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194 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Name three processes through Which Natural Hazards can arise |
1. Earths internal energy = i.e plate tectonics 2. External forces on Earth's surface = i.e Suns rays 3. Gravitational attraction |
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Define hazard |
A process that poses a potential threat to people or the environment
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Define risk |
The probability of an event occuring multiplied by the impact on the people or the environment |
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Define disaster |
a brief event that causes great property damage of loss of life
**Disaster (event) results from the hazard (potential) |
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Define catastrophe |
A massive disaster |
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What factor affects the potential of a hazard to cause a catastrophe? |
The area affected - More likely = earthquake - Less likely = tornado |
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Impact of a hazard is a function of __________ and __________ |
Magnitude and Frequency |
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What is the magnitude - frequency concept |
There is an inverse relationship between the magnitude of a hazard and the frequency with which it occurs |
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how old is the earth |
4.6 Billion years old |
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Modification of Earth's surface material both physically and chemically is called the geologic cycle. It is composed of 3 sub-cycles, what are they? |
1. Tectonic cycle 2. Rock cycle 3. Hydrologic cycle |
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Tectonic cycle involves the ______, ______, _____ of tectonic plates |
creation, movement, destruction |
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How many tectonic plates make up the outer shell of the earth |
14 |
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Regarding tectonic plates, new land is created at __________ and land is destroyed at ____________ |
1. Land created at mid-ocean ridges 2. Land destroyed at subduction zones |
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What is the difference in composition of the Inner core, lithosphere, Asthenosphere |
The inner core is hot and solid The asthenosphere is composed of hot magma but has flow The lithosphere thing and brittle crust |
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The crust that forms the upper part of lithosphere is broken into two types of plates. What are they? What are 2 features of each ? |
Two types of plates: oceanic and continental
Oceanic: Thin, dense Continental: Thick, buoyant
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What type of currents drive the motion of tectonic plates? |
Convection currents originating from the mantle |
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At a subduction zone between a oceanic plate and a continental plate, which one sinks. Why? |
The plate that sinks is the Oceanic plate since it is more dense. |
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What are three types of plate boundaries? |
1. Divergent 2. Convergent 3. Transform |
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Boundaries of plates match up with the boundaries of the continents. True/False? |
False |
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What is one evidence for the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea |
Mountain ranges that are similiar in age, fossils and matching shape. |
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New Land is created at _________ plate boundaries, where plates move away from each other. |
Divergent |
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Sea floor spreading causes _________ to form |
Oceanic ridges i.e Mid-atlantic ridge |
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At __________ plate boundary two plates move towards each other and land is destroyed |
Convergent
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If oceanic crust and continental crust collide at a convergent boundary it is called a __________ zone. However, if two continental plates collide it is then called a _______ |
1. Subduction zone = OC + CC (volcanoes form) 2. Collision Boundary = CC + CC (mountains form) |
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A plate boundary where two plates move horizontally past each other is called a __________ boundary. The zone along which the movement occurs is called a _________ fault. |
1. Tranform boundary 2. Transform fault
i.e San Andreas fault |
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Most faults occur beneath oceans. True or false? |
True |
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Are hot spots found closer to or away from plate boundaries? |
Hot spots are found AWAY from plate boundaries |
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How are hot spots related to volcanoes and islands? |
Hot spots are where magma rises up from the mantle. This results in the creation of volcanoes.
