Hazards Flashcards
(158 cards)
1
Q
Types of tectonic hazards
A
Earthquakes
Volcanic eruptions
Tsunamis
2
Q
Atmospheric hazards
A
Hurricanes
Drought
3
Q
Geomorphic hazards
A
Flooding
4
Q
Biological hazards
A
Wildfires
5
Q
Definition of natural hazards
A
A natural event or process which causes loss of life and/or damage to property which disrupts human activities
6
Q
Impacts of earthquakes
A
Loss of homes
Loss of lives
Economic destruction
7
Q
Where are earthquakes likely
A
Asia
8
Q
Where are droughts likely
A
Africa
9
Q
Impacts of droughts
A
Thirst/loss of life
Crop failures
Discouraged civilisation
10
Q
Where are tsunamis likely
A
East Asia
11
Q
Impacts of tsunamis
A
Economic destruction
Loss of lives
Building destruction floods
12
Q
Where are volcanic eruptions likely
A
Northern Hemishere
13
Q
Impacts of volcanic eruptions
A
Increased water levels
Avalanches
Loss of lives
Building destruction
14
Q
Where are hurricanes likely
A
America
15
Q
Impacts of hurricanes
A
Loss of lives
Building destruction
Environmental damage
Floods
16
Q
Who and when was continental drift proposed
A
Alfred Wegener in 1912
17
Q
When did Pangea exist
A
200 million years ago
18
Q
Evidence for continental drift
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Similar animal fossils and rock types found on different continents
Evidence of an ice age effecting now how countries
Matching mountain ranges
19
Q
Who and when was sea floor spreading proposed
A
Harry Hess in 1960
20
Q
Evidence for sea floor spreading
A
Magnetic patterns in rocks either side of a mid ocean ridge, scientists could deduce that the oldest rocks were furthest from the ridge
These ridges (ocean mountain ranges) are usually found near continent edges
21
Q
Crust characteristics
A
Solid layer of rock on the surface of the planet
5-30km thick
22
Q
Mantle characteristics
A
Mostly made of magma
2000km thick
3700*C
Where convection currents act
23
Q
Outer core characteristics
A
Liquid
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Q
Inner core characteristics
A
Solid
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Plate boundaries definition
The place where two or more plates rest
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Example of a destructive plate boundary
Nazca and South American plates
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Example of a constructive plate boundary
Eurasia and North American plates
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Example of a conservative plate boundary
Pacific and North American plates
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Example of a collision plate boundary
Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates
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Conservative plate boundaries
Plates sliding past one another
Prone to earthquakes
No volcanos
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Destructive plate boundaries
When two plates push into each other
The heavier oceanic plate is forced under the lighter continental plate
This forced magma from the mantle to rise
Volcanos form
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Constructive plate boundaries
When two plates move away from each other
Prone to earthquakes
Volcanoes form
New land is formed
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Collision plate boundaries
When two continental plates push into each other
Form mountains form
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Ring of fire
Regions around the Pacific Ocean that is prone to the most volcanos and earthquakes
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Where do fold mountains form
Along destructive and collision plate boundaries
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How are fold mountains formed
Sedimentary rocks are folded upward and fractured by forces in the lithosphere
As plates more towards one another the rocks are pushed together, forcing folds
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Fold names in mountains
Upfolds are called anticlines
Downfolds are called synclines
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Problems in using fold mountains
Unsuitable (infertile) land for farming
Can’t build settlements or housing
Low oxygen levels
Difficult access
Avalanche risk
Harsh climate
Loss of habitats due to human activities
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How do humans use fold mountains
Tourism
Skiiing
Hiking
Sightseeing
Climbing
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What is an active volcano
One that has erupted recently and is expected to erupt soon (over 1000 years)
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What is a dormant volcano
One that has not erupted for years but could still erupt
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What is an extinct volcano
One that is not expected to erupt in the future
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What plate boundaries have formed the Andes
Nazca and South American plate
Destructive plate boundary
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How long does the Andes run for
7,000km
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Human uses of the Andes - farming
In flat valley areas
Locals have built terraces dig into valley sides thar hold up water in areas of short supply
Main crops are soya, maize, rice, cotton, potatoes
Llamas are used to transport crops 🦙
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Human uses of the Andes - mining
Mining can contaminate water
Job opportunities
Coal
Oil
Gold
Silver
Natural gas
Iron
Tin
Copper
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Human uses of the Andes - hydroelectric power
Deep rivers and valleys with damns that can help produce power
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Human uses of the Andes - tourism
Machu Picchu is the largest tourist destination along the Inca trail (only 500 people allowed on it per day)
