topic 1 - hazardous earth

Question 1

describe the global atmospheric circulation ?

Answer 1

• air circulates around the -hadley cell
• air rises from the equator which is the hottest part of the earth
• leading to low pressure and high rainfall
• when the air reaches the edge of the atmosphere is moves 30 north and south
• and the air becomes cooler and denser which causes the air to sink creating high pressure with cloudless skies and little rainfall
• cool air reaches the ground surface and moves as surface wind back to the equator or towards the poles
• air rises again at polar cell 60 n/s of the equator creating low pressure belt . at the poles the cool air sinks creating high pressure and moves back to the equator as surface wind

Question 2

at the equator

Answer 2

air circulates around the hadely cell
the air rises from the equator which is the hottest part of the earth surface
leading to low pressure and high rainfall
the air begins to cool and becomes denser causing it to sink

Question 3

at 30 north and south

Answer 3

the rising air cools and sinks and moves away from the equator towards 30 north and south creating high pressure and cloudless skies with little rainfall

Question 4

at 60 north and south

Answer 4

when the cool air reaches the earths surface it moves as surface wind either towards the equator or towards the poles air rises again a the polar cell forming low pressure

Question 5

at the poles

Answer 5

at the north and south pole the cool air will sink forming high pressure belt , this high pressure belt will move back to the equator as surface wind

Question 6

hadley cell

Answer 6

the ground is heated causing the air to rise
the rising air forms low pressure eventually cools and condenses forming clouds

climate
hot due to the sun ray being most intense near the equator
high rainfall
eg tropical forest

Question 7

ferrel cell

Answer 7

occur at high latitude ( 60 n/s )
the warmer surface wind meet the cold air from the poles
the warmer air rises as it is less dense then the cold air
creating low pressure

climate cold and wet

Question 8

the polar cell

Answer 8

the air is cooled and sinks towards the earth surface
forming high pressure

climate little rainfall

Question 9

low pressure

Answer 9

the warmth of the earth surfaces heats the air above
which causes the air to rise
as it rises it cools and condenses forming clouds

low pressure belt - high rainfall eg rain forest

Question 10

high pressure

Answer 10

when cool and denser air sinks back down to the earth surface

resulting in high pressure belt

• little rainfall
• cloudless skies
• arid areas
• eg deserts

Question 11

types of ocean currents

Answer 11

deep ocean current - caused by the difference in water density

surface ocean - caused by winds , transfers heat from the equator to cooler regions

Question 12

volcanic activities

Answer 12

volcanic eruption releases lots of volcanic material into the atmosphere which can block the sun’s ray which causes the earth climate to be colder

Question 13

sunspot

Answer 13

sun spots are black spots on the earth surface , they increase the suns output energy resulting to warmer climate

Question 14

orbital change

Answer 14

the earth has a natural warming and cooling period caused by the milankovitch cycle , this depends on the way the earth moves around the sun . when the earth is further away from the suns solar radiation is reduced resulting in cooler climate

Question 15

natural factors that are potential causes of climate change

Answer 15

volcanic activity
asteroid collision
sunspots
orbital changes

Question 16

human factors that causes climate change

Answer 16

farming 
transportation
industry 
energy 
deforestation

Question 17

farming

Answer 17

livestock produce a lot of methane which is a greenhouse gas

rice paddies emit lots of methane gas

deforestation - fewer trees to absorb c02 from the atmosphere to use in photosynthesis

Question 18

transportation

Answer 18

cars burn fossil fuels. carbon emissions get released into the atmosphere so the amount of greenhouse gases released increase

Question 19

energy production

Answer 19

fossil fuels including coal and oil and gas , when fossil fuels get burned c02 is released

Question 20

evidence that human activity is causing climate change

Answer 20

declining arctic ice
sea level rise
extreme weather events
global temperature rise

Question 21

extreme weather events

Answer 21

extreme weather such as droughts , heatwaves etc will become more frequent and extreme

Question 22

declining arctic ice

Answer 22

the arctic ice in the winter is decreasing

Question 23

global temperature rise

Answer 23

the temperature of the earth is increasing some areas will experience droughts

Question 24

the greenhouse effect

Answer 24

the atmosphere allows heat from the sun (short wave radiation ) to pass through to heat the earth surface
the earth surface absorbs some of this radiation but then gives off heat long wavelength radiation is reflected back into the atmosphere
This heat is trapped by the greenhouse gases which radiates heat back towards the earth

Question 25

reduced biodiversity

Answer 25

reduced biodiversity the rate at which climate change is changing is making it difficult for animals to adapt to the habitats which could lead to extinction

Question 26

effects of climate change on the environment

Answer 26

reduced biodiversity melting ice change in precipitation pattern

Question 27

melting ice

Answer 27

melting ice is causing sea level to rise which could lead flood coastal habitats

Question 28

effects of climate change on humans

Answer 28

lower crop yields more death due to heat extreme weather events Loss of coastal areas

Question 29

lower crop yields

Answer 29

climate change might increase temperature so it would make it harder to grow crops. People could die from starvation

Question 30

evidence for natural climate change

Answer 30

ice cores tree rings Historical records

Question 31

pre-condition of a tropical cyclones

Answer 31

sea temperature above 26 c or warmer this leads to warm air to rise forming low pressure location within 5-30 degree north and south where the Coriolis effect is strongest to make it spiral sea depth 70m and above

Question 32

explain 2 reasons for the range of projections

Answer 32

one reason for the projection in climate change is due to the uncertainty of population growth in the future . If the population growth decrease this may lead to less global warming another reason is the energy source . If humans use non-renewable energy this would increase global warming

