Topic 1 Hazardous Earth

Question 1

Describe the impact of the 2011 earthquake in Japan.

Answer 1

9.0 magnitude, caused a tsunami, over 15,000 deaths, widespread destruction, nuclear plant meltdown, major economic losses.

Question 2

How does the global atmospheric circulation transfer and redistribute heat around the Earth?

Answer 2

By creating wind patterns and ocean currents, moving warm air from the equator to the poles and cold air back toward the equator.

Question 3

What causes high and low pressure zones on Earth?

Answer 3

Global atmospheric circulation — rising warm air creates low pressure; sinking cool air creates high pressure.

Question 4

What natural causes have led to climate change in the past?

Answer 4

Asteroid collisions, volcanic activity, variations in solar output, and changes in Earth’s orbit.

Question 5

Name two pieces of evidence for past climate change.

Answer 5

Ice cores and tree rings.

Question 6

How does human activity contribute to climate change?

Answer 6

Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, enhancing the greenhouse effect.

Question 7

What hazards do tropical cyclones cause?

Answer 7

High winds, storm surges, intense rainfall, coastal flooding, landslides.

Question 8

How can countries prepare for tropical cyclones?

Answer 8

Weather forecasting, satellite monitoring, evacuation strategies, storm-surge defences.

Question 9

Why do tectonic hazards vary between locations?

Answer 9

Differences in tectonic settings (e.g., types of plate boundaries) and development levels (developed vs developing countries).

Question 10

What is the structure of the Earth?

Answer 10

Core (inner and outer), mantle, and crust (oceanic and continental).

Question 11

What are the main types of plate boundaries?

Answer 11

Constructive, destructive, conservative, and collision.

Question 12

How do tropical cyclones form?

Answer 12

Warm ocean water (above 26.5°C), low wind shear, and Coriolis effect cause air to rise and spin.

Question 13

What is the difference between the eye and eye wall of a cyclone?

Answer 13

Eye is calm, clear; eye wall has strongest winds and heaviest rain.

Question 14

How does development level affect a country’s vulnerability to hazards?

Answer 14

Less developed countries have weaker infrastructure, poorer healthcare, and slower responses.

Question 15

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 15

Natural process where gases like CO₂ trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere, keeping it warm.

Question 16

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Answer 16

Human activities add extra greenhouse gases, trapping more heat and causing global warming.

Question 17

Name three human activities that release greenhouse gases.

Answer 17

Burning fossil fuels, agriculture (methane from livestock), and deforestation.

Question 18

What are mitigation strategies for climate change?

Answer 18

Renewable energy, carbon capture, afforestation, international agreements (like Paris Agreement).

Question 19

What are adaptation strategies for climate change?

Answer 19

Building flood defences, changing farming practices, water conservation.

Question 20

What is a hazard hotspot?

Answer 20

An area especially prone to multiple natural hazards (e.g., the Philippines).

Question 21

How did Japan prepare for and respond to the 2011 earthquake?

Answer 21

Japan has strict building codes, early warning systems, and regular drills, minimizing casualties. However, the tsunami caused massive damage.

Question 22

What was the impact of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti?

Answer 22

7.0 magnitude, over 230,000 deaths, widespread destruction, severe poverty, slow recovery, lack of infrastructure.

Question 23

How did Haiti’s response to the 2010 earthquake differ from Japan’s?

Answer 23

Haiti lacked infrastructure and resources for an effective response, which slowed recovery. Japan’s better planning and resources helped reduce the death toll.

Question 24

What is the role of the Pacific Ring of Fire in earthquakes in Japan?

Answer 24

The Ring of Fire is a zone of tectonic activity where the Pacific Plate collides with other plates, causing frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Question 25

Describe the impact of Cyclone Nargis on Myanmar in 2008.

Answer 25

140,000 deaths, widespread flooding, destruction of homes, agriculture, and infrastructure, economic damages in the billions.