A string of islands is usually indicative of a HOT SPOT. |
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Give an example of a Hot spot, and how you know it is one? |
Hawaii, A string of islands --> Hot spot |
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How come there are a "string" of islands near a Hot spot, when the Hot spot itself does not move? |
The Lithosphere above the hot spot is constantly sliding in a direction, so there is a new island over the hot spot every "X" million of years. |
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A rock is an aggregate of one or more ___________ |
minerals |
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The ROCK CYCLE are a group of interrelated processes that give rise to 3 rock types. Name them. |
1. Sedimentary 2. Igneous 3. Metamorphic |
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Explain the rock cycle and which factors transform each rock to turn into another type. Starting from igneous rock all the way to metamorphic at the end. |
1. Volcano erupts and cools to form igneous rock 2. Weathering and Erosion transform the igneous rock and deposit it as sedimentary rock 3. Heat and pressure under the plates turns the sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock
- melting of the metamorphic rock restarts the cycle
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The Hydrologic cycle (water cycle) is the movement and exchange of water among the _______, ________, _________ due to the changes in ______. |
Movement and exchange of water among the land, atmosphere, and ocean due to changes in state. |
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List the residence time of water in its 3 locations in the Hydrologic cycle from longest to shortest. |
Ocean (longest) > Land > Atmosphere (shortest)
Longest = 1000's years Shortest = couple days |
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Explain the steps in the hydrologic cycle and what energy drives it. |
1. Driven by solar energy
Sun causes evaporation of water in ocean which condensates and turns into clouds. Wind blows clouds over land and it precipitates Rain water on lands has a runoff back into the ocean or it transpirates back into clouds directly. |
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Hazards are just natural processes they become "hazards" when they disrupt _________ or the __________ |
Disrupt human activity or the environment |
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What is the difference between a prediction and a forecast |
Prediction: SPECIFIC time, date, location, magnitude of event
Forecast: RANGE of probability of the event |
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What is the equation for calculating risk? |
(probability of event) X (risk) |
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What is acceptable risk and what 2 factors play a role in determining it? |
Acceptable risk is the amount of risk that an individual OR society is willing to take
Influenced by: Frequency of event (plane crash) and personality |
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Give two examples that show how Hazards are linked |
Earthquakes can cause tsunamis and landslides Hurricanes can cause tornadoes and flooding |
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Give an example of how a certain enviroment can be linked to a certain hazard |
Certain rock types are more prone to landslides |
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There are two factors contributing to the increasing risk from hazards. What are they? |
1. Rapid expansion of population in developing countries
2. Socio-economic factors making disasters more expensive |
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Are deaths increasing or decreasing from hazards in Canada? Why? |
Deaths from hazards are decreasing! Reason is - better warning systems
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__________ are more higher from disasters for developed countries. ________ from disasters is higher for developING countries |
Developed countries = higher economic loss DevelopING countries = higher DEATH toll |
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What is the difference between a reactive approach to a hazard and proactive approach to a hazard. Give an example of each. |
Reactive approach occurs after disaster - search and rescue / emergency food
Proactive approach occurs before disaster - land use planning/ insurance |
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Some natural hazards provide benefits. What are these benefits called? |
Natural Service functions |
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Give 2 example of a natural service function |
Flooding provides nutrient for soils Volcanoes create new land |
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Which mountain chain resulted from a continent continent collision? (EXAM q) |
The himalayas |
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List three reasons why documenting disasters can be difficult? |
1. Disasters can co-occur (hurricane cause flood) 2. Mortality can be hard to count 3. General lack of census taking (esp. in developING countries) |
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List the 4 things that can qualify an event as a disaster. |
1. 10 DEATHS 2. 100 People affected 3. Goverment declaration as a disaster (regardless of death count) 4. Plea for international assistance |
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List the 2 exceptions to the CRED definition of a "disaster threshold" |
1. For drought or famine, atleast 2000 people have to be affected (norm: 100)
2. For technological disaster - only 5 deaths needed (norm:10)
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Technological disasters are more likely to occur in developing countries? TRUE OR FALSE? |
FALSE
Tech. disasters more likely in industrialized countries |
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Impact of disasters have NOT increased at equal rates although all of them have increased. _________ have increased at a much faster rate than __________. |
Economic losses have increased much faster than deaths. |
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Haiti earthquake occurred along a _________ fault resulting in massive ________. |
Tranform fault Landslides |
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Land Pressure was one of the reasons for the increased impact of the Haiti earthquake. List 2 unsustainable farm practices that lead to an increased Land pressure. |
1. Monoculture - lead to loss of biodiversity 2. Deforestation/ mangrove clearance = mangroves protect against storm surges |
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Explain how urbanization has lead to an increase in disaster impact? |
People are moving from rural areas to urban areas.