Tourism helps economic growth
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When was the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption
14 Jan 2015
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What plates caused the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption
Australian and Pacific plate boundary
Destructive plate boundary
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What were the effects of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption
$90.4 million in damages in Tonga caused by ash fall and tsunamis
Habitats destroyed
Australia, New Zealand, Japan hit by tsunamis
80% of Tongas population was affected by the tsunamis
4 people died
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Responses of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption
Large ash cloud so couldn’t see island
Communication to the island was destroyed
Caused a major atmospheric disturbance that was felt for miles
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Advantages of volcanos
Fertile land
Mining (silver, gold, zinc)
Tourism (Mauna Loa)
Geothermal power
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Disadvantages of volcanos
Deadly
Building destruction
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Ways to prepare for a volcanic eruption
Create exclusive zone around the volcano
Evacuate residents
Have emergency supplies of basic provisions
Make funds available to deal with damages
Have a good communication system in place
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Ways to monitor volcanos - electronic tilt meters
Placed on the side of a volcano
Measure small movements in shape due to rising magma beneath the surface
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Ways to monitor volcanos - volcano spiders
Robots that can reach areas humans can’t
Monitor the inside of a volcano and send back data to a base
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Ways to monitor volcanos - seismometers
Equipment used to detect tiny earthquakes that humans cannot feel
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Ways to monitor volcanos - GPS instruments
Geographical positioning system - uses satellites to observe volcanos
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Ways to monitor volcanos - infra-red spectrometers
Measure gas emissions like sulphur and carbon that are released from volcanos
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Super volcanos
Have multiple vents
Large magma chamber
Can cause massive ash clouds and tsunamis
Eruptions 10,000 times the size of normal ones
Yellowstones volcano
The last eruption was in Toba Sumatra 71,000 years ago
The opening of Yellowstone stipe volcano is 85km across
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How are earthquakes
1. Two plates moving past one another become stuck
2. Tension builds up
3. Eventually the stress becomes so great that the crust breaks age moves suddenly
4. This causes shock waves
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What are aftershocks caused by
Rocks settling into their new positions
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What is the point where the rock breaks in an earthquake called
The focus
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What is the point on the surface above the focus in an earthquake called
The epicentre
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How are earthquakes measured
Richter scale
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Japan tsunami details
Rose to 800km/h
11 march 2011
Caused by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake
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Japan tsunami effects
Most of the east coast destroyed
Many left homeless
Millions in property damage
Flooded land
15,500 deaths
Radiation leaked from a power plant so rescue workers suffered from radiation poisoning
4 million were without power
1 million were without water
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Japan tsunami responses
International support offered
Evacuations and emergency shelters set up
New hospitals set up
Citizens recruited to search for survivors
Teens recruited to help rebuilding
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Gorkha Nepal 2015 earthquake primary effects
8,841 casualties
16,800 injuries
1 million lost their homes
Historical monuments destroyed
Previous low building standards led to more damage
26 hospitals destroyed
50% of schools were destroyed
352 aftershocks
Reduced water, food, electricity
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Gorkha Nepal 2015 earthquake secondary effects
Destroyed rice seed led to food shortages
2/3 population depended on rice farming
Avalanche on Mount Everest destroyed base camp
1.1 million jobs were tourism based
Sherpas and 8.9% of Nepals GDP relied on tourism
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Gorkha Nepal 2015 earthquake immediate responses
UK raised £126 million for emergency aid and rebuilding
Temporary shelters and tents provided
Medical supplies distributed
315,000 couldn’t be reached by road
75,000 could not be reached by air
Teams of hikers supplied help to these places
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Gorkha Nepal 2015 earthquake long term responses
Government carried out a post disaster assessment reporting 23 areas needing rebuilding
OCHA sent 274 million 8 months later to help in recovery efforts
June 2015 Durban square heritage site was opened to promote tourism
Climbing permits extended to bring tourists back to mountains
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L’Aquila Italy earthquake 2009 - primary effects
308 killed
1,500 injured
67,500 lost homes
10,000-15,000 buildings collapsed
Natural and historical landmarks destroyed
University’s and hospitals destroyed
