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A Level Geography > Tectonics Key Words > Flashcards

Tectonics Key Words Flashcards

1
Q

Ash

A

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance, usually molten rock

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2
Q

Asthenosphere

A

Upper part of the mantle below the lithosphere on which the plates float and where the rock is semi molten

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3
Q

Benioff zone

A

The zone of subduction where friction is created between colliding tectonic plates resulting in intermediate and deep earthquakes

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4
Q

Collision plate margin

A

When two continental plates come together and collide very slowly
-likely to cause folding and faulting of crustal rocks

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5
Q

Convergent plate margin

A

When an oceanic and continental plate come together usually resulting in subduction of the denser plate
-creates surface features such as a trench and deep features such as a Benioff zone

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6
Q

Composite cone volcano

A

A narrow based steep sided volcano made of alternating layers of ash and lava. They usually have andesitic lava leading to sudden and violent explosions

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7
Q

Conservative plate margin

A

When two plates slide past each other or in the same direction and different speeds
-friction between the two plates is great and stresses and strains build up to create shell earthquake foci

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8
Q

Divergent plate margin

A

When two plates more apart from each other often leading to the creation of shield volcanos

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9
Q

Crustal fracturing

A

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

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10
Q

Earthquake seismic energy

A

Energy released in the form of P, S and L waves from the hypocentre of the earthquake

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11
Q

Elastic energy

A

When a plate is sub-ducted it’s original shape is warped, eventually the elastic energy of the plate exceeds the strength of the plate above it causing it to flip

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12
Q

Epicentre

A

The point directly above the hypocentre on the surface where the mot shaking and seismic energy is felt

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13
Q

Focal depth

A

The distance between the hypocentre and the surface of the earth. Deeper hypocentre tends to creates less shaking due to the seismic waves having to travel through more of the earth leading to greater energy reduction

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14
Q

Hot spot volcano

A

when magma from a magma plume find and forces it way through a crack in the middle of the plate often leading to creation of shield volcanos

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15
Q

Hydrometerological hazards

A

Natural hazards caused by climatic processes like droughts, floods, hurricanes and storms

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16
Q

Hypocentre

A

The point in the earth from which pressure is released and where seismic waves come from

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17
Q

Intensity

A

The relative damage or energy released by a hazard, measure by a scale (e.g. VEI or MMS)

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18
Q

Intraplate

A

A crack of fault which extends into a plate away from a boundary

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19
Q

Jokulhlaups

A

An Icelandic term to describe glacial outburst or floods by the destruction of a natural dam

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20
Q

Lahar

A

Saturated soil infused with ash forming a channel of mud slides that resemble a landslide

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21
Q

Landslide

A

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

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22
Q

Community adaption

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 event isn’t as hazardous

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23
Q

Geological structure

A

The arrangement of rocks in layers of folds and the joints and bedding planes within them

24
Q

Hazard profile

A

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

25
L waves
The slowest seismic wave which focus all their energy on the earth’s surface, longest wavelength
26
Land use zoning
A process by which local government regulates how land in a community may be used
27
Lava flow
Molten magma that reaches the earth’s surface as lava and will flow down the slopes of a volcano until it cools and solidifies Basaltic flows quicker than andesitic as it is less viscous
28
Liquefaction
When the violent shaking during an earthquake causes surface rocks to lose strength and become more liquid than solid
29
Lithosphere
The solid layer made from the crust and upper mantle from which tectonic plates are formed
30
Magnitude
The amount of energy releases by a tectonic event. Measure by MMS for earthquakes and VEI for volcanos
31
Mass movement
The downward movements material under the influence of gravity e.g. rock falls, landladies and soliflucation
32
Mega-disaster
When a major hazardous event becomes catastrophic and even more than a disaster. E.g. scale of impacts are usually greater
33
Mercalli scale
An earthquake intensity scale based on 12 levels of damage to areas
34
Mitigation
Action to reduce impacts of an event
35
Modify loss
Reduce the impacts of losses experienced from a tectonic hazard, for example by insuring belongings and property
36
Modify the event
After the natural hazards itself in order to change its likely impacts. Earthquakes cannot be changed but some volcanic activity can be modified e.g. by diverting lava flows
37
Modify vulnerability
Vulnerability is a key factor in determining the impact of a hazard so making people less vulnerable will reduce the scale of a disaster
38
Moment magnitude scale
The most accurate earthquake magnitude scale, measuring the amount of energy released by an earthquake
39
Multiple hazard zone
An area that’s at risk from multiple natural hazards such as hurricanes and earthquakes
40
Natural hazard
A physical geographical event, tectonic, hydrological or meteorological which has a negative impact on people and distrusts the normal way of life
41
P waves
The fastest seismic wave which travel through both solids and liquids
42
Paleo magnetism
The study of past changes in the earth’s magnetic field
43
Park model
Shows how a country or region might respond after a hazard event
44
Pressure and release model
A tool used to work out how vulnerable a country is to hazards
45
Rapid onset
A hazards that happens very quickly with no or little warning e.g. earthquake
46
Resilience
The ability of a community to resist the impacts of a hazard by adapting and removing
47
S waves
Seismic waves which only travel through solids and move with a sides ways motion
48
Sea floor spreading
The movement of the oceanic crust away from a constructive plate boundary as recorded by the magnetic stripes in a basaltic rock (paleomagnetism)
49
Slab pull
When newly formed oceanic crust sinks into the mantle pulling the rest of the plate further down with it
50
Slow onset
A hazard that happens very slowly with plenty evidence and warning e.g. droughts
51
Sub Ariel processes
Process of weathering and mass movement
52
Subduction zone
The area in the mantle where a tectonic plate melts
53
Transform fault
A fault created on a large scale when two plates slide past eachother
54
VEI- volcanic explosives index
The scale used to measure the magnitude of a volcanic explosion
55
Water column displacement
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
56
Convection currents
Hot liquid and magma currents moving in the asthenosphere

A Level Geography (10 decks)

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