Hazardous Earth

Question 1

How does air move at the equator?

Answer 1

Air rises up

Question 2

What is the normal weather conditions at a high pressure belt?

Answer 2

Low rainfall, often cloudless skies`

Question 3

How does atmospheric circulation distribute heat energy from the equator to the poles?

Answer 3

The sun heats the earth at the equator causing air to warm up and rise. As the air rises it cools and moves away. The cool air sinks and some is drown towards the poles as surface winds

Question 4

What are the theories about the causes of natural climate change?

Answer 4

The eruption theory
Asteroid collisions
The sunspot theory
The orbital theory

Question 5

What is the eruption theory?

Answer 5

During big volcanic eruptions, ash and gas can block some sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface. This cools the planet and lowers the temperature

Question 6

How can asteroid collisions cause natural climate change?

Answer 6

Large asteroid collisions would blast millions of tonnes of ash and dust into the atmosphere and cool the climate as the sunlight would be blocked.

Question 7

What is sunspot theory?

Answer 7

These are black areas on the sun’s surface. Lots of spots means more solar energy being fired out from the sun towards the earth increasing the temperature

Question 8

What is the orbital theory? (sometimes called Milankovitch cycles)

Answer 8

Changes in the earth’s orbit affect where sunlight falls on Earth

Question 9

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Answer 9

Weather is the day to day conditions e.g. raining, snowing, sunny whereas climate is the average conditions for a time of year e.g. autumn, winter

Question 10

What evidence is there for past climates?

Answer 10

Fossilised plants, animals and pollen that no longer live in the UK
Ice cores
Tree rings
Landforms like U shaped valleys

Question 11

How do ice cores tell us about past climates?

Answer 11

Trapped in ice layers are air bubbles which contain carbon dioxide. Scientists measure the amount of carbon dioxide

Question 12

How do tree rings tell us about past climates?

Answer 12

Each ring on a tree is a year’s growth. Scientists examine tree rings to learn about past climate conditions.

Question 13

What are the greenhouse gases?

Answer 13

Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide

Question 14

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Answer 14

Pollution of the atmosphere with carbon dioxide

Question 15

What is thermal expansion?

Answer 15

The sea expanding as it warms

Question 16

By 2100, estimates predict temperature will increase by how much?

Answer 16

Between 1.1 and 6.4 degrees Celsius

Question 17

By 2100, estimates predict sea levels will rise by how much?

Answer 17

30cm and 1m

Question 18

Why is predicting future global warming difficult?

Answer 18

We don’t know what the future population will be, whether fossil fuels will continue to be used or if people will change their lifestyles and recycle more or use public transport

Question 19

What are the impacts of climate change?

Answer 19

More frequent floods, droughts and heatwaves.
Stronger storms and hurricanes
Changes to farming as they adapt to new climates
Climate refugees as people evacuate low lying places that are no longer habitable.

Question 20

What are the different names for tropical cyclones?

Answer 20

Hurricane
Cyclone
Typhoon

Question 21

What is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane scale?

Answer 21

5 different categories to measure wind strength

Question 22

Name the features of tropical cyclones?

Answer 22

Circular shape
Hundreds of km wide
Eye at the centre of the cyclone
In the eye, pressure is low and winds are light
Eye wall surrounds the eye
The eyewall have strong winds, torrential rain and a low temperature

Question 23

What measurement is used to give the category rating of a cyclone?

Answer 23

Wind speed

Question 24

What is needed for a tropical cyclone to form?

Answer 24

Warm ocean with temperatures above 26.5degrees
Strong winds (to move the cyclone)

Question 25

What are the physical hazards of tropical cyclones?

Answer 25

``` High winds Intense rainfalls Storm surges Coastal flooding Landslides ```

Question 26

Identify the ways tropical cyclones impact people?

Answer 26

Buildings destroyed Roads damaged Electricity supplies damaged

Question 27

Describe the impacts tropical cyclones can have on the environment

Answer 27

Trees may be uprooted by high winds Beaches may be eroded by storm surges Coral reefs may be damaged by storm surges Harmful chemicals may pollute the environment

Question 28

How can we work out the predicted paths of cyclones?

Answer 28

Satellite photos Computer models Weather forecasting technology

Question 29

Is the air pressure high or low during a tropical cyclone?

Answer 29

Low

Question 30

Give an example of a tropical cyclone in a developed country

Answer 30

Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, USA

Question 31

Give an example of a tropical cyclone in a developing country

Answer 31

Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines or Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar

Question 32

How can we prepare for tropical cyclones?

Answer 32

``` Weather forecasting Satellite technology Warning Systems Evacuation strategies Storm surge defences ```

Question 33

What are the 4 layers of the earth?