This is leading to an increase in slums and squatter settlement (poorly built) |
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The vulnerability of a specific location to a disaster is function of its __________ and __________ |
Function of its resiliency and reliability |
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What is the difference between a locations resiliency and its reliability |
Resiliency - The rate of recovery from the event Reliability - The frequency with which protective devices against disasters are able to protect against those disasters |
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What is the difference between risk assesement and risk management |
Risk assesement - Estimating the likelihood that a particular event will harm human health
Risk management - Deciding whether or how to reduce a particular risk and at what cost? |
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Give a historical example of Risk assesement shown by Pascal. |
The value of accepting christianity outweighs the value of rejecting it because the risk of rejecting is too high. Values are based on the chances that god exists or doesnt exist. |
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What are two types of Data needed for Risk assesement. Which one is more scarce? |
Event data - atleast 100 years Economic Loss Data - adjusted for inflation
**Economic data more scarce |
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What is the statistical analysis equation for risk assesement. |
Risk = P X L
Probability of event Loss caused by event (health, people) |
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calculate the total risk for the following chart
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$1550 |
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Calculate the total death risk for the following chart |
0.015 deaths |
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When the database is inadequate to conduct proper risk assesement Statistical analysis. ___________ are used. |
Risk Analysis Event trees |
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Risk assesment associated with technological disasters is known as ____________. And it is a factor of both __________ and __________. |
Technological disaster risk assement = System reliability
Factor of both technological reliability and human reliability
System reliability = Tech reliability X Human reliability |
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The greatest risk factors leading to a reduction in life across the globe is _______________ |
Poverty
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Risk are not generally well percieved by people because they are not concerned with high-risk activities that are done ____________ such as __________. |
Voluntarily such as Smoking |
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Earthquakes can cause tsunamis in 2 ways. List them. |
1. Displacement of sea floor 2. Give rise to a landslide that enters the water |
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What magnitude does a earthquake usually have to be to cause a tsunami? |
M 7.5 |
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How many stages are there to a tsunami development from an earthquake |
4 stages |
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During stage 1 of tsunami development, displacement of the sea floor transmits energy ___________ and __________. |
Energy is transmitted upward and outward (slow phase) |
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During stage 2 of tsunami development; the wavelength is __________, the wave speed is __________, and the wave amplitude is ____________. |
Wavelength large Wave speed fast Wave amplitude SMALL! **ppl cant tell tsunami going underneath them in ship** |
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During stage 3 of tsunami development the tsunami approaches land where water depth gets smaller. This causes wavelength to _______, wave speed to _______ and amplitude to ________. |
Wavelength gets smaller Wave speed gets SLOWER Wave amplitude gets LARGER |
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What is the stage 4 of tsunami |
Tsunami impacting land and can be preceeded by water receeding. |
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What is a tsunami event |
A tsunami event is a series of waves reaching the shore which can last for several hours |
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What is a tsunami run-up. What does it describe? |
A tsunami run up is the maximum vertical and horizontal distance the largest tsunami wave reaches.
