The Challenges Of Natural Hazards Flashcards
What is a constructive margin
when ridge push occurs and convection currents cause the plates to pull apart and lava rises - can cause volcanoes and small earthquakes
Conservative margin..
Plates move past each other at different speeds, plates get stuck - friction- pressure builds up- convection current occurs in mantle- causes earthquakes
Destructive margin
The denser plate sinks under lighter one and melts, slab pull and convection currents occur, pressurecauses magma to rise up- gets increasingly sticky as rises and causes composite volcanoes
why do number of deaths caused by natural hazards e.g. vary
wealth- able to predict with computers meaning they can protect e.g. board windows- houses and businesses… and can evacuate early so no deaths-and shelters built minimalizes damage e.g. built on stilts
what is a meteorological hazard and what are examples caused by them
a natural hazard caused by weather conditions-
1- typhoon Haiyan
2- hurricane Katrina
Assess the factors affecting hazard risk in a Low Income Country (LIC)
- poor quality buildings- e.g. not earthquake proof- haiti
- Limited Education and Awareness: Lack of knowledge on how to prepare for or respond to hazards
- Population Density: High populations in unsafe areas increase the number of people at risk.
example of secondary affects of natural hazards in LICs ?
Haiti- several hundred people many children died from cholera- contaminated water- unable to invest in secondary effects
Example of Earthquake LIC v HIC
Haiti- 2010- 230000 dead, 1.5m homeless, 250000 homes destroyed, magnitude of 7, mass economic secondary impacts and many deaths from cholera
L’Aquila- 2009- 309 dead- 65,000 homeless, 6.3 magnitude
Cyclone/ tropical storm
Haiyan-2013- CAT 5- 6000 killed-4.1 displaced- 11 mi homes destroyed -primarily struck the central Philippines e.g. tacloban and visayas
Origin: Haiyan developed from a tropical depression in the western Pacific Ocean.
Conditions: Warm sea surface temperatures (around 30°C) provided energy for the storm, and low wind shear allowed it to grow stronger.
High atmospheric moisture: Contributed to heavy rainfall and flooding.
Extreme UK weather event, causes, impacts etc
The beast from the east-2018-
Cause- Siberian cold air moved west due to change in circulation patterns- intense cold weather and snowfall
Social-Schools closed, power outages, difficulty commuting to work
Economic- affected businesses and Transport chain impacted
Environmental- Damage to plants, Dangerous roads
Management-Predicted, early warning, people able to prepare, Road gritting, Schools issue closure
Climate Change Factors
Natural-
volcanic activity; ash blocks sun reducing temp- ST drops of acid/radiation-LT
orbital changes- When the Earth is closer to the Sun, climate is warmer
Solar output- storms on the sun
Human- fossil fuels, agriculture and deforestation
Definition of a natural hazard
A natural event that has the potential to cause harm to people, property, and the environment.
what’s the relationship between tropical storms and general atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric circulation (pressure belts, winds) creates the conditions for tropical storms. e.g.
Warm, Moist Air: Air heats up, rises, and cools, forming clouds and releasing energy (latent heat).
Low Pressure: Rising air creates a low-pressure center at the surface, pulling in surrounding air.
Coriolis Effect: Earth’s rotation causes winds to spin and rotate
evidence that weather is getting more extreme in the uk
Storms: Intense storms, e.g., Storms Ciara & Dennis (2020).
Heatwaves: Record temps like 38°C in July 2019.
Cold Spells: Events like the Beast from the East (2018).
responses to tropical storms
Immediate Responses
Search and Rescue: Local communities and military helped with rescues.
Aid Distribution: International aid was slow due to restricted access, but UN and NGOs sent supplies.
Shelter: Temporary shelters for displaced people; food and water were provided.
Long-Term Responses
International Aid: UN and charities helped rebuild communities with resources for recovery.
Rebuilding: Focused on restoring homes and farms, investing in disaster-resistant infrastructure.
- improved early warning systems and disaster management plans.
difference between a HIC and LIC country affected by earthquake
The wealthier, more developed Italy had the resources for a quicker recovery and better infrastructure, which minimized L’Aquila’s impact, while Haiti’s extreme poverty, lack of building regulations, and weaker emergency response led to far greater devastation and a slower recovery. also government were overwhelmed and couldn’t help
Evidence of climate change
Sea levels rise- glaciers melting
Ice cores- layers show amount of snowfall
Tree rings- bigger= moister and warmer
pollen- shape
