Tectonic Processes and Hazards

Question 1

Plate Tectonics Theory

Answer 1

The theory explaining the movement of Earth’s lithospheric plates and the associated phenomena like earthquakes and volcanoes.

Question 2

Subduction Zone

Answer 2

An area where one tectonic plate is forced under another into the mantle.

Question 3

Benioff Zone

Answer 3

A zone of seismicity corresponding with the slab being subducted in a convergent boundary.

Question 4

Mantle Plume / Hotspot

Answer 4

Upwellings of abnormally hot rock within the Earth’s mantle causing volcanic activity (e.g., Hawaii).

Question 5

Focus (Hypocentre)

Answer 5

The point within the Earth where an earthquake rupture starts.

Question 6

Epicentre

Answer 6

The point on Earth’s surface directly above the focus.

Question 7

Magnitude

Answer 7

A measure of the energy released by an earthquake (e.g., Moment Magnitude Scale).

Question 8

Intensity

Answer 8

A measure of the earthquake’s effects on people and buildings (e.g., Modified Mercalli Scale).

Question 9

Liquefaction

Answer 9

When saturated soil temporarily loses strength and behaves like a liquid due to shaking.

Question 10

Aftershocks

Answer 10

Smaller tremors following the main earthquake.

Question 11

Effusive Eruption

Answer 11

A gentle volcanic eruption with lava flows (common at divergent boundaries).

Question 12

Explosive Eruption

Answer 12

A violent eruption due to high-pressure gas and viscous magma (common at convergent boundaries).

Question 13

VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index)

Answer 13

A scale measuring the explosiveness of volcanic eruptions.

Question 14

Lahar

Answer 14

A destructive volcanic mudflow of water and volcanic material.

Question 15

Pyroclastic Flow

Answer 15

A fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter.

Question 16

Tephra

Answer 16

Rock fragments ejected by a volcanic eruption.

Question 17

Natural Hazard

Answer 17

A natural event that poses a threat to human life or property.

Question 18

Disaster

Answer 18

A major hazard event causing significant damage and disruption.

Question 19

Hazard Risk

Answer 19

The probability of a hazard event causing harmful consequences.

Question 20

Vulnerability

Answer 20

refers to the degree to which a population, system, or place is susceptible to harm from hazards (like earthquakes, droughts, or floods) and their ability to cope with and recover from the impacts.

Question 21

Resilience

Answer 21

The capacity of individuals or communities to cope with and recover from hazards.

Question 22

Prediction

Answer 22

Forecasting where and when a hazard might occur using scientific data.

Question 23

Preparedness

Answer 23

Plans and strategies to deal with potential hazards (e.g., drills, early warning systems).

Question 24

Mitigation

Answer 24

Actions to reduce the severity of hazard impacts (e.g., land-use zoning, sea walls).

Question 25

Adaptation

Answer 25

Adjusting to living with hazards, often through policy or design.

Question 26

Park Model (Disaster Response Curve)

Answer 26

A model showing how a country or region might respond over time to a hazard event.

Question 27

Hazard Management Cycle

Answer 27

A circular process involving response, recovery, mitigation, and preparedness.

Question 28

Multiple Hazard Zone

Answer 28

An area affected by more than one type of hazard (e.g., Philippines).

Question 29

Megadisasters

Answer 29

High-impact events affecting multiple countries or having widespread impacts (e.g., Tōhoku Earthquake 2011).

Question 30

Governance

Answer 30

The way a government manages hazard risk through policy, planning, and response.

Question 31

Threshold of coping capacity

Answer 31

The point at which a population can no longer withstand hazard impacts.

Question 32

Inequality of exposure

Answer 32

Refers to how socio-economic status influences risk level.

Question 33

Corruption / Bureaucratic inefficiency

Answer 33

Corruption Corruption is the abuse of power for personal gain, often involving bribery, embezzlement, or favoritism. It undermines trust in institutions, weakens governance, and often worsens responses to hazards, development, or aid delivery. Bureaucratic Inefficiency Bureaucratic inefficiency refers to when government or administrative systems are slow, disorganised, or wasteful, often due to excessive rules, poor coordination, or lack of accountability. This can delay decision-making and reduce the effectiveness of hazard responses or development projects.

Question 34

Cascading hazards

Answer 34

One event triggering a sequence (e.g., earthquake → tsunami → nuclear crisis in Japan 2011).

Question 35

Systemic vulnerability

Answer 35

How deep structural issues (poverty, urbanisation, poor governance) amplify risk.

Question 36

Sustainability of response

Answer 36

Whether disaster strategies remain effective in the long term.

Question 37

Path dependency

Answer 37

When a place’s past decisions affect its current hazard resilience.

Question 38

Dregg's Model

Answer 38

Dregg’s Model illustrates the interaction between hazards and vulnerability, suggesting that a disaster only occurs when a natural hazard affects a vulnerable population.

Question 39

Hazard as a Catalyst

Answer 39

This is the idea that a tectonic hazard can act as a trigger for broader economic, political, or social change. Catalyst = trigger for change

Question 40

Key factors to evaluate within an essay

Answer 40

Temporal Factors - Short-term impacts - Medium-term impacts - Long-term impacts Spatial Scale - Local - Regional - National - International Governance Scale - Top-down response - Bottom-up response Development Level (recovery speed) - LICs vs HICs - Emerging economies (NEEs) Sustainability - Environmental - Social - Economic

Question 41

Give me the structure for a essay question

Answer 41

Question 42

Synonyms for "Key Point" / Important Idea

Answer 42

Crucial factor Significant element Major contributor Primary cause Key consideration Fundamental aspect Dominant influence Pivotal role Overriding factor

Question 43

Synonyms for "Unimportant Point" / Minor Idea

Answer 43

Minor factor Negligible impact Insignificant element Low-priority consideration Inconsequential effect Less significant point