It is used to describe geographic area IMPACTED by the tsunami. |
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What are the two types of tsunamis? |
distant - travel 1000s Km, low impact, also known as tele-tsunamis
local - close to shore (few-100km), high impact, little to no warning |
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Areas at greatest risk of tsunami are located near _________ zones. The two highest risk areas in the world are _____________. |
Highest risk = subduction zone Two greatest risk = Meditteranean sea, Pacific ocean |
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Name a Natural service function of a tsunami |
Bring sediment onto land for agriculture |
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Name 2 additional things needed beside a operational warning system to aid in preparation of a tsunami. |
1. Defined evacuation plan emergency officials can follow
2. Education on earthquakes and tsunamis for those living near coastal lines |
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__________ are sensors that lie on the seafloor and measure changes in water _________ passing over them to verify the presence of a tsunami. |
Sensors = Tsunameters Measure = Water PRESSURE |
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What are inundation maps |
Maps showing the run up heights of previous tsunamis which aid in the preparation for future events. |
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One of the categories of adjustment to a tsunami is "Modifying the loss burden."
What is it? Give 2 examples. |
Modifying the loss burden is sharing the loss felt by the tsunami and spreading the burden beyond those directly affected.
2 examples: insurance, relief aid |
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Another category of adjustement to tsunami is "Modify Design"
What is it? Give one example. |
Modify design involves knowledge of hazard so you can design buildings to withstand damage.
Example: retrofitting buildings |
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Another category of adjustment is Modify Human vulnerability.
What is it? Give 3 examples. |
Modify human vulnerability involves preparing the population for possible events
Examples: Warning system, Land use planning, Preparedness programs |
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There are two possible scenarios for people when it comes to loss caused by hazards. What are the two scenarios? |
1. Accept Loss scenario 2. Share Loss scenario |
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Describe what the Accept loss scenario is and give an example. |
It is a free choice, no action response. People choose how to live and post hazard aid may not be available.
Example: Floodplains housing (cheap)
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What is the sharing loss scenario as a response to hazard. |
This is a goverment action response May be laws in place PREVENTING people from staying in certain areas.
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List 3 individual factors that determine whether an individual adjusts to a hazard |
1. Experience - more experience, more prepared 2. Material Wealth - more resources, more optinz 3. Personality - Risk taker / safe person |
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What is the prospect theory? |
People are more willing to protect against a loss than they are willing to gamble on an EQUIVALENT Gain. |
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Name three types of Human adjustments as a response to hazard. |
1. Cultural Adjustment 2. Purposeful Adjustment 3. Incidental Adjustment |
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What is the difference between a Purposeful adjustment vs. a Incidental adjustment to a hazard. Give an example of each. |
Purposeful adjustment - directly designed to reduce loss or damage = Stronger buildings in high risk areas.
Incidental adjustment = Indirectly aid in in reducing potential loss. I.e = Technological advances that help create better warning systems |
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What is absorptive capacity? |
Measure of the ability of people to SUSTAIN the impacts caused by a hazard. |
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Absorptive capacity is a combination of human _______, ________, ______ adjustments. |
Cultural adjustment (environmental based) Purposeful adjustment (direct loss prevention) Incidental adjustment (indirect loss prevention) |
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List one agricultural related things that communities in Kenya do that raises their absorptive capcity |
Plant a wide variety of crops together which results in DEEP ROOTS (due to competiton) and leads to a drought resistant crop yield. |
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What is the GAMBLERS FALLACY and how does it relate to the cogntive influence on choice of humans in regards to Hazard preparation. |
The belief that occurrence of a chance event influences the probability of future occurrences. |
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What are the 4 patterns of choice when responding to a risk. |
1. Absorb 2. Accept 3. Reduce 4. Change |
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What is "Absorbing" the risk ? Give an example of a place where people choose to absorb the risk. |
Viewing the risk an unproblematic or denying it because the probability is deemed too low. Fate is determined by the capacity to absorb Lossess.
Example: living on the San Andreas Fault |
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WHat is "Accepting" the risk? How is it different than absorbing.
Give an example of an event people Accepted? |
Accepting a risk is being aware of it (not denying) but having a passive attitude because it is believed to be an act of GOD, you cant do anything about.
Example: The nigerian drought |
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What do people do when they choose the "reduce" pattern of response to risk. |
Since there is awareness of the hazard, action, typically reactive, is taken to reduce impact. However, people tend to stay in the same place.
