Tectonic Hazards Flashcards

1
Q

Name the four layers of the earth ?

A

Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core

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2
Q

What are the key features of the earth’s layers ?

A

Crust: made of rock and minerals
Mantle: made of iron and magnesium
Outer core: made of hot and liquid iron and nickel
Inner core: solid iron and nickel

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3
Q

What is the difference between oceanic and continental crust ?

A

Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust

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4
Q

What is the difference between a tectonic plate and a plate boundary ?

A

Plate tectonics refers to the movement of large prices of the earth crust. A plate boundary is a place where two or more tectonic plates met

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5
Q

How do convection currents work ?

A

Tectonic plates move due to convection currents in the mantle . Heat from the core makes magma in the mantle rise towards the crust. As the hot current nears the crust, it begins to cool and sink back towards the core. As the magma sinks, it drags the plates across the surface of the Earth.

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6
Q

Describe the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes ?

A

Along plate boundaries

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7
Q

What is the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’?

A

It is a series of volcanoes located in the Pacific Ocean in the shape of a ring

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8
Q

What happens at a CONVERGENT (destructive) plate boundary?

A

A convergent boundary is an area on Earth where two or more tectonic plates collide. One plate eventually slides beneath the other, a process known as subduction

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9
Q

What happens at a DIVERGENT (constructive) plate boundary?

A

A divergent boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. Along these boundaries, earthquakes are common

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10
Q

What happens at a CONSERVATIVE plate boundary?

A

They are plate boundaries where two plate are either slipping past each other in opposite directions or at different rates in the same direction. The plates do not move past each other smoothly.

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11
Q

What is the difference between the epicentre and the focus?

A

The focus is the place inside Earth’s crust where an earthquake originates. The point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus is the epicenter.

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12
Q

How are earthquakes measured?

A

The Richter scale measures the largest wiggle (amplitude) on the recording

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13
Q

What are the features of an earthquake proof building? How do they help during an earthquake?

A

Thin walls with steel bars that help to reduce the movement of the building. Sprinkler system to put out any fires. Shock absorbers in the base can absorb the shock waves produced by the earthquake. Cross bracing on windows to stop any falling glass.

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14
Q

Why was vulnerable to the earthquake ?

A

Haiti sits on a fault line between huge tectonic plates, big pieces of the Earth’s crust that slide past each other over time

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15
Q

How did Haiti prepare for the earthquake ?

A

Since Haiti is an LEDC it didn’t have enough money to prepare by having earthquake proof buildings

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16
Q

What were the impacts of the earthquake on Haiti?

A

killed more than 316,000 people, left over 1.5 million homeless, and destroyed 250,000 buildings with most of the airports collapsed and broken pipes spread collera

17
Q

How did Haiti respond to the earthquake ?

A

Haiti asked military from other countries to help them clear the rubble from the roads and Haiti have education on what to do in situations like this

18
Q

Why was Japan vulnerable to the earthquake?

A

Japan is located in the Pacific earthquake belt and is frequently struck by earthquakes, while its complex coastline is vulnerable to tsunamis.

19
Q

How did Japan prepare for the earthquake?

A

They’ve built seawalls to protect against tsunamis in some of their coastal cities. And the people there are learn early how to react in case of earthquakes and tsunamis. People learn from early childhood about feeling the ground shaking. They practice evacuation drills and they also have earthquake proof buildings

20
Q

What were the impacts of the earthquake on Japan ?

A

An estimated 20,000 people were dead or missing and close to 500,000 people were forced to evacuate. In addition, a nuclear power plant meltdown triggered a nuclear emergency. The direct economic loss from the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster is estimated at $360 billion.

21
Q

How did Japan respond to the earthquake?

A

In the first hours after the earthquake, Japanese Prime Minister moved to set up an emergency command centre in Tokyo, and a large number of rescue workers and some 100,000 members of the Japanese Self-Defense Force were rapidly mobilized to deal with the crisis.

22
Q

Name the features of a volcano ?

A

The main features of a volcano include the magma chamber, vents, craters and slopes.

23
Q

Which feature of a volcano are dangerous ?

A

Lava domes form when high-viscosity lava is slowly erupted from a volcano. Because of the high viscosity of the lava, it cannot travel far from the vent and a dome of lava builds up. These lava domes are particularly hazardous as they tend to be unstable and can collapse

24
Q

Name and explain the four main reasons why people continue to live near volcanoes despite the risks?

A

volcanic rock and ash provide fertile land which results in a higher crop yield for farmers

tourists are attracted to the volcano, which increases money to the local economy

geothermal energy can be harnessed, which provides cheaper electricity for locals

minerals are contained in lava, eg diamonds - these can be mined to make money