World at risk Definition Flashcards
Definition
Anticyclone
A system of high pressure, causing high temperatures and unseasonably high evaporation rates
Aseismic buildings
Buildings designed to withstand or minimise destruction during an earthquake
Asthenosphere
The upper mantle layer of the earth. It is semi-molten and approximately 2000 km wide
Continental Drift
Crust that forms the continents of the lithosphere
Convection currents
The circulation of magma within the mantle (asthenosphere). Magma is heated by radioactive processes in the core and cools at the surface, and so circulates between the two places
Degg’s Model
This model shows that a hazard becomes a disaster if it affects a vulnerable population
Drainage basin
The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries
Drought
An extended period of deficient rainfall relative to the statistical average for the region
Economic water scarcity
When water resources are available but insufficient economic wealth limits access to it
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
The build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, reducing the amount of solar radiation reflected into space
ENSO cycles
El Nino southern oscillations-Naturally occurring phenomena that involves the movement of warm water in the equatorial pacific
Epicentre
The point on the surface, directly above the earthquake origin
Focus
The place in the crust where the pressure/seismic energy is released
Glacial Period
A Period of time of colder average global temperature causing the growth of ice cover, glacial advances and sea level to fall
Hazard Mitigation cycle
The sequence of governance of a natural hazard: monitoring and prediction, mitigation, preparedness
Hot Spot
Volcano found away from the plate boundary, du to magma plumes close to the surface
Interglacial period
A period of time of warmer average global temperature, resulting in reduced ice cover, glacial retreat and sea level to rise
Lithosphere
The upper crust of the Earth
Milankovitch cycles
Changes to the tilt and shape of the orbit will affect the average temperature of the Earth
Orbit eccentricity
How far a planet orbit is from being a perfect circle
Parks model
A model describing the decline and recovery of a country over time, following a natural disaster
Seismic waves
The energy released during an earthquake, in the form of primary, secondary, love and rayleigh waves
Slab pull
The force contributing to the movemnt of tectonic plates. Slab Pull is due to the weight of the plates
Subduction
Tectonic Plate forced below another due to the different densities
Tipping points
A critical threshold where any changes to a system after the ti[[ing point are irreversible