Example: Snow, flood, wind events |
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What is "Change" pattern of response to risk? |
Drastic measures are taken to avoid impact such as moving away, or change usage of land.
Example: Australia drought |
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What is the definition of an evocative hazard. Give an example? |
Hazards that are not likely to be serious but evoke MUCh public reaction.
Such as pesticides, and nuclear meltdown |
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What is the definition of a Banal hazard? Give an example. |
Hazards known to be relatively more serious but provoke little public reaction.
example: aflatoxin in peanut butter (higher risk of cancer than pesticides) |
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What is the difference between amplification and attenutation of risk? |
Amplification = low risk, high public rxn Attenuation = relatively higher risk, low public rxn |
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When sending a message regarding risk to the public there is a _________, a ________ and _________. By the time the message reaches the last stage, it may be considerably modified. |
Transmitter - generates message Signal - actual message Reciever - target audience |
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Signal value is prescribed by the reciever. There are two reasons for why some message might be ascribed a HIGH signal value. List them |
1. New risk has appeared (nuclear accident) 2. Risk is different than previously thought (storm getting a lot worse)
*** a car accident though harmful has low signal value since not new, or uncommon ***** |
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What is stigmatization? Give an example of location that has been stigmatized and why? |
Process by which a person, technology or place can have a negative image to ascribed to them simply due to a past event.
Example: Love Canal - chemical spill |
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What are the 5 theories that "try" to explain why some people assign higher risk to certain technologies as compared to other people. |
1. Knowledge 2. Personality 3. Economic 4. Political 5. Cultural |
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Which three theories showed conclusive evidence that was statistically significant when trying to explain why some people might ascribe higher risk to some technologies.
Which theory had the highest correlation. |
1. Political - left wing more weary of risk 2. Personal - aggressive ppl more weary 3. Cultural *** <-- highest correlation |
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Describe the three types of personal worldviews that the culture theory believes are correlated to how a person percieves risk. |
Heirarchial - strict boundary between superior and subordinates
Egalitarian - Equality for all
INdividualism- Personal freedom and choice |
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Give a real world example of where conflicting worldviews have lead to social conflict. |
global warming
enviornmentalist vs. economist |
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List the 4 variables that determine the classification of a landslide. |
1. Mechanism of movement 2. Type of Material 3. Amount of Water Present 4. Speed of movement |
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What are the three basic mechanism of movement for a landslide? |
1. Rock Fall - Rock/Sediment drop off a cliff
2. Slide - Downslope movement along a failure plane
3. Flow - Movement of particles semi-independently with the aid of water
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What type of landslide movement causes " a slump" |
A slide mechanism where the failure plane is curved UPWARD. |
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What landslide movement causes "a CREEP"? |
Creep is caused a FLOW mechanism |
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The stability of a slope is based on the balance of two types of forces. What are they? |
Driving Forces - Move material downslope i.e = weight of vegetation, water
Resisting Forces = Oppose downslope movement i.e = shear strength of material |
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What is the equation for "Factor of Safety" of a slope. |
FS = RF/DF = (Resisting force)/(Driving Force)
If FS>1 = stable If FS<1 = unstable
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What is the difference between a rotational slide and a translational slide? Which one is a slump.