11 billion in damages
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Gorkha Nepal earthquake 2015 magnitude
7.8
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L’Aquila Italy earthquake 2009 - magnitude
6.3
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L’Aquila Italy earthquake 2009 - secondary effects
Aftershocks caused landslides and rockfalls that affected housing and transport
Mudflows burst water mains
Lack of new students at university’s
House prices and rent increased
Reduced tourist income
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L’Aquila Italy earthquake 2009 - immediate responses
Shelter provided for 10,000 people
40,000 tents given out
PM offered some of his homes
Red Cross searched for survivors
Supplies distributed
British Red Cross raised £171,000
EU have $553 million to rebuild
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L’Aquila Italy earthquake 2009 - long term responses
Torch lit procession for remembrance
Students encouraged back
Residents had taxes stopped in 2010
Expected to take 15 years to rebuild
In 2012 6 scientists were found guilty of not reporting the earthquake (6 years)
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Predicting an earthquake
Work out where and when an earthquake will occur, monitor patterns and animal behaviour
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Building techniques to prevent earthquake damage - bracing
Structural support
K-bracing
X-bracing
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Building techniques to prevent earthquake damage - counterweights
Additional weight added to the top of a building to counter shaking at the bottom
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Building techniques to prevent earthquake damage - base isolation
Foundation of rollers that absorb shockwaves and allow the building to move with the earthquake
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Planning for an earthquake
Evacuation plans
Hazard maps
Buildings complying to regulations
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Educating for an earthquake
Drill practice
Warning systems
Emergency supplies
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Aid after earthquakes
Emergency aid
Money
Rescue teams
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Hadley cell
At 0* rainfall occurs due to low pressure
At 30* hot dry desert conditions due to high pressure
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Ferrell cell
At 60* wet and windy conditions due to low pressure
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Polar cell
Cold and dry due to high pressure
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What causes low and high pressure in global atmospheric circulation
Differential heating
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What is atmospheric circulation caused by
Less intense sunlight at poles and intense sunlight at the equator due to the earths curvature
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What are tropical storms
Areas of low atmospheric pressure, formed when moist, tropical air rises
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Characteristics of tropical storms
Powerful winds spiral around the eye and warm air condensed into heavy rainfall and thunderstorms
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Where do tropical storms form
Between 30* north and south
Not at the equator (weak Coriolis effect)
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What are the requirements for a tropical storm to form
Sea temperature of over 27*C
Depth of 60-70m
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What does a low wind shear do for a tropical storm
(Where wind speed doesn’t change with height)
Clouds can rise to high levels without being torn apart
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Why do tropical storms rotate
Coriolis effect
Anti-clockwise in the northern hemisphere
Clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
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What are tropical storms moved by
Easterly trade winds move them westward
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Formation of a tropical storm
1. Warm moist air rises and condenses
2. This releases hide amounts of energy making a powerful storm
3. Rising air creates an area of low pressure which increases surface winds
4. The storm gets stronger over water
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Monitoring tropical storms
Observing and checking progress of a tropical storm over a period of time
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Predicting tropical storms
Attempting to forecast when and where a natural hazard will strike based on current knowledge
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Protecting against tropical storms
Constructing buildings that are safe in storms
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Planning for tropical storms
Deciding in detail how to protect an area then implementing it
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Ways to monitor tropical storms
Satellites - analysing cloud patterns, in 2004 global precipitation measurement satellites were launched to monitor precipitation every 3 hours (rain clouds over 16km indicate tropical storms)
Aircraft - first in 1943, airplanes fly into storms and release sensors at 10,000 feet to record air pressure, rainfall and wind speed data
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Ways of Predicting tropical storms
2013 2 new supercomputers were developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that could predict a tropical storm within 5 days 400km off
The National Hurricane Centre in Florida predicted a tropical storm using a track cone, allowing for errors in prediction (70% of storms are within the predicted area)
