hazardous earth

Question 1

Asthenosphere

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Atmospheric circulation

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Climate change

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Conservative plate boundary

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Continental crust

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Convection current

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Convergent plate boundary

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Coriolis Effect

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Cyclone

Answer 9

A tropical cyclone that hits Oceania or
Madagascar.

Question 10

Divergent plate boundary

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Eccentricity

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Eye

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Eyewall

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Ferrel Cell

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Fossil fuels

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Geological hazard

Answer 16

A hazard caused by processes on the
land.

Question 17

Greenhouse Gases

Answer 17

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).

Question 18

Hadley Cell

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Hazard risk

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Hotspot

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Hurricane

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Ice core

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Immediate responses

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Inner core

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Lithosphere

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Long-term responses

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Magma

Answer 28

Molten rock found beneath the Earth's surface.

Question 29

Mantle

Answer 29

The area underneath the crust which contains magma.

Question 30

Milankovitch Cycles

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Natural hazard

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Obliquity (or axial tilt)

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Ocean currents

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Oceanic crust

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Outer core

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Plate boundary

Answer 36

The point at which two plates meet.

Question 37

Polar Cell

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Precession

Answer 38

The point at which two plates meet.

Question 39

Pressure belt

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Primary effects

Answer 40

The effects that are directly caused by the hazard itself.

Question 41

Quaternary Period

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Richter scale

Answer 42

A logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.

Question 43

Secondary effects

Answer 43

The effects that are a result of the primary effects.

Question 44

Storm surge

Answer 44

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

Question 45

Subduction

Answer 45

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

Question 46

Tectonic hazard

Answer 46

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

Question 47

Tectonic plates

Answer 47

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

Question 48

The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Answer 48

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.

Question 49

The Greenhouse Effect

Answer 49

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

Question 50

Track

Answer 50

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

Question 51

Tree rings

Answer 51

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

Question 52

Tropical cyclone

Answer 52

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

Question 53

Tsunami

Answer 53

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

Question 54

Typhoon

Answer 54

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