Answer 33

Inner Core Outer Core Mantle Crust

Question 34

What is the lithosphere?

Answer 34

The uppermost layer of the Earth. It includes the very top of the mantle and the crust.

Question 35

Describe how continental crust is different from oceanic crust

Answer 35

Continental crust is thicker | Continental crust is less dense

Question 36

Explain how convection currents cause tectonic plates to move

Answer 36

The core heats the mantle causing the mantle to rise. As it rises it begins to cool and falls again in a circular motion. As the tectonic plates sit on top of the mantle, the circular motion causes the plates to move.

Question 37

What are the different plate boundaries?

Answer 37

Conservative Divergent Convergent

Question 38

What happens at a conservative plate boundary?

Answer 38

Two plates slide past each other creating earthquakes

Question 39

What happens at a divergent plate boundary?

Answer 39

Two plates move apart creating small earthquakes and not very explosive/dangerous volcanoes

Question 40

What happens at a convergent plate boundary?

Answer 40

Two plates collide creating large earthquakes, explosive volcanoes with the potential for tsunamis.

Question 41

What is a collision zone?

Answer 41

A type of convergent plate boundary creating mountain ranges such as the Himalayas. Earthquakes can also happen.

Question 42

What is subduction?

Answer 42

When oceanic crust sinks into the mantle at a convergent plate boundary.

Question 43

What are the different shapes of volcanoes?

Answer 43

Shield volcanoes | Composite volcanoes

Question 44

Explain how earthquakes are caused at convergent plate boundaries

Answer 44

Tension builds up as one plate get stuck as it moves down past the other into the mantle. The plates eventually jerk past each other sending our shock waves.

Question 45

What is the Richter scales?

Answer 45

A scale from 1-9 which measures the power of an earthquake MAGNITUDE!

Question 46

Where is the focus of an earthquake?

Answer 46

The point in the crust where the earthquake starts

Question 47

Where is the epicentre of an earthquake?

Answer 47

The point on the earth’s surface above the focus

Question 48

If the focus of an earthquake is shallow what is the earthquake like?

Answer 48

More destructive

Question 49

Give an example of an earthquake in a developed country

Answer 49

Sendai, Japan, 2011

Question 50

Give an example of a tropical cyclone in a developing country

Answer 50

Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 2010

Question 51

How can people prepare for earthquakes?

Answer 51

Earthquake drills Emergency kits being prepared at home Earthquake proof buildings where gas supplies cut off to reduce the risk of fire

Question 52

What is the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)?

Answer 52

It measure the destructive power of volcanoes on a scale of 1 to 8.

Question 53

What are primary effects?

Answer 53

Effects which are caused instantly

Question 54

What are secondary effects?

Answer 54

Effects which happen in the hours, days and week after the event

Question 55

What are the hazards produced by volcanoes?

Answer 55

``` Pyroclastic flows Landslides Lava flows Lahars (volcanic mudslide) Lava bombs Ash fall ```

Question 56

What are the benefits of volcanoes?

Answer 56

Creates fertile land suitable for farming | Hot springs can create tourist attractions

Question 57

How can we predict volcanoes?

Answer 57

Seismometers to measure the earthquake tremors which increase as magma rises Boreholes to measure water temperature as magma heats it up Tiltmeters to detect when the volcano swells as it fills with magma Aircrafts to measure the amount of gas given off

Question 58

Why are people in the developing world at a greater risk from hazards than those in developed countries?

Answer 58

They build in risky location because there is nowhere else affordable to live They can’t afford safe, well built houses They don’t have insurance Their governments don’t have the money and resources to provide aid Communications are poor so warning and evacuation may not happen

Question 59

What is a refugee?

Answer 59

People who are forced to move due to natural hazards or war

Question 60

What is aid?

Answer 60

Aid is help given in an emergency.