Edexcel Igcse Geography. Hazardous Environements Flashcards

Front 1

Hazard

Back 1

A natural event that threatens or causes damage, destruction or death.

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Disaster (natural)

Back 2

The results of a natural hazard taking place, such as deaths, injuries and destruction of property.

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Earthquake

Back 3

A sudden or violent movement within the earth's crust followed by a series of shocks.

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Volcano

Back 4

An opening in the Earth's crust out of which lava, ash and gases erupt.

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Tropical storms

Back 5

An area of low pressure with winds moving in a spiral around the centre point, called the eye of the storm. Winds are powerful and there is heavy rainfall.

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Monitoring

Back 6

recording physical changes, such as earthquake tremors around a volcano or tracking a tropical storm by satellite, to help predict when and where a natural hazard might strike.

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Prediction

Back 7

Being able to say when and where a natural hazard will strike

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Mitigation

Back 8

Reducing the risk from natural hazards before they happen, such as building earthquake proof buildings.

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Aid

Back 9

help given by more wealthy nations to less well-off nations, mainly to encourage development or recover from a natural disaster.

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Disaster relief

Back 10

Immediate help given after a disaster, including emergency responses such as sending fire fighters and search and rescue teams.

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Geological hazards

Back 11

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides

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Climatic hazards

Back 12

Storms, floods, drought

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Biological hazards

Back 13

Fires, pests, diseases

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Technological hazards

Back 14

Nuclear explosion, accidents, pollution

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Destructive margin

Back 15

Where one plate margin is being destroyed as it plunges beneath the other plate.

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Constructive margin

Back 16

Where two plates slide past each other

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Focus

Back 17

The centre of the earthquake underground

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epicentre

Back 18

The point on the surface above the focus

Front 19

The Richter scale

Back 19

Measures the energy released by an earthquake. Logarithmic scale that runs up to 8. Each point up the scale represents 30 times more energy released than the point below.

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The Mercalli scale

Back 20

Based on what people experience and the amount of damage done. Would not feel a tremor at 2, but at 10-12 houses collapse, there are landslides and the ground cracks.

Front 21

Hotspot volcanoes

Back 21

Form in the middle of plates as the plates move over a plume of magma

Front 22

Lava flows

Back 22

Destroy everything they move over, but rarely extend for more than 10km from a volcano

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Ash

Back 23

Can be carried for hundreds of miles in the atmosphere. Close to a volcano where the ash is thickest it can choke people and animals and can form such thick layers that roofs collapse.

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Pyroclastic flows

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Superheated clouds of gas and rocks that sweep down the volcano sides. Clouds can be up to 1000 degrees C and can travel at 450 miles per hour.

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The eye wall

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Surrounds the eye of a tropical storm, the air rapidly spirals upwards, causing high winds, torrential rain and storm clouds.

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Saffir-simpson classification of tropical storms

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category 1-5, wind speed 119->250kph, pressure >980-<920mb, storm surge 1->5.7m

Front 27

Weather stations

Back 27

A global network of weather stations monitor weather conditions. This data is used for forecasting and also tracking tropical storms.

Front 28

Weather satellites

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allow meteorologists to seen and analyse pictures of cloud formations from images captured during the day. Satellite sensors also monitor energy radiations, which can be capture day or night.

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Radar

Back 29

Provides important information on the direction and speed that clouds are moving and allows meteorologists to gauge precipitation.

Front 30

Tropical storm in LIC

Back 30

Hurricane Mitch hits central America (October 1998)

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Tropical storm in HIC

Back 31

Hurricane Floyd hits the USA (September 1999)

Front 32

Predicting volcanoes

Back 32

An increase in the number of small earthquakes, a swelling may develop in the side of the volcano, gases, such as sulphur dioxide, may escape.

Front 33

Predicting earthquakes

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Very small changes in electrical and radioactive emissions. Land may rise or tilt. The water levels in wells may fall.

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Predicting tropical stoms

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Meteorologists can monitor data on tropical storms as they develop and can track them as they approach land.

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Preparing for volcanoes

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Early warning systems to aid in evacuation. Sloping roofs on buildings to avoid the build up of ash.

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Preparing for earthquakes

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Building earthquake-proof buildings and structures. Education, carrying out earthquake drills. Having fully trained and equipped emergency services. Setting up early warning systems for tsunamis.

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Preparing for tropical storms

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Early warning systems to aid evacuation. Preparation of storm shelters. Houses equipped with storm shutters to protect glass. Effective flood protection measures to combat storm surges.

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Short term consequences of hazards could include

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People injured or killed. Buildings and farmland destroyed. Communications disrupted.

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Longer-term consequences of hazards could include.

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The economic cost of rebuilding. Economic slump because tourists stay away.

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Short term responses to hazards

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coping with the hazard itself. Emergency aid and disaster relief.

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Long term responses to hazards

Back 41

Rebuilding. Review and adjustment. Improving prediction and preparation.

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Named example for consequences of hazards

Back 42

Asian tsunami, December 2004.