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GCSE Geography > Topic 1: Hazardous Earth > Flashcards

Topic 1: Hazardous Earth Flashcards

1
Q

Why does the equator receive more solar radiation than the poles and is therefore hotter?

A

Due to the earth and the atmospheres circular shape, solar radiation hitting the centre of the earth (equator) has to travel through LESS ATMOSPHERE than at the poles.

This therefore means more solar radiation reaches the earths surface in the equator and is therefore hotter than the poles.

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2
Q

Describe the weather at a LOW PRESSURE area and why it is like this?

A

In low pressure areas the weather is wetter and usually colder. This is because in low pressure areas the air is heated and it therefore rises as it is less dense. This air then cools, condenses and causes clouds and rain to occur.

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3
Q

Describe the weather at a HIGH PRESSURE area and why it is like this?

A

In high pressure areas the weather is usually hotter and dryer. This is because at high pressure areas the air is cooled and therefore falls as it is less dense. This air warms as it falls and causes blue skies and little/no rainfall.

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4
Q

What are the cells from 60°-90° called?

A

Polar cells

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5
Q

What are cells from 30°-60° called?

A

Ferrel cells

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6
Q

What are cells from 0°- 30° called?

A

Hadley cells

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7
Q

What cells have low pressure and what cells have high pressure?

A

Hadley cell = High pressure

Ferrel cell = Low pressure

Polar cell = High Pressure

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8
Q

Give an example of a HIGH PRESSURE area?

A

Tindouf - Algeria

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9
Q

Give an example of a LOW PRESSURE area?

A

Singapore

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10
Q

What ‘period’ is our planet currently in?

A

The quaternary period

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11
Q

What is eccentricity and how has it changed the earths climate?

A

Eccentricity is to do with the orbit of the earth.

In the last 100,000 years the earth has sometimes orbited closer to the sun and sometimes further away, making the climate warmer and colder.

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12
Q

What is axial tilt and how has it affected the earths climate?

A

Axial tilt is the tilt of the earth (currently 23° from a vertical position).

Over around 40,000 years the angle of this tilt changes, making summers warmer and winters colder.

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13
Q

What is precission and why does it affect the weather?

A

As the earth rotates on it’s axis, it does not so perfectly: this is precission.

This affects the day and night lengths throughout the year.

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14
Q

What is asteroid collisions and why does it affect the climate?

A

Large cosmetic material can collide together in the atmosphere.

This can create large amounts of dust and debris which blocks solar rays from the sun, affecting global temperatures.

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15
Q

What is the eruption theory and why does it affect the climate?

A

Big volcanic eruptions can eject lots of ash into the atmosphere.

This ash can block solar rays from the sun and lower global temperatures.

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16
Q

What is the sunspot theory and why does it affect the climate?

A

Many years ago Chinese astronauts began to record sunspots that increase solar rays.

Less sunspots = Lower temperature

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17
Q

How do tree rings show the climate in previous years?

A

Each ring in a tree represents the growth of the tree in 1 year.

Larger rings mean that year had more warm and wet weather.

Thinner rings the year had more cold and dry weather.

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18
Q

How do ice cores show the climate in previous years?

A

Ice cores contain bubbles.

Scientists can measure the amount of CO2 in these bubbles to see the temperature many years ago.

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19
Q

How do historical sources show the climate in previous years?

A

Old drawings, diaries, photos or written records can show us the temperature many years ago.

These are often not very accurate as they are not made to tell the weather.

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20
Q

How does agriculture increase climate change?

A

Population growth has led to a higher demand for food production.

Intense farming of cattle can lead to increased production of methane, a greenhouse gas.

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21
Q

How does increased energy production increase climate change?

A

CO2 is released into the earths atmosphere when fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gases are burnt.

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22
Q

What are 3 things that show evidence of climate change?

A
  • Increased average global temperature
  • Decrease in amount of arctic sea ice
  • Sea level rising
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23
Q

What temperature must the ocean water be for a tropical cyclone to form?

A

Above 26.5°C

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24
Q

What are the conditions/features of the eye of a tropical cyclone?