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Rotational slide = downslope movement along an upward slope
Translational slide = Downslope movement along a discrete (straight) plane
A slump is a rotational slide! |
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Between rock falls, flows, and creep. List them in order of highest driving force (slope steepness) to lowest. |
Rock fall > Flows > Creep |
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Dangerous landslides are more likely in areas of _____ topographic relief. |
High Topographic relief (height of hill/mountain above the surrounding land) |
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Which type of landslides are more common in dry climates? Humid climates? |
Dry climates - Rock falls likely since little vegetation, exposed bedrock
Humid climates - flows, creeps more likely since vegetation and thick soil |
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Why does deforestation lead to an increase in frequency of landslides? |
Dense vegetation slows surface erosion by having deep roots which strengthen the cohesion of the slope |
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Which regions are at risk of landslides? |
Those with significant variation in topography |
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What is the name of Canada's most famous Land slide |
Frank slide on turtle mountain Alberta |
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What are the two leading HUMAN CAUSES for landslides |
1. Timber Harvesting 2. Urbanization |
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List three engineering practices which can reduce the probability of a landslide |
1. Drainage control - remove xcess water 2. Levelling the slope - move weight off the top and put at base to reduce driving force 3. Slope supports - metal screens, retaining walls |
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What is the name of the machine that detects vibrations along a slope to signal the risk of a landslide? |
TILTMETERS |
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List the following gases in descending order of their concentration in the atmosphere.
Nitrogen Oxygen CO2 Water Vapor |
Nitrogen > Oxygen > Water vapor/Co2 (1%) |
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Which layer of the atmosphere is all weather confined to? Which layer is the ozone layer found in? |
All weather = TROPOSPHERE Ozone layer = STRATOSPHERE |
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List the prefix and suffixes of cloud and what they mean |
Prefixes:
Cirro = High cloud Alto = Mid level cloud Strato = Low cloud
Suffix Cumulus = Puffy cloud StratUS = flat cloud |
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What term do clouds that produce rain contain in their name?
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"Nimb" |
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What is the name of a cloud that produces light precipitation?
What is the name of the ONLY CLOUD THAT CAN PRODUCE lighting and heavy thunderstorm |
Light precipitation = nimbostratus (rainy flat)
Heavy Thunderstorm and lightining = cumolonimbus |
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What are the ranges for a low level cloud? Mid level cloud? High cloud? |
Low level cloud = below 2Km Mid level cloud = 2-7Km High cloud = Above 7Km |
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A front marks a boundary between two _____________. The name of the front describes the type of air ___________ that front. |
Boundary between two AIR MASSES Name denotes the type or air BEHIND THAT FRONT. |
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How does a cold front behave differently than a warm front and why? |
Cold front undercuts the warm air infront. While a warm front overrides the cold front infront of it due to its low density. |
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What are the THREE things you need for thunderstorm development. |
1. Unstable environment (vertical gradient b/w sky and ground. Warm sky, really cold ground air)
2. Water vapor
3. Rising air |
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What are the three STAGES of development for a thunderstorm. Briefly describe mechanism |
1. Cumulus 2. Mature 3. Dissapative
Hot ground air rises, cold sky air undercuts, weak downpour follows while anvil head of thunderstorm shifts. |
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How does hail develop and in which type of clouds? |
Hail develops in TALL CLOUDS.
Repeated updraft of warm air force the falling droplets back into the cold part of the cloud. Overtime they develop a ring of ice and get heavy enough to fall to the ground. |
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What is the main requirement for lightining? |
A cumolonimbus cloud containing regions of opposite charge which arise due to the interactions of ice crystals, water droplets and hailstones. |
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Why do you hear thunder after a lightning strike? |
Lightining warms the air around it causing it to expand thus creating a shockwave (thunder). |
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What is the definition of a tornado? |
A rotating column of air that touches the ground and was formed within a supercell thunderstorm. |
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What is the name of a rotating column of air that DOESNT touch the ground? |
A funnel cloud |
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How long does an average tornado last? What is the most common season for them? |
On average last around 30 minutes. Most common in SPRING |
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What are the three stages of tornado development?
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Organizational stage - wind shear and funnel cloud Mature Stage - Most severe damage Rope stage - stretch and weaken |
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What is the definition of wind shear and how does it aid in the development of a tornado? |
Wind shear is the change in direction or speed of wind over a distance. It causes a rotating column to form due to warm air on top and cold air going opposite direction underneath.
