year 9 End of Year Exam (TOPIC 1) Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is a natural hazard?
A natural event that has the potential to cause death, injury or damage to property and the environment.
Give 3 examples of natural hazards.
Earthquakes, volcanoes, floods.
What factors affect hazard risk?
Population density, level of development, preparedness, time of day, magnitude, and location.
What are tectonic plates?
Large pieces of the Earth’s crust that float on the mantle.
Name the three types of plate margins.
Constructive, Destructive, Conservative.
What happens at a constructive plate margin?
Plates move apart, magma rises to form new crust.
What happens at a destructive plate margin?
An oceanic plate subducts under a continental plate, causing earthquakes and volcanoes.
What happens at a conservative plate margin?
Plates slide past each other; no crust is made or destroyed.
What causes earthquakes?
Sudden release of energy due to movement of tectonic plates.
Where do earthquakes happen most often?
Along plate boundaries.
What is the focus of an earthquake?
The point underground where the earthquake starts.
What is the epicentre of an earthquake?
The point directly above the focus on the Earth’s surface.
How is the strength of an earthquake measured?
On the Richter scale (magnitude) and the Mercalli scale (damage).
Why do earthquakes cause more damage in LICs than HICs?
LICs often have poor building quality, slower emergency response, and less education.
Give an example of an earthquake in a LIC.
2010 Haiti Earthquake.
Give an example of an earthquake in a HIC.
2011 Japan Earthquake.
Which had more deaths: Haiti or Japan earthquake? Why?
Haiti had more deaths due to weaker buildings, lack of emergency services, and poverty.
Why do people live in areas at risk from tectonic hazards?
Fertile soil, geothermal energy, tourism, family ties, job opportunities.
What are the benefits of volcanic areas?
Fertile soil, tourism, minerals, geothermal energy.
Why might people underestimate the risk?
Long gaps between disasters, trust in technology, belief it won’t happen again.
What are the four ways to reduce the risk from tectonic hazards?
Monitoring, Prediction, Protection, Planning.
How can monitoring help reduce risk?
Seismometers detect small tremors; gas emissions can signal a volcanic eruption.
How does prediction help?
Helps prepare and evacuate people before a disaster happens.
How can buildings be protected?
Using shock absorbers, flexible materials, and reinforced structures.