Question 26

How did Myanmar prepare for and respond to Cyclone Nargis?

Answer 26

Poor preparation and slow response due to political issues, but international aid helped with relief efforts. Lack of early warning systems contributed to high casualties.

Question 27

What is the difference between natural hazards and natural disasters?

Answer 27

Natural hazards are natural events that have the potential to cause harm, while natural disasters occur when these hazards impact people or property.

Question 28

How does the global atmospheric circulation redistribute heat around the Earth?

Answer 28

It creates wind patterns and ocean currents that move warm air from the equator to the poles and cold air from the poles back toward the equator.

Question 29

What causes high and low pressure zones on Earth?

Answer 29

High pressure zones occur when cool air sinks, while low pressure zones occur when warm air rises. These pressure differences create wind patterns.

Question 30

How do tropical cyclones form?

Answer 30

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters when warm, moist air rises, creating low pressure at the surface, which draws in more moist air, causing a spinning effect.

Question 31

What are the key characteristics of a tropical cyclone?

Answer 31

Tropical cyclones have a low-pressure center, strong winds (over 74 mph), heavy rainfall, and a well-defined spiral structure.

Question 32

What are the primary effects of earthquakes?

Answer 32

Earthquakes can cause ground shaking, surface rupture, landslides, tsunamis, and damage to infrastructure, resulting in significant social and economic impacts.

Question 33

How does the Earth's crust affect the severity of an earthquake?

Answer 33

The type of plate boundary and the amount of stress build-up in the crust determine the earthquake's magnitude and its potential for destruction.

Question 34

What impact do volcanic eruptions have on the atmosphere?

Answer 34

Volcanic eruptions release gases such as sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which can lead to acid rain, ash clouds, and temporary global cooling.

Question 35

How does the Richter scale measure earthquake magnitude?

Answer 35

The Richter scale measures the energy released by an earthquake, assigning a numerical value based on the amplitude of seismic waves recorded by seismographs.

Question 36

How does human activity increase the risk of natural hazards?

Answer 36

Deforestation, urbanization, and climate change (due to greenhouse gas emissions) can increase the frequency and severity of natural hazards like floods, landslides, and storms.

Question 37

What is the role of ocean currents in distributing heat globally?

Answer 37

Ocean currents transport warm water from the equator toward the poles, helping regulate temperatures and influencing weather patterns.

Question 38

How do scientists predict the path of tropical cyclones?

Answer 38

Scientists use satellite imagery, weather radar, and computer models to track and predict the movement of tropical cyclones.

Question 39

How does the distribution of tectonic plate boundaries impact earthquakes?

Answer 39

Earthquakes are more likely to occur along tectonic plate boundaries, where plates are moving towards, away from, or past each other.

Question 40

How do volcanic eruptions affect local populations?

Answer 40

Volcanic eruptions can cause death, displacement, and loss of property through lava flows, ash falls, and pyroclastic flows.

Question 41

How can countries prepare for and mitigate the impacts of earthquakes?

Answer 41

Earthquake preparedness includes early warning systems, earthquake-resistant buildings, and public education on emergency procedures.

Question 42

How does global warming contribute to the severity of natural hazards?

Answer 42

Global warming leads to more extreme weather events, such as stronger storms, flooding, and heatwaves, due to changes in atmospheric patterns.

Question 43

What role do tectonic plate movements play in volcanic activity?

Answer 43

The movement of tectonic plates creates pressure and stress at plate boundaries, which can lead to volcanic eruptions when magma rises to the Earth's surface.

Question 44

What are the long-term effects of a volcanic eruption on the environment?

Answer 44

Volcanic eruptions can lead to soil enrichment, but they can also disrupt ecosystems, alter local climate patterns, and create hazards like landslides and lahars.

Question 45

What is the greenhouse effect, and how does it contribute to climate change?

Answer 45

The greenhouse effect occurs when greenhouse gases like CO2 trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to an increase in global temperatures.