Unit 1 - World at Risk

Question 1

Natural Hazard

Answer 1

A hazard is perceived as a natural event which has the potential to threaten both life and property

Question 2

Hydro-Meteorological Hazard

Answer 2

A hazard formed by hydrological (floods) and atmospheric (storms and droughts) processes

Question 3

Geo-Physical Hazard

Answer 3

A hazard formed by tectonic/geological processes (earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis)

Question 4

Magnitude

Answer 4

The size of the event

Question 5

Frequency

Answer 5

How often an event of a certain size (magnitude) occurs

Question 6

Convectional Rainfall

Answer 6

Sun heats the sea and it evaporates into the clouds - low pressure air rising

Question 7

Relief Rainfall

Answer 7

Air is being forced up a mountain/hill - clouds form at the top and air evaporates

Question 8

Frontal Rainfall

Answer 8

Made up of cold air and warm air - the warm air rises over the cold air and clouds form which results in rain

Question 9

Geomorphic Hazard

Answer 9

Landslide/slumping - slumping involves a whole segment of the cliff moving down-slope

Question 10

Disaster Hotspot

Answer 10

A place where a vulnerable population is exposed to two or more hazard types. e.g. the Philippines and California

Question 11

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 11

Is the trapping of the suns warmth in the planets lower atmosphere - greenhouse gases are responsible for this (water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane)

Question 12

Climate

Answer 12

The average conditions of precipitation, temperature, pressure and wind over a 30 year period

Question 13

Climate Change

Answer 13

Any long term trend or shift in climate detected by a sustained shift in the average value for any climatic element

Question 14

Radiation

Answer 14

The emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles (especially high-energy particles) which cause ionisation

Question 15

Greenhouse Gases

Answer 15

A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation e.g. co2

Question 16

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Answer 16

Referred to as climate change or global warming - impact on the climate from the additional heat refrained due to the increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that humans have released into the earths atmosphere during the industrial revolution

Question 17

Mitigation

Answer 17

Refers to policies which are meant to delay, reduce or prevent climate changes caused by global warming such as cutting co2 emissions and increasing carbon sinks

Question 18

Adaptation

Answer 18

Refers to policies which are designed to reduce the existing impacts of global warming, such as protection against flooding and coastal erosion

Question 19

IPCC

Answer 19

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change