hazardous earth Flashcards

1
Q

Asthenosphere

A

The semi-molten layer at the top of the
mantle which flows due to convection
currents, moving the solid lithosphere
above.

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2
Q

Atmospheric circulation

A

The general movements of air around
the Earth due to pressure and
temperature.

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3
Q

Climate change

A

A distinct change in global or regional
patterns of climate, such as changes in
temperature or precipitation patterns.

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4
Q

Conservative plate boundary

A

A plate boundary where two plates are
moving alongside each other.

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5
Q

Continental crust

A

The thicker, less dense crust that makes
up the continents.

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6
Q

Convection current

A

The movement of a fluid caused by a
difference in temperature or density.

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7
Q

Convergent plate boundary

A

A plate boundary where two plates are
moving towards each other.

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8
Q

Coriolis Effect

A

The effect of the Earth’s rotation on wind
movements.

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9
Q

Cyclone

A

A tropical cyclone that hits Oceania or
Madagascar.

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10
Q

Divergent plate boundary

A

A plate boundary where two plates are
moving away from each other.

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11
Q

Eccentricity

A

The changing of the orbit of the Earth
around the Sun from a circular shape to
an ellipse.

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12
Q

Eye

A

An area of a tropical cyclone with
extremely low pressure and calm
conditions.

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13
Q

Eyewall

A

An area of a tropical cyclone with the
most intense, powerful winds and
torrential rain.

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14
Q

Ferrel Cell

A

At around 60° either side of the equator,
moist air rises, and travels to lower
latitudes at around 30° where it sinks,
along with air travelling from the equator.

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15
Q

Fossil fuels

A

Fuels made up of the remains of organic
material, such as oil, coal and gas.

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16
Q

Geological hazard

A

A hazard caused by processes on the
land.

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17
Q

Greenhouse Gases

A

Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that
trap energy in the Earth’s system and
contribute to the greenhouse effect
(carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour
and nitrous oxides).

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18
Q

Hadley Cell

A

At the equator, hot moist air rises, moves
to higher latitudes (30°) and sinks.

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19
Q

Hazard risk

A

The probability that a natural hazard will
negatively affect a population.

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20
Q

Hotspot

A

An area where unusually hot magma
breaks through the middle of a plate and
travels up to the surface, creating a
volcano.

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21
Q

Hurricane

A

A tropical cyclone that hits the USA,
Latin America or the Caribbean.

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22
Q

Ice core

A

A cylinder of ice extracted from an ice
sheet or glacier, which is used to analyse
past environmental conditions.

23
Q

Immediate responses

A

Actions taken as soon as the hazard
happens and in its immediate aftermath
(hours, days, and potentially a week or
so after the event).

24
Q

Inner core

A

A solid ball of iron/nickel at the Earth’s
centre. Radioactive decay within the
inner core provides Earth’s internal
energy.

25
Q

Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

A

An area surrounding the equator where
global winds converge, causing an area
of low pressure with rainy conditions.

26
Q

Lithosphere

A

Solid rock that lies on top of the
asthenosphere. The top of the
lithosphere is the crust, which is broken
up into tectonic plates.

27
Q

Long-term responses

A

Actions taken after the immediate
responses when the effects of the
hazard have been minimised (weeks,
months, and years after the event).

28
Q

Magma

A

Molten rock found beneath the Earth’s
surface.

29
Q

Mantle

A

The area underneath the crust which
contains magma.

30
Q

Milankovitch Cycles

A

The cyclical variations in the Earth’s orbit
around the Sun

31
Q

Natural hazard

A

A naturally occurring event that is a
threat to a population.

32
Q

Obliquity (or axial tilt)

A

The tilt of the Earth’s axis, which
changes from 21.5° and 24.5°.

33
Q

Ocean currents

A

The predictable, continuous circulation of
ocean water which transfers heat around
the globe.

34
Q

Oceanic crust

A

The thinner, denser crust that makes up
the ocean floor.

35
Q

Outer core

A

A molten layer of iron and nickel that
surrounds the inner core and transfers
energy by convection currents.

36
Q

Plate boundary

A

The point at which two plates meet.

37
Q

Polar Cell

A

At 60° north or south of the equator,
moist air rises, and travels to the poles
(90°), where it sinks.

38
Q

Precession

A

The point at which two plates meet.

39
Q

Pressure belt

A

A region of the Earth which is generally
under the same pressure.

40
Q

Primary effects

A

The effects that are directly caused by
the hazard itself.

41
Q

Quaternary Period

A

The geological time period that started
2.6 million years ago and extends into
the present.

42
Q

Richter scale

A

A logarithmic scale used to measure the
magnitude of earthquakes.

43
Q

Secondary effects

A

The effects that are a result of the
primary effects.

44
Q

Storm surge

A

A rise in sea level caused when a
tropical cyclone pushes a large amount
of sea water onto the shore.

45
Q

Subduction

A

A process that occurs at a destructive
plate boundary when a plate is pushed
below another plate, forcing it to sink into
the asthenosphere.

46
Q

Tectonic hazard

A

A natural hazard caused by the physical
processes and movements of tectonic
plates.

47
Q

Tectonic plates

A

Large slabs of the Earth’s crust that sit
and move on top of the liquid mantle.

48
Q

The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

A

A process where the Earth’s surface is
heated by the greenhouse effect at a
higher rate due to increased greenhouse
gas emissions from human activities.

49
Q

The Greenhouse Effect

A

A natural process where greenhouse
gases trap the energy from the Sun
inside the Earth’s atmosphere, warming
the Earth’s surface.

50
Q

Track

A

A typical pathway that a tropical cyclone
takes which is driven by global wind
circulation.

51
Q

Tree rings

A

A ring in a tree trunk that grows annually,
indicating the conditions in the year it
grew.

52
Q

Tropical cyclone

A

A very large, spinning storm with high
winds and torrential rain that forms in the
tropics.

53
Q

Tsunami

A

A large wave caused by a large amount
of water being displaced when plates
move.

54
Q

Typhoon

A

A tropical cyclone that hits India, Japan
or the Philippines.