**organizational stage*** |
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What scale is used to classify tornadoes and what aspect of the tornado is it based on?
what is the range from weakest to strongest tornado? |
Scale: Enhanced Fujita Scale Based on Wind speed Scale ranges from EF0 to an EF5(strongest)
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What country experiences the most tornadoes. 2nd most? |
Most = United states 2nd Most = Canada
Tornadoes are a North American phenomenon |
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Where is the US tornado alley located Where is the Canadian tornado alley located |
US = Kansas and Oklohoma Canada = Southwest Ontario |
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What two features make tornado alleys so prone to tornadoes? |
1. Frequent collisions of air masses 2. Relatively flat land allowing unidisturbed tornado formaiton |
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Name three notable tornado locations. What was the deadliest year of tornadoes? |
Joplin Missouri, Goderich Ontario, Moore Oklohoma
2011 was the deadliest year |
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What are three differences between tropical and extratropical cyclones. |
Tropical cyclones form over WARM WATER, at LOW ALTITUDES and contain rain, high winds.
Extratropical cyclones form over LAND OR WATER, at MID ALTITUDES, contain snow,rain or freezing rain. |
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What are the 4 stages of a tropical cyclone development? At what stage is it given a name? |
1. Tropical disturbance 2. Tropical depression 3. Tropical Storm** --> given a name 4. Thunder
**not all disturbances --> thunder*** |
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Hurricanes and cyclones are the same thing just called differently based on location. TRUE/FALSE? |
True
America - hurriance Japan - cyclone |
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Name the three components of a hurricane and a brief description of each. |
Eye - light winds, clear to partly cloudy skies
Eyewall - Intense thunderstorms around eye
Spiral Rain bands - tall clouds with heavy rain exist throughout hurricane |
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How are hurricanes named? |
Alternating male and female names in alphabetical order |
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What is the most devastating effect of hurricanes. |
Storm surges Powerful winds create a abnormal rise in sea level washing away land property. |
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What system is used to classify hurricanes. How is it similiar to the Fujita scale for tornadoes, how is it different? |
Scale = Saffir - SImpson scale
Same as tornado = Both classified based on wind speed
DIfferent than fujita = Fujita started at EF0-EF5, this one goes from 1-5 (no 0)
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How warm does the water need to be to have a tornado above? |
26 degrees celsius |
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What region of North American is at the highest risk of Tornadoes? |
Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast |
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What was the deadliest natural disaster in Canada? |
Hurrican Hazel - 81 deaths in toronto due to flash floods as the result of the hurricane |
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What distance does a fog have to reduce visibility to be classfied as fog. |
less than 1Km |
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What are 4 conditions a snow storm must possess to be classified as a blizzard. |
1. Winds of atleast 40Km/h 2. snow falling or blowing 3. visibility reduced to less than 400m 4. MUST REMAIN LIKE THIS FOR 4 HOURS |
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What is lake effect snow caused by? |
Caused by cold wind moving over warm water leading to heavy snow.
This is the reason "snow belts" like London occurr. |
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What is another name for a Sandstorm in the middle east. What is it caused by? |
Another name: Haboob
Caused by a downdraft at the leading edge of a thunderstorm |
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What is the definiton of a "DUST DEVIL" and how is it formed. |
A spinning vortex of air over hot dry land. Caused by wind shear of warm air resulting in a spinning column. |
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What are the three categories of alerts a forecaster can give, how do they differ. |
1. Watch - large area forecast, potential hazard 2. Warning - smaller area, hazard currently happening 3. Advisory - alert public to less hazardous weather such as fogs |
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The climate system results from the interaction of 5 "spheres."