A
  • Clear sky (no clouds)
  • No rainfall
  • Small amounts of light wind
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25
What are the conditions like in the eye wall of a tropical cyclone?
- Strong winds - Heavy rainfall - Lots of clouds
26
What are the 3 stages of a tropical cyclones formation?
1) High temperatures cause the air to rise away from the ocean surface 2) Rising air causes storms, these storms sometimes merge together 3) These storms merging together causes an area of extreme low pressure at the centre of the merging storms, forming a tropical cyclone
27
If the water is warmer, does a tropical cyclone become less or more intense?
More intense
28
What are 5 causes of a tropical cyclone that can impact and damage the land it comes into contact with?
- Storm surges - High winds - Intense rainfall - Coastal flooding - Landslides
29
What are the 2 tropical cyclone case studies?
- Hurrican Katrina (USA) - Cyclone Nargis (Myanmar)
30
How many people died during Hurricane Katrina and Cyclone Nargis?
Cyclone Nargis - 140,000 deaths Hurricane Katrina - 1800 deaths
31
How many houses were destroyed during Hurricane Katrina and Cyclone Nargis?
Hurricane Katrina - 300,000 houses destroyed Cyclone Nargis - 450,000 houses destroyed
32
What are 3 reasons why Cyclone Nargis was far more devastating than Hurricane Katrina?
- Myanmar is a far less developed and poorer country than USA so houses and buildings were far more poorly built - The USA had much better prediction devices than Myanmar so could warn and evacuate more people - Myanmar is barely above sea level whereas the area of the USA where New Orleans (USA) is comfortably above sea level
33
What are 3 ways that a country can prepare for a tropical cyclone?
- Forecast - Evacuate - Build defences
34
What are 3 ways countries can respond to a tropical cyclone?
- Government agencies delivering shelter/food/water - Bodies put in mass graves - Emergency services sent to rescue people
35
How did New Orleans prepare well but also poorly for Hurricane Katrina?
They prepared well as they successfully predicted the cyclone, so they could evacuate most people and build flood defences. They prepared poorly as some people couldn't evacuate due to traffic and some of the flood defences were not strong enough and broke
36
How did New Orleans respond well but also poorly for Hurricane Katrina?
They responded well as emergency services helped check buildings and also stop floods. They responded poorly as the damages to buildings were very bad and took them a while to rebuild, leaving many people without a house for a long time.
37
How did Myanmar prepare well but also poorly for Cyclone Nargis?
They prepared well as Indian agencies helped predict the cyclone. They prepared poorly as some poor areas of Myanmar did not hear about the cyclone.
38
How did Myanmar prepare well but also poorly for Cyclone Nargis?
They responded well as other countries sent help through aid. They responded poorly as lots of looting occurred after the cyclone due to people needing food and drink.
39
What is the defenition of preparation?
What can be done before the event to minimise the disruption to people/environments
40
What is the definition of response?
The events after a tropical cyclone to help the recovery and to get life back to normal
41
What are the 4 layers of the earth?
- Inner core - Outer core - Mantle (including asthenosphere) - Crust
42
What is the outer core?
A thick fluid layer between the mantle and the inner core
43
How hot is the outer core?
Between 4500°C and 5500°C
44
What is the crust?
The surface of the earth which is split into oceanic and continental plates
45
How thick are continental and oceanic crusts?
Continental crusts are 30-50km Oceanic crusts are 6-8km
46
What is the mantle?
A solid state which is the thickest layer of the earth, between the outer core and crust
47
How hot is the mantle?
Between 900-400°C It is colder towards the crust and hotter towards the outer core
48
What is the asthenosphere?
The upper part of the mantle
49
What is the inner core?
The very dense centre of the earth made up of iron and nickel
50
What temperature is the inner core?
Temperates between 5500-6000°C
51
What are convection currents and how do they cause plate movement?
As heat rises from the core, it creates convection currents in the outer core and mantle. These convection currents are strong enough to move the tectonic plates.
52
What is a convergent plate boundary?
When the two plates slide away from eachother
53
What is a divergent plate boundary?
When the two plate boundaries slide towards/into eachother
54
What is a conservative plate boundary?
When the two plates slide next to eachother
55
On what plate boundaries do volcanoes usually form on?
Usually on divergent boundaries but can sometimes (barely) occur on convergent boundaries
56
On what plate boundaries does an earthquake form on?
Conservative and divergent
57
How do hotspot volcanoes form?
When magma from the mantle erupts through the crust
58
What is the focus?
The place inside the earths crust where an earthquake orginated
59
What is the epicentre?
The location on the surface of the earth directly above the focus
60
What are the main differences between shield and composite volcanoes?
- Shield volcanoes mainly form on divergent plate boundaries, whereas composite volcanoes mainly form on convergent plate boundaries. - Eruptions in shield volcanoes are more frequent but less violent, however in composite volcanoes eruptions are less frequent but more violent - Shield volcanoes are shorter with gently sloped sides, composite volcanoes are taller with steeper sides
61
What can an underwater earthquake cause?
A tsunami
62
What is a primary impact?
Direct impacts of a natural hazard e.g buildings collapsing after an earthquake
63
What is a secondary impact?
Indirect effects after the main event e.g looting after an earthquake
64
What are our two earthquake case studies?
- Japan (2011) - Haiti (2010)
65
What were the worst primary impacts of the Japanese earthquake?
- Thousands of buildings damaged - Caused severe liquefaction (when waterlogged soil behaves like a liquid) - Many buildings sunk into the ground
66
What were the worst secondary impacts of the Japanese earthquake?
- The earthquake trigged a tsunami killing thousands - Over 230,000 made homeless - Roads and rail networks damaged
67
What were the worst primary impacts of the Haiti earthquake?
- 316,000 died - 30,000 injured - All 8 hospitals in Haiti collapsed or got damaged
68
What were the worst secondary impacts of the Haiti earthquake?
- Cholera spread killing 8000 people - Looting and crime increased - Haiti's port area was destroyed

GCSE Geography (3 decks)

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