Tectonic processes and hazards (Key words)

Question 1

Aseismic buildings

Answer 1

Buildings designed to withstand or minimise destruction during an earthquake

Question 2

Asthenosphere

Answer 2

The upper mantle layer of the earth. Semi molten and approximately 2000km wide

Question 3

Continental crust

Answer 3

Crust that forms the continents of the lithosphere, on average is 35km thick.

Question 4

Continental drift

Answer 4

The movement of tectonic plates, due to varying weights of crust. Primary driving force being slab pull.

Question 5

Convection currents

Answer 5

The circulation of magma within the mantle (asthenosphere). Magma is heated by radioactive processes in the core and cools at the surface, and so circulates between the two places

Question 6

Degg’s model

Answer 6

Venn diagram showing how a hazard becomes a disaster if it effects a vulnerable population

Question 7

Epicentre

Answer 7

The point on the surface directly above the origin of an earthquake.

Question 8

Focus

Answer 8

The place in the crust where the pressure/seismic energy is released

Question 9

Hazard management cycle

Answer 9

the sequence of governance of a natural hazard :
Preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation

Question 10

Hot spots

Answer 10

Volcanoes found away from the plate boundary due to a magma plume closer to the surface

Question 11

Jökulhlaup

Answer 11

A sudden glacial flood caused by a glacier on top of or near a volcano melting due to heat released.

Question 12

Lahar

Answer 12

Fast flowing mud and debris

Question 13

Lithosphere

Answer 13

The upper crust of the Earth (avg thickness = 100km)

Question 14

Love waves

Answer 14

A surface earthquake wave with horizontal displacement

Question 15

Mid ocean ridge

Answer 15

Parting oceanic plates at a constructive plate boundary creates a ridge, with new land at the base of the oceanic valley

Question 16

Oceanic crust

Answer 16

Thinner, denser crust that forms the sea floor. On average about 7km thick

Question 17

Palaeomagnetism

Answer 17

The alternating polarisation of new land created. As magma cools, the magnetic elements within will align with the earth’s magnetic field, which can alternate over thousands of years.

Question 18

Park’s model

Answer 18

A model describing the decline and recovery of a country over time, following a natural disaster

Question 19

Primary waves

Answer 19

An earthquake wave causing compressions within the body of rock

Question 20

Pyroclastic flow

Answer 20

A mixture of gases and rock fragments, at high temperatures travelling at rapid speeds

Question 21

Rayleigh waves

Answer 21

A surface wave, causing both horizontal and vertical displacement

Question 22

Secondary wave

Answer 22

An earthquake causing vertical displacement within the body of rock

Question 23

Volcanic island arc

Answer 23

A series of volcanoes that are formed consecutively as a tectonic plate moves across a magma plume

Question 24

Benioff zone

Answer 24

A region of the subducting plate, most affected by pressure and friction, where most destructive margin earthquakes originate