tropical storms + plate tectonics Flashcards
how do tropical storms form?
they form in waters which are 26.5 degrees or warmer. the water heats the air causing it to rise which creates an area of low pressure and high winds, this continues until the tropical storm is formed
how are tropical storms measured?
the saffir-simpson scale, this categorises storms based on windspeed and goes from 1-5
where are volcanoes found?
plate boundaries usually divergent where the plates move away from each other allowing lava to rise to the surface of the earth creating a volcano
where are earthquakes found?
can be found at convergent, divergent and conservative plate boundaries
why do earthquakes occur?
tectonic plates try to move past each other but get stuck, as they continue to try and move this creates friction, pressure builds as the friction increases. the pressure is released in shock waves which cause the earth to shake
what tectonic hazards are there?
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, landslides
how can earthquakes be predicted?
they cannot be accurately predicted in advance, however Seismometers can be used to try and detect the smaller foreshocks which are often warnings that a bigger quake is about to occur
