Natural Hazards

Question 1

What is a natural hazard?

Answer 1

An unexpected or uncontrollable natural event that threatens people

Question 2

What are the four types of natural hazards?

Answer 2

Tectonic, Atmospheric, Geomorphological, Biological

Question 3

Give the three types of tectonic hazards

Answer 3

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Volcanoes

Question 4

Give the two types of atmospheric hazards

Answer 4

Droughts and Tropical Storms

Question 5

Give the five types of geomorphological hazards

Answer 5

Avalanches, Sinkholes, Sandstorms, Floods, Landslides

Question 6

Give one type of biological hazard

Answer 6

Forest Fires

Question 7

What is the structure of the earth?

Answer 7

Inner core, Outer core, Mantle, Crust

Question 8

What are the two types of crust?

Answer 8

Oceanic and Continental crust, oceanic crust is thinner, more dense and made of basalt whereas continental crust is thicker, less dense and made of granite.

Question 9

Plate margin

Answer 9

Where two tectonic plates meet, also called a plate boundary

Question 10

What is the name of the current in the mantle?

Answer 10

Convection currents

Question 11

Where are volcanoes located?

Answer 11

Volcanoes are mostly located linearly along tectonic plate boundaries

Question 12

Why do tectonic plates move?

Answer 12

Slab pull and convection currents

Question 13

What is the name for one plate sinking under another

Answer 13

Subduction

Question 14

Name the three types of plate margins

Answer 14

Constructive, Destructive, Conservative

Question 15

Active volcano

Answer 15

Has erupted within the past 2000 years

Question 16

Dormant volcano

Answer 16

Not erupted for at least 2000 years but has the potential to erupt again

Question 17

Extinct volcano

Answer 17

Will not erupt again

Question 18

What type of volcano forms at a constructive plate boundary?

Answer 18

A shield volcano

Question 19

What type of volcano forms at a destructive plate boundary?

Answer 19

A composite volcano

Question 20

What is an earthquake

Answer 20

The shaking of the earth’s surface

Question 21

How are earthquakes measured?

Answer 21

Using the Richter Scale, it is logarithmic meaning each point is 10 times more destructive than the previous point

Question 22

What is the focus?

Answer 22

The point inside the earth where the earthquake started

Question 23

What is the epicentre?

Answer 23

The location directly above the focus

Question 24

What four things reduce the risk of natural hazards?

Answer 24

Monitoring, prediction, protection and planning

Question 25

Monitoring

Answer 25

Using scientific equipment to detect warning signs of events. Not so useful for earthquakes. There may be some signs an earthquake is imminent like tremors or foreshocks but often there are tremors but no earthquake.

Question 26

Prediction

Answer 26

Using historical evidence and monitoring, scientists can make predictions about where and when a tectonic hazard may happen but it is impossible to predict an earthquake.

Question 27

Protection

Answer 27

Designing buildings that will withstand tectonic hazards.

Question 28

Planning

Answer 28

Identifying and avoiding places most at risk, making sure people are prepared for a tectonic hazard.

Question 29

Tropical storms

Answer 29

Large areas of low pressure or extreme depressions that bring high winds and torrential rain, as they move they rotate, they have winds above 74mph

Question 30

Low pressure

Answer 30

A point of rising air and rainfall

Question 31

High pressure

Answer 31

A point of falling air and dry weather

Question 32

Where do tropical storms occur?

Answer 32

Over 27 degree seas, between 5 and 30 degrees north or south of the equator in the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

Question 33

Low wind shear

Answer 33

Winds at all levels of the atmosphere blowing in the same direction

Question 34

Give three names for a tropical storm

Answer 34

Hurricane, Cyclone, Typhoon

Question 35

What are towering bands of cloud called?

Answer 35

Cumulonimbus clouds

Question 36

What is the name given to the wind that rushes in from areas of high pressure?

Answer 36

Trade winds

Question 37

What is in the middle of a storm?

Answer 37

The eye

Question 38

Why do tropical storms spin?

Answer 38

The Coriolis effect

Question 39

How does climate change impact tropical storms?

Answer 39

Frequency, Intensity and Distribution

Question 40

What was the name of the typhoon that struck the Philippines?

Answer 40

Typhoon Haiyan