geography tectonic hazards

Question 1

What is a natural hazard?

Answer 1

A severe natural process affecting a vulnerable population, causing economic loss, injury, or death.

Question 2

What are the 3 main types of natural hazards?

Answer 2

• Atmospheric (weather)
• Hydrological (water)
• Geological (land/tectonics)

Question 3

What does SEE stand for in impacts?

Answer 3

Social, Economic, Environmental.

Question 4

What does ‘vulnerable’ mean in geography?

Answer 4

At risk of being affected by a hazard.

Question 5

Name the four layers of the Earth.

Answer 5

• Core
• Mantle
• Crust
• Tectonic Plates

Question 6

What causes tectonic plates to move?

Answer 6

Convection currents in the mantle.

Question 7

What happens at a constructive plate boundary?

Answer 7

Plates move apart; magma rises, causing gentle volcanoes and earthquakes.

Question 8

What happens at a destructive plate boundary?

Answer 8

Oceanic plate subducts under a continental plate, forming explosive volcanoes.

Question 9

What happens at a conservative plate boundary?

Answer 9

Plates slide past each other—no volcanoes, but violent earthquakes.

Question 10

What happens at a collision boundary?

Answer 10

Two continental plates crash into each other, forming fold mountains.

Question 11

What is subduction?

Answer 11

When one plate is forced under another.

Question 12

Which crust is thicker: continental or oceanic?

Answer 12

Continental (but it’s less dense).

Question 13

What causes earthquakes?

Answer 13

A sudden release of energy in the crust creating seismic waves.

Question 14

What is the focus of an earthquake?

Answer 14

The point inside the Earth where it starts.

Question 15

What is the epicentre?

Answer 15

The point on the surface above the focus—usually where the most damage happens.

Question 16

What is liquefaction?

Answer 16

When the ground shakes and groundwater rises, making the ground unstable.

Question 17

What does the Richter scale measure?

Answer 17

Energy/magnitude (1–9 scale).

Question 18

What does the Mercalli scale measure?

Answer 18

Impact/damage (1–12 scale).

Question 19

Can earthquakes be prevented?

Answer 19

Nope, but their impacts can be reduced.

Question 20

Name 3 ways to manage earthquake risks.

Answer 20

• Monitoring & prediction
• Building design
• Education

Question 21

What type of plate boundary caused the Nepal earthquake?

Answer 21

Destructive—Indo-Australian subducting under Eurasian.

Question 22

Why was Nepal badly affected?

Answer 22

• Shallow focus
• Poor infrastructure
• Densely populated
• LIDC

Question 23

Name one environmental impact of the Nepal quake.

Answer 23

Avalanche on Mount Everest.

Question 24

How many people died in the Sichuan earthquake?

Answer 24

Around 80,000.

Question 25

What type of boundary caused the Sichuan quake?

Answer 25

Collision boundary (Indo-Australian vs. Eurasian plate).

Question 26

What was a major social impact of the Sichuan earthquake?

Answer 26

10,000 children died, 4,200 orphans created.

Question 27

Where is Cumbre Vieja located?

Answer 27

La Palma, Canary Islands.

Question 28

How long did the eruption of Cumbre Vieja last?

Answer 28

83 days.

Question 29

Name one economic impact of the Cumbre Vieja eruption.

Answer 29

50–60% drop in banana exports.

Question 30

How many buildings were destroyed in the Cumbre Vieja eruption?

Answer 30

Around 3,000.