Natural disasters in Japan

Question 1

Beaufort scale

Answer 1

Scale for measuring wind speeds

Question 2

caldera

Answer 2

Large volcanic crater formed when the roof of an empty magma chamber collapses

Question 3

caldera volcano

Answer 3

Very old volcano with an enormous crater (often many kilometres wide) formed by the collapse of the magma chamber after an eruption

Question 4

continental plate

Answer 4

Tectonic plate that contains large land masses.

Question 5

convection current

Answer 5

Flow of molten rock under the Earth’s crust.

Question 6

convergence

Answer 6

When tectonic plates move towards each other.

Question 7

crater

Answer 7

Large, steep-sided hole in the ground caused by a volcanic eruption.

Question 8

crater lake

Answer 8

Lake formed when a volcanic crater fills with water.

Question 9

cyclone

Answer 9

Name for a giant tropical storm in south Asia and Australia.

Question 10

divergence

Answer 10

When tectonic plates move away from each other.

Question 11

earthquake

Answer 11

Shocks or tremors in a part of the Earth’s crust caused by endogenic forces.

Question 12

Earth’s crust

Answer 12

Thin layer of rock that covers the Earth. The crust is about 8 kilometres thick under the oceans and 35 kilometres thick under the continents.

Question 13

endogenic force

Answer 13

Force from within the Earth that changes the Earth’s crust.

Question 14

epicentre

Answer 14

The point where an earthquake breaks through the Earth’s surface, directly above the hypocentre.

Question 15

eruption

Answer 15

When lava and gas are released from a volcano.

Question 16

evacuate

Answer 16

Leave an area because it is unsafe.

Question 17

exogenic force

Answer 17

Outside force that changes the Earth’s crust (such as wind or water).

Question 18

eye of the hurricane

Answer 18

Calm, cloudless area at the centre of a hurricane, usually around 30-50 km across.

Question 19

fault

Answer 19

Crack or tear in the Earth’s crust.

Question 20

geothermal energy

Answer 20

Heat that comes from inside the Earth.

Question 21

hazard management

Answer 21

Strategies that aim to prevent damage caused by natural disasters.

Question 22

hot spring

Answer 22

Spring that occurs when groundwater is heated by geothermal processes in the Earth.

Question 23

hurricane

Answer 23

Tropical storm with winds of force 12 or above on the Beaufort scale. Also known as a typhoon or cyclone.

Question 24

hypocentre

Answer 24

Place deep in the Earth’s crust where an earthquake begins

Question 25

landslide

Answer 25

Sudden movement of large amounts of earth down the slope of a hill or a mountain.

Question 26

lava

Answer 26

Magma that has flowed to the surface through the Earth’s crust.

Question 27

magma

Answer 27

Hot, liquid rock inside the Earth.

Question 28

magma chamber

Answer 28

Space inside a volcano that is filled with magma.

Question 29

Mercalli scale

Answer 29

Scale for measuring the intensity of an earthquake and the damage it causes.

Question 30

mid-ocean ridge

Answer 30

Long mountain range on the ocean floor formed by magma rising from between oceanic plates that are moving apart.

Question 31

natural disaster

Answer 31

Disaster caused by changes in nature, resulting in many deaths, injuries and widespread damage.

Question 32

oceanic plate

Answer 32

Tectonic plate that is at the bottom of the ocean.

Question 33

pie chart

Answer 33

Circular chart showing how something is divided up into parts.

Question 34

post-volcanic phenomenon

Answer 34

Phenomenon caused by a volcano that is no longer active.

Question 35

pyroclastic flow

Answer 35

A mixture of hot gases, rock and ash that flows rapidly down the slope of a volcano during an eruption.

Question 36

relief

Answer 36

Differences in elevation in a landscape.

Question 37

Richter scale

Answer 37

Scale for measuring the strength of an earthquake.

Question 38

Saffir-Simpson scale

Answer 38

Scale for measuring the intensity of a hurricane.

Question 39

scale level

Answer 39

The level of detail you choose when you look at the world: local, regional, national, continental or global.

Question 40

seaquake

Answer 40

Earthquake whose epicentre is in the sea.

Question 41

seismologist

Answer 41

Scientist who studies earthquakes.

Question 42

shield volcano

Answer 42

Low, wide volcano with gentle slopes.

Question 43

slab

Answer 43

See tectonic plate.

Question 44

storm surge

Answer 44

Sharp rise in sea levels along the coast caused by strong winds.

Question 45

stratovolcano

Answer 45

Steep-sided volcano made up of layers of lava and pyroclastic material.

Question 46

subduction

Answer 46

When an oceanic plate slides underneath a continental plate.

Question 47

tectonic plate

Answer 47

Piece of the Earth’s crust. Also called a slab.

Question 48

transform movement

Answer 48

When tectonic plates slide past one another.

Question 49

trench

Answer 49

Long, deep, narrow depression in the ocean floor caused by the subduction of an oceanic plate.

Question 50

tropics

Answer 50

Warm climate zone near the equator between 23½°N and 23½°S.

Question 51

tsunami

Answer 51

Huge tidal wave caused by a seaquake that floods coastal areas.

Question 52

tuff

Answer 52

Relatively soft type of rock made up of compressed volcanic ash.

Question 53

typhoon

Answer 53

Name for a giant tropical storm in east Asia.

Question 54

volcano

Answer 54

Mountain created when lava flows out of the Earth’s crust.