What are they? |
1. Hydrosphere = oceans 2. Atmosphere = gases 3. Lithosphere = plate tectonics, orogeny 4. Cryosphere (variable) = ice surface - variable 5. Biosphere - life (plants, humans) |
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Temperature has been higher and colder in history than it is today. THe concern now is not the temperature but the _________ of temperature _____. |
Rate of temperature change is the concern now! |
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Siberia and Alaska used to be connected before by the ______________. However now as sea levels rose they are no longer connected. |
Bering Land bridge |
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The _________ graph shows the rapid rise in termpature due to the human industry and greenhouse gases. |
The hockey stick graph |
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There are 4 general causes of climate change. What are they? |
1. Variation in solar radiation 2. Changes in the atmosphere composition 3. Change in Earths surface 4. Variation in Earths orbit |
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What are sunspots and faculae. Why are they important regarding climate change. |
Sunspots are cool regions of high magnetism surrounded by high energy areas called faculae.
More sun spots = more energy to earth
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What are the three greenhouse gases? And which one has the longest residence time in air. |
Carbon dioxide, water vapor and methane
Carbon dioxide = longest residence time
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List 2 ways we use to determine the climate in the past |
1. Ice cores - air pockets in layers of ice 2. Dendrochronology - wider tree rings = warmer/wetter years |
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The Milankovitch theory states that there are three cycles of earth orbit that cause climate change.
List them |
1. Eccentricity 2. Precession 3. Obliquity |
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List how each Milaknovitch cycle relate to orbit of earth and order them from longest to shorter cyclic period. |
1. Eccentricity - longest (100k), circle to oval orbital shape
2. Obliquity - Middle (41K), change in tilt of earths orbital axis
3. Precession - shortest (23K), wobble of earths axis |
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Greenhouse gases allow solar radiation to pass through but they ABSORB (not trap) _______________. |
They ABSORB infared radiation |
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Why is the addition of a more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere a concern? |
Carbon dioxide leads to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting in more INFRARED radiation FROM THE EARTH being absorbed. |
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There are two types of ozone. List them.
Which one is natural and which one is artifical and bad. |
Stratospheric ozone Photochemical ozone (found in troposphere)
Stratospheric is natural, while photochemical is harmful and created by chemical reactions |
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Ozone is composed of oxygen and stratopsheric ozone is beneficial because it prevents humans from _____________. |
Harmful UV Rays from the sun |
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What was the major reason for the ozone depletion since 1900s. Which Protocol was signed to reduce these. |
CFC = Chlorofluorocarbons UV rays break them up into ozone depleting chlorine.
Reduced due to the signage of the MONTREAL PROTOCOL by every country. |
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Though CFC have declined rapidly since 1970s, there is no recognized decline in atmosphere, why? |
CFC have huge residence time and continue to destroy ozone leading to increase UV damage to Earth. |
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What are the two main sourced of acid precipitation? |
Sulfur and Nitrogen Oxides |
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What pH does precipitation have to be to be classified as acidic |
ph 5.5 |
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Which agreement has led to a rapid decrease in acid precipitaiton in north america? |
Canada US air quality agreement |
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Give an example of a climate change specific positive feedback loop. |
Due to less ice, sun rays warm water accelerating the melting of surrounding ice. There is a decrease in SURFACE ALBEDO.
- Reason why polar regions are warming the fastest |
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What are chemical models. |
Mathematical models that aim to predict future temperature by incorporating several variables.
**all say earth will warm by atleast 1.5 degrees |
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What was the Kyoto protocols aim which 4 countries did not sign it? |
Aim to reduce climate change by lowering greenhouse emissions to below 5% by 2010 (failed)
US, China, India, Australia did not sign it |
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What is the most serious impact of climate change to HUMANS |
Spread of malaria |
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What are the two realities of natural resources, that humans tend to neglect. |
1. Most natural resources are finite. 2. Using resources creates waste products |
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What is the precautionary principle and how does it apply to environmental change? |
The principle: When there is a risk involved to either humans or environement, we should act even if there is some "UNCERTAINTY" about the risk.
Relate to enviro change: Balancing the harm and cost of inaction versus cost of acting uneccesarily |
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Name three alternative energy sources. |
1. Solar energy 2. Wind energy 3. Hydroelectric energy |