2013 - a cyclone in India was successfully predicted and 1.2 million were evacuated (21 died), in a similar situation (10,000 died)
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Ways to protect against tropical storms
Areas of weakness reinforced in buildings
Hurricane straps put between roofs and walls to strengthen buildings
Storm shutters
Emergency generators
Secure loose objects
Remove trees close to buildings
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Ways to plan for tropical storms
Hurricane preparedness week in America for planning
Preparing disaster supply kits
Reserve fuel in vehicles
Knowledge of what to do and where to go
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Typhoon Haiyan 2013 - category
5
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Typhoon Haiyan 2013 - primary effects
Homes destroyed mainly in east and west visayas
Power cuts and closed airports
Roads blocked
5 meter storm surge and 400mm rain
90% of Tacoloban was destroyed
Lost coconut, sugar cane and rice stores
Damages cost $53 million
Fishermen and farmers lost 75% of their income
Recovery costs were $724 million
5,000 died
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Typhoon Haiyan 2013 - secondary effects
An oil barge ran aground and spilled 800,000 litres of oil
This caused 10 hectares of contaminated mangroves
Fishermen lost income due to contaminated waters
Frequent looting
8 deaths caused by a stampede for rice supplies
By 2014 rice prices increased by 11.9%
Flooding contaminated water with salt, chemicals and sewage
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Typhoon Haiyan 2013 - immediate responses
$89 million given in aid - eventually became $1.5 billion
Authorities evacuated 800,000 and warned others
Tacloban stadium was full of people sheltering and flooded
Government supplied equipment and medical supplies
3 days until aid supplied
In a week power was restored
In 2 weeks 1 million flood packs and 250,000 L of water was distributed
In 2 days there was a curfew to stop looting
33 countries pledged help
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Typhoon Haiyan 2013 - long term responses
July 2014 - government decided to focus on building back better
Upgraded buildings to prevent future disasters
“No build zone” established along the eastern Visayas coast
Plan to build Tacloban-Palo-Tarkan-road-dike to prevent flooding
Created new storm surge warning system
Replanted mangroves
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Structure of tropical storms
Temperatures and air pressure falls, air rises, clouds form, windy conditions
Air pressure begins to fall more rapidly, wind increases, cumulonimbus clouds form, more rainfall
Eye of the storm, period of calm, warmer and low pressure
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How does climate change effect tropical storms
A warner atmosphere let’s the air hold more moisture, so increased heavy rainfall
Tropical storm numbers and intensity will increase
Frequency and distribution are not expected to change
Warmer water let’s the storms form easier
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St Jude’s Storm
2013 in the UK
Killed 5
Caused by depressions
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Droughts
Periods of a lack of rainfall
15 days normally
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Heatwaves
Periods of unusually hot weather
3 days in a row
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2022 UK heatwave - information
July 2022
Temps reached 40.3*C
High pressure system Azores high that usually effects Spain
Increased likelihood due to climate change
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2022 UK heatwave - responses
Red warning for heat
Gritters to prevent roads melting
Hammersmith bridge was wrapped in foil to prevent overheating
Railways has to reduce speed
2000 firefighters responded to fires
NHS felt with heatstrokes
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2022 UK heatwave - social effects
5 died from water related incidents
Fires in London
4000 had no power
638 died
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2022 UK heatwave - economic effects
41 London properties damaged by fires
Less train usage
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2022 UK heatwave - environmental
Fields destroyed by fires
Wildfires
Aysgarth falls ran dry
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Increased storm frequency in UK
Linked to increase of Atlantic Ocean temperatures, low pressure systems have more energy and moisture
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Increased drought frequency in the UK
UK temperatures have increased by 1*C since 1980
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Predicted change for UK precipitation
Precipitation will become more seasons
Won’t change annually
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Predicted change for UK river flow
Certain UK rivers might flood more in future winters
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Predicted change in UK evaporation
Increase due to higher air temperatures
More drought
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According to the Milankovitch cycle, changes in the earths orbit cause changes in…
…the distribution of the suns energy
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Milankovitch cycle - eccentricity
The earths orbit around the sun changes from elliptical to more circular every 100,000 years
When it is circular the climate is warmer and colder when it is elliptical
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Milankovitch cycle - obliquity
The earths axis is tilted, the greater the angle of tilt is the more sun the poles get
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Milankovitch cycle - pressesion
The earth is not a perfect sphere, so it wobbles on its axis, this effects the eccentricity and obliquity
