Unit 1 2022 Exam Revision - Glossary Terms

Question 1

Absolute Location

Answer 1

Refers to the exact location on earth of a place for example latitude and longitude, postal address.

Question 2

Relative Location

Answer 2

Refers to the distance and direction from one place to another. The use of place names, landmarks and regions helps to specify the relative location of one place by comparing to the location of another place.

Question 3

Distribution

Answer 3

The arrangement of features or objects on the Earth’s surface.

Question 4

Spatial Distribution

Answer 4

The degree to which two or more phenomena are similarly distributed or arranged on the Earth’s surface.

Question 5

Scale

Answer 5

As the size of something compared to something else.

Question 6

Movement

Answer 6

A change in location of phenomena such as people, goods and ideas through travel or flow.

Question 7

Hazard

Answer 7

A situation with the potential to cause harm to people and/or the environment.

Question 8

Hazard Event

Answer 8

When a hazard is realized.

Question 9

Disaster

Answer 9

When a hazard is deemed severe enough by a recognised authority.

Question 10

Hazard Vulnerability

Answer 10

Refers to the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.

Question 11

Natural Hazard

Answer 11

A naturally occurring hazard that is not caused by human activity. Human activity may influence the severity but not the occurrence.

Question 12

Risk

Answer 12

The likelihood of a hazard event occurring. Risk is often expressed as a statistical probability and is independent of the threat of what happens when the event actually occurs.

Question 13

Hydro-meteorological

Answer 13

Threats due to atmospheric conditions including floods, bushfires, cyclones, hurricanes.

Question 14

Geological Hazard

Answer 14

The threat from natural processes such as volcanic activity and earthquakes that release enormous amounts of energy stored in the Earth’s crust or even deeper in the mantle.

Question 15

Technological Hazard

Answer 15

Threats either initiated by humans or humans have played a significant role in their development such as air pollution and oil spills.

Question 16

Biological Hazard

Answer 16

Threats from lifeforms including infectious diseases, water-borne diseases, plant and animal invasions.

Question 17

Convection Currents

Answer 17

The currents in the earth’s mantle that drive plate tectonics. Convection currents are caused by the heat from the earth’s core.

Question 18

Epicentre

Answer 18

The point on the earth’s surface directly above the earthquakes focus.

Question 19

Focus (earthquake)

Answer 19

The point within the earth’s crust where the earthquake originates.

Question 20

Landslide

Answer 20

The mass movement of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. A landslide may be triggered by an earthquake, heavy rain, mining etc.

Question 21

Bushfire

Answer 21

Fires that burn out of control in grassland or forest regions.

Question 22

Ground fire

Answer 22

Underground fire, where burnt coal and tree roots ignite.

Question 23

Surface Fire

Answer 23

Low to High intensity fire burning at the surface including litter, grass and shrub layers.

Question 24

Crown Fire

Answer 24

A very high intensity fire, spread through the canopy of the trees, fuelled by strong winds.

Question 25

Cultural Burning

Answer 25

Traditional fire management applies cool and quick burns that are of low-intensity.

Question 26

Malaria

Answer 26

Malaria is a life threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable. In 2019, there were an estimated 229 million cases of malaria worldwide.

Question 27

Endemic

Answer 27

A plant or animal that is native to a specific location. For biological hazards, endemic means a disease that keeps returning to a community.

Question 28

Vector

Answer 28

A living organism that transmits an infectious agent to another living organism.