake loosening material

24
Q

Lava flow

A

Molten magma that reaches the Earth’s surface is known as lava. It will flow down the sides of a volcano until it cools and solidifies. Basaltic lava flow flows faster than andesitic lavas, for example, because of the different velocities

25
Q

Liquefaction

A

When the violent shaking during an earthquake causes surface rocks to lose strength and become more liquid than solid

26
Q

Lithosphere

A

The solid layer, made from the crust and upper mantle, from which tectonic plates are formed

27
Q

Magnitude

A

The amount of energy released by a tectonic event. For earthquakes this is best measured on the Moment Magnitude Scale (MMS) and for volcanoes, the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)

28
Q

Mass movement

A

The downward movement of material under the influence of gravity. It includes a wide range of processes such as rockfalls, landslides and solifluction

29
Q

Mega-disaster

A

When a major hazardous event becomes catastophic and more than a disaster. For example, the scale of the impacts are unusually great or very severe with huge numbers of deaths, loss of buildings and infrastructure, or long-lasting impacts on normal social and economic systems

30
Q

Mercali scale

A

An earthquake intensity scale based on 12 levels of damage to areas

31
Q

Mitigation

A

Action to reduce the impacts of an event

32
Q

Modify loss

A

Reduce the impact of losses experienced from a tectonic hazard, for example by insuring belongings and property

33
Q

Modify the event

A

Alter the natural hazard itself, in order to change its likely impacts. Earthquakes cannot be changed, but some volcanic activity can be modified, such as diverting lava flows

34
Q

Modify vulnerability

A

Vulnerability is a key factor in determining the impact of a hazard so making people less vulnerable will reduce the scale of a disaster

35
Q

Moment Magnitude Scale (MMS)

A

The most accurate earthquake magnitude scale, it measures the total energy released by an earthquake

36
Q

Multiple-hazard zone

A

An area that is at risk from multiple natural hazards such as hurricanes and earthquakes

37
Q

Natural hazard

A

A physical geological event, tectonic, hydrological or meterological, which has a negative impact on people through causing injury and deaths, loss of property, or disruption to the normal way of life

38
Q

P-waves

A

The fastest seismic waves which travel through both solids and liquids

39
Q

Palaeomagnetism

A

The study of changes in the Earth’s magnetic field

40
Q

Park model

A

Shows how a country or region might respond after a hazard event

41
Q

Pressure and Release (PAR) model

A

A tool used to work out how vulnerable a country is to hazards

42
Q

Rapid onset

A

A hazard that happens vey quickly with no or little warning, e.g. an earthquake

43
Q

Resilience

A

The ability of a community to resist the impacts of a hazard by adapting and recovering

44
Q

S-waves

A

Seismic waves which only travel through solids and move with a sideways motion

45
Q

Sea floor spreading

A

The movement of oceanic crust away from a conservative plate boundary, as recorded by the magnetic stipes on basaltic rock (palaeomagnetism)

46
Q

Slab pull

A

When newly formed oceanic crust sinks into the mantle, pulling the rest of the plate further down with it

47
Q

Slow onset

A

A hazard that happens vey slowly with plenty of evidence and warning, such as drought

48
Q

Sub-aerial processes

A

The processes of weathering and mass movement

49
Q

Subduction zone

A

The area in the mantle where a tectonic plate melts

50
Q

Transform fault

A

A fault created on a large scale when two plates slide past each other

51
Q

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)

A

The scale used to measure the magnitude of a volcanic eruption

52
Q

Water column displacement

A

The movement of a volume of seawater above the point at which the seabed was moved up or down by an earthquake, such as a thrust

A-level Geography (15 decks)

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