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How old is the earth
4.6 billion years
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When did the quaternary period start
2.6 million years ago
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What was the Pleistocene epoch
Cold glacial period (last ice age)
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When was the Holocene epoch
Started 12,000 years ago
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What is climate change
The long-term change in weather and temperature
The earths air temp has increased by 1*C in the last 100 years
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Proxy data
Natural recorders like tree rings, ice cores, ocean sediments to estimate the climate before we had accurate measurements
Not as reliable as modern methods
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Ice cores
Ice forms as snow falls on snow causing it to compact
This traps oxygen which can be accessed now to estimate climate
Recorded go back between 400,000-800,000 years
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Ocean sediments
Sediments accumulate on seabeds, the deeper the sediment, the older the climate
Organisms are trapped in the sediment
They can be used to show water levels and surface water temperatures (climate change)
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Natural causes of climate change
Milankovitch cycle
Solar activity
Volcanic activity
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How does Solar activity cause climate change
Magnetic patches on the sun (sunspots) are used to measure sun output
When There are more sunspots, there are Solar eruptions giving off solar flares which leads to high temperatures
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How does volcanic activity cause climate change
Erupting volcanos release GHG
Ash clouds block out the suns heat
Sulphur dioxide mixes with water vapour becoming a volcanic aerosol that reflects sunlight away from the earth (cooler)
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Natural GHG effect
Solar radiation from the sun
Re radiated heat from the earth
Most escapes into space
Some is re emitted
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Enhanced GHG effect
Solar radiation from the sun
Re radiated heat from the earth
Less escapes into space
More is re emitted by more GHG in atmosphere
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Human causes of climate change - fossil fuels
Burning fossil fuels accounts for over half of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Used in transport, heating, electricity
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Human causes of climate change - agriculture
Cattle and rice farming account for 1/5 of GHG emissions
Release methane
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Human causes of climate change - deforestation
Forests cleared for farming, logging, roads, settlement
Less trees leads to less carbon dioxide absorbed by trees preventing climate change
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Positive effects on people of climate change
Less deaths from cold weather
Increased crop yields in cold areas
Less arctic ice will make it easier to extract oil and gas
Stronger wind for wind energy
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Positive effects on the environment of climate change
Increased forest and crop growth in the north
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Negative effects on people of climate change
Less snow, decreased ski tourism
Damage from rising sea levels
Increased risk of skin cancers, heat stroke, heart attacks (65,000 died yearly from these in America)
Water shortages in SE
More crop irrigation required
Decline in fishing in Asia as sea becomes more acidic
Increased flood risk from heavy rain (£2.1-12 billion in predicted damages)
151
Negative effects on the environment of climate change
Damages from sea levels rising
Reefs get hotter and more acidic
Increased drought in Mediterranean area
Marine wildlife will change migration
Loss of habitat for polar animals
Retreating tree lines
Pests and diseases in forests in North America thrive in hot temperatures
Extinction in the Amazon
152
Mitigation strategies for climate change - alternative energy production
87% of human produced carbon dioxide comes from fossil fuels
Renewable energy can reduce this (e.g. Swansea Tidal Lagoon)
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Mitigation strategies for climate change - carbon capture technology
90% of carbon dioxide released from plants could be captured and stored underground
154
Mitigation strategies for climate change - planting trees
Trees act as a carbon sink
Reforestation increases carbon storage
The UK has a £24.9 million project to increase forest regeneration in Brazil
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Mitigation strategies for climate change - international agreements
Countries working together to stop climate change
Balancing commitment to economic growth and cutting carbon emissions
2015 Paris agreement has 195 countries commuting to reduce gas emissions and keep temperatures below a 1.5*C increase
HICs contribute $100 billion a year to support climate change initiatives in developing countries
156
Adaptation strategies for climate change - agriculture
Moving to new northern locations (e.g. Champagne grown in England)
Increased irrigation
Change crops and varieties
Change planting seasons
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Adaptation strategies for climate change - water supply
Introduce water-efficient devices (aerators)
Increase water supply through desalination plants (in Beckton, London)
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Adaptation strategies for climate change - rising sea levels
Building flood protection
(E.g. Thames barrier, London)
Protecting houses
