Natural Hazards

Flashcards covering essential vocabulary related to natural hazards, with a focus on earthquakes, based on lecture notes.

Natural Hazards

Threatening events with a possibility of damage or harm.

Geophysical Hazards

Natural hazards related to physical processes of the Earth, including earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes.

Hydrological Hazards

Natural hazards related to water, such as floods and avalanches.

Climatological Hazards

Natural hazards related to climate and weather, including droughts and storms.

Biological Hazards

Hazards involving biological processes, such as epidemics and invasive species.

Technological Hazards

Hazards resulting from human activities or technological failures, including chemical spills and nuclear accidents.

Magnitude

A measure of the strength of an event, often quantified in terms of energy released.

Seismic Waves

Waves of energy caused by earthquakes, including Primary Waves, Secondary Waves, and Surface Waves.

Richter Scale

A logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.

Moment Magnitude Scale

A quantitative scale to measure earthquakes based on fault length, displacement, and rock strength.

Mercalli Intensity Scale

A qualitative scale that assesses the intensity of shaking and damage caused by an earthquake.

Ring of Fire

A major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

San Andreas Fault

A major fault line in California known for its seismic activity.

New Madrid Fault

A seismic zone in the central United States that experienced large earthquakes in 1811-1812.

Tsunami

A series of ocean waves caused by the sudden displacement of a large volume of water, such as from an underwater earthquake.

Catastrophe

An event causing such significant damage that restoration is a long, complicated process.