The challenge of natural hazards

Question 1

core

Answer 1

the central region of the earth

Question 2

mantle

Answer 2

the region within the earth between the core and the crust

Question 3

crust

Answer 3

the topmost layer of the earth made up of tectonic plates

Question 4

destructive margin

Answer 4

formed when tectonic plates move together

Question 5

constructive margin

Answer 5

formed when tectonic plates move apart

Question 6

conservative

Answer 6

formed when tectonic plates slide past each other

Question 7

collision zone

Answer 7

a plate margin where two tectonic plates slide past each other

Question 8

hot spot

Answer 8

an area within the mantle where there is unusually high heat flow caused by intense radioactive decay in the inner core they are often away from plate margins and volcanic activity is common here

Question 9

focus

Answer 9

he pint below the earths surface where an earthquake occurs

Question 10

epicentre

Answer 10

the point on the earths surface directly above the focus of an earthquake

Question 11

seismic waves

Answer 11

shock waves of energy that travel though the earths following an event such as an earthquake or volcano

Question 12

aftershocks

Answer 12

small tremors in the days after an earthquake

Question 13

Richter scale

Answer 13

a measure of the energy released by an earthquake

Question 14

secondary effects

Answer 14

the effects that occur subsequent to the primary effect

Question 15

primary effects

Answer 15

effects that occur subsequent to the natural disaster

Question 16

tsunami

Answer 16

a large wave caused by an earthquake, volcanic eruption or costal landslide

Question 17

composite volcano

Answer 17

a cone shaped volcano made up of many layers

Question 18

shield volcano

Answer 18

a large sized, low lying volcano formed from fluid magma flows

Question 19

pyroclastic flow

Answer 19

a high temperture avalanche of gas, ash, cinder and rock that rushed down the slopes of a volcano sometime burying settlements in its path

Question 20

active volcano

Answer 20

a volcano with at least one eruption in the last 10,000 years

Question 21

lahar

Answer 21

a mud flow consisting of volcanic ash and water that runs down the slopes of a volcano

Question 22

dormant volcano

Answer 22

a active volcano that is not currently erupting

Question 23

atmospheric circulation

Answer 23

the movement of air around the earth in cells transferring and redistributing energy

Question 24

tropical storms

Answer 24

low pressure systems with distinct structure and features formed over warm ocean waters in low latitudes

Question 25

cyclone

Answer 25

a tropical storm in the Indian ocean and south pacific

Question 26

typhoon

Answer 26

a tropical storm in the western north pacific

Question 27

hurricane

Answer 27

a tropical storm in the Atlantic ocean

Question 28

Coriolis force

Answer 28

the result of the earths rotation on weather patterns

Question 29

storm surge

Answer 29

a rising of the sea as a result of wind and atmospheric pressure changes associated with a storm

Question 30

eye of the storm

Answer 30

if a tropical storm becomes "cyclonic" it spins so fast that the air aroind the centre forms a vortex which has an eye 30-65km wide

Question 31

infastructure

Answer 31

facilities and supply lines which make mdern life possible such as roads and railways waterpipes and internet access

Question 32

resilience

Answer 32

capacity to cope with a hazard such as a tropical storm often dependent on how effectively the 3 Ps are implemented

Question 33

3Ps (prediction protection and planning)

Answer 33

measures a community or country can take to improve their resilience to a hazard such as a tropical storm

Question 34

inertia

Answer 34

when people and/or organisations do not take action when faced with a hazard

Question 35

mid-latitudes

Answer 35

the temperate zones between the tropics and polar regions

Question 36

front

Answer 36

a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities

Question 37

prevailing wind

Answer 37

a wind from the direction that is most usual at a particular place or season

Question 37

prevailing wind

Answer 37

a wind from the direction that is most usual at a particular place or season

Question 38

maritime

Answer 38

related to the sea

Question 39

north Atlantic drift

Answer 39

a powerful warm ocean current

Question 40

gulf stream

Answer 40

a powerful warm ocean current

Question 41

continental

Answer 41

coming from a nearby continent

Question 42

altitude

Answer 42

height above sea level

Question 43

relief rainfall

Answer 43

occurs when moist air rises over a physical barrier

Question 44

rain shadow

Answer 44

a dry area on the leeward side of a hilly/mountainous area

Question 45

hydro-meteorological hazards

Answer 45

weather hazards linked t the water cycle

Question 46

drought

Answer 46

a period of below average precipitation

Question 47

blocking high

Answer 47

a slow-moving anticyclone (high pressure system)

Question 48

water deficit

Answer 48

not enough rainfall, leaving a water shortage

Question 49

water stress

Answer 49

lacking water

Question 50

water surplus

Answer 50

having more water than needed

Question 51

proxy measures

Answer 51

indirect ways of measuring variables, such as tree ring growth as an indicator of temperature in past years

Question 52

greenhouse effect

Answer 52

greenhouse gases stop he\t escaping from the earth into space, an enhanced greenhouse effect can lead to climate change and global warming

Question 53

greenhouse gas

Answer 53

gas in the atmosphere which absorbs and emits heat (infrared) radiation

Question 54

anthropogenic

Answer 54

caused by humans

Question 55

carbon capture / carbon sequestration

Answer 55

the removal of carbon at a emission source and storage of it deep underground

Question 56

adaptation

Answer 56

adjustments made by people and communities enabling them to continue living in areas impacted by climate change

Question 57

mitigation

Answer 57

measures to reduce the cause of climate change