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Flashcards in Plates Deck (13)
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1
Q

What is a natural hazard? (Plate tectonics)

A

An event that is potentially dangerous to people - involving humans placing themselves at risk

2
Q

What is a natural disaster? (Plate tectonics)

A

Where an event is much larger than expected and damage is great to life and property

3
Q

What are the characteristics of the crust? (Plate tectonics)

A

Very thin - around 6-70km

4
Q

What are the characteristics of the mantle? (Plate tectonics)

A

Temperatures around 1,300-5,000 degrees

Very high viscosity

5
Q

What is the outer core made of? (Plate tectonics)

A

Mainly iron

6
Q

What is the inner core made up of and what is its temperature? (plate tectonics)

A

Made of nickel and iron

Around 5,500 degrees

7
Q

What are the characteristics of the continental crust? (Plate tectonics)

A
  • made of igneous and metamorphic rock
  • mainly granite
  • crust is less dense but thicker (65km)
8
Q

What are the characteristics of oceanic crust? (Plate tectonics)

A
  • basalt rock
  • crust is not that thick but highly dense
  • around 200 million years old
9
Q

What is the lithosphere made up of? (Plate tectonics)

A

The upper mantle and the crust

10
Q

What is the asthenosphere made up of? (Plate tectonics)

A

Slow moving soft rock

11
Q

What is the driving force behind the moment of plates? (Plate tectonics)

A

The heat, leading to convection currents

12
Q

How do convection currents occur? (Plate tectonics)

A

Hot molten rises, as it nears the crust it begins to cool, heat moves it back towards the core - the cycle occurs again

13
Q

What is a natural event? (Plate tectonics)

A

An event that occurs, that does not present a danger to people or property