Question 33

formation of tropical cyclones

Answer 33

tropical cyclones form when the sea temperature reaches 26 c and above. It's causes the air above to rise which realises huge amount of energy which creates powerful storms and rapidly rising air . Trade winds at the equator causes the storm to spiral upward due to the Coriolis effect . The eye is created as cooler air sinks and cumulonimbus clouds form an eye wall . The cyclone begin to dissipate as it reaches land or cooler water

Question 34

features of tropical cyclone

Answer 34

eye wall - spiralling rising air , very strong wind ,low temperature Centre - low pressure , high temperature , no clouds or rain circular shape

Question 35

physical hazards of tropical cyclone

Answer 35

``` intense rainfall storm surge high wind coastal flooding Landslide ```

Question 36

where are low pressure belt found and where does the air go

Answer 36

low pressure belts found at the equator and 60 n/s of the equator air rises

Question 37

where does high pressure belts occur and where does the air travel

Answer 37

high pressure belts found at the poles and 30 n/s air sinks

Question 38

tropical storms are rated on the

Answer 38

saffir-Simpson scale - based on wind speeds

Question 39

tropical management strategies | reducing the impacts of tropical cyclones

Answer 39

forecasting evacuations defences

Question 40

some countries are more vulnerable than others due to

Answer 40

social vulnerability economic vulnerability physical vulnerability

Question 41

social vulnerability

Answer 41

low income counties are more socially vulnerable this is because they usually have poorer quality material and poor healthcare system and have less money spend on defences .

Question 42

economic vulnerability

Answer 42

poorer countries are economically more vulnerable this is because most of the population work in agriculture which can often be badly affected eg flooding

Question 43

layers of the earth

Answer 43

crust mantle outer core inner core

Question 44

crust

Answer 44

``` also know as the lithosphere thin outer layer 60km thick solid layer made up of granite and basalt ``` 2 types of crust oceanic and continental

Question 45

difference between the oceanic an Continental crust

Answer 45

oceanic crust continental crust more dense less dense thinner thicker

Question 46

mantle

Answer 46

thickest layer layer which surrounds the core made up of semi-molten rocks or magma mantle can be split into 3 sections the upper part of the mantle is solid middle layer known as the asthenosphere is semi molten

Question 47

outer core

Answer 47

liquid layer | made from nickel and iron

Question 48

inner core

Answer 48

centre of the earth hottest part of the earth solid layer very dense

Question 49

explain how convection currents move the earths surface (4 marks )

Answer 49

the earth core is heated due to radioactive decay this causes the magma in the mantel to heat up the heated magma rises to the surface of the earth as it is less dense when it reaches the crust it moves sideways then drags the plate apart creating a circular movement

Question 50

name the 3 plate boundaries

Answer 50

convergent ( destructive ) divergent ( constructive ) conservatives

Question 51

divergent plate boundaries | example

Answer 51

when 2 plates move away from each other this causes a gap between the plates. the magma rises from the mantle to sill the gap forming shield volcanoes for example the mid-Atlantic

Question 52

conservative plate boundary - 2 types

Answer 52

plate slide past each other in opposite directions the 2 plates would get stuck the friction and pressure builds up and eventually the plates slip past in a sudden movement or 2 plates move in the same direction but at different speed when the plates move side by side they can get stuck together pressure builds up and released as earthquakes

Question 53

which plate boundary forms and does not form volcanoes and earthquakes

Answer 53

divergent - shield volcanoes conservative - no volcanoes but serve earthquakes convergent - earthquake or volcanoes

Question 54

convergent / collisions boundaries

Answer 54

when 2 plates move towards each other this caused the oceanic plate to be subducted beneath the continental plate or when Continental plates collide and form fold mountains

Question 55

hot spots

Answer 55

occur where hot magma from the mantel moves towards the surface . the rising hot magma break through the crust and reaches the surface causing eruptions / forming volcanoes

Question 56

how do volcanoes form on the convergent plates

Answer 56

when the denser oceanic plate gets subducted beneath the continental plate the friction and pressure builds up and causes a ( cracks ) vent the magma rise to the surface of the earth

Question 57

characteristics of volcanoes at convergent plate margins

Answer 57

``` composite volcanoes highly explosive produces lot gas produced ashy explosions produces andesitic lava - sticky and thick ```

Question 58

how do volcanoes form on divergent plates

Answer 58

when 2 plates move apart from each other the magma rises and fills the gap in between forming shield volcanoes

Question 59

composite volcanoes - description

Answer 59

occur on convergent plate boundaries steep-sided explosive eruptions with ashy explosions thick and sticky andesitic lava

Question 60

shield volcanoes

Answer 60

occur on divergent or hotspots not very explosive erupt basaltic lava low and gentle sided

Question 61

Earthquakes

Answer 61

An earthquake is a sudden or violent movement within the Earth’s crust followed by a series of shocks.

Question 62

An earthquake can happen at all 3 plate margins

Answer 62

At divergent margins, pressure can build up from cracks in the plates when they move apart. This can cause earthquakes. At convergent margins, a plate can get stuck as it moves under another. This can cause earthquakes. At conservative margins, there can be friction between plates because they aren't smooth. This can cause earthquakes.

Question 63

earthquakes can be measured using a

Answer 63

richter scale

Question 64

features of earthquakes

Answer 64

focus - where the pressure is released underground and where the energy radiates out from epicentre - the point on the earths crust that is directly above the centre of the earthquake

Question 65

types of earthquakes

Answer 65

deep-focus | shallow-focus

Question 66

deep-focus earthquakes

Answer 66

less damaging | occurs at convergent plates

Question 67

shallow-focus earthquakes

Answer 67

more damaging because the shock waves have to travel further to the earths surface

Question 68

tsunami

Answer 68

an underwater earthquake which displaces huge amount of water