Geothermal Energy, Fossil Fuels, and Disaster Hazards: Key Concepts for Earth Science

Hotspot

Is a special region where the temperature is higher compared to its adjacent areas.

Coal

Is composed primarily of carbon, water, some hydrogen and oxygen.

Fossil fuels

Are created when organic matter decays and becomes compressed beneath layer upon layer of sand, earth, rock and ocean.

Natural gas

Is the cleanest burning gas.

Coal and oil

Are more chemically complicated, and release a cocktail of potentially harmful substances into the atmosphere when combusted.

Geothermal energy

Is the heat from the Earth. It requires heat, water and permeability.

Permeability

Is allowing liquids and gasses to pass through.

Porous rocks

Are rocks with small holes.

Geothermal Reservoir

Is a natural collection of hot water.

Hot spring/Geyser

Is the geothermal energy that reached the Earth's surface.

Dry steam

Is the oldest geothermal technology. It uses geothermal water to run the turbine.

Flash plants

Is placing hot water into cooler water producing steam.

Binary plants

Is placing hot water to a secondary fluid with lower boiling point producing vapor to run the turbine.

Hazard

Is a situation where there is a threat to life, health, environment or property.

Disaster

Is an event of serious destruction that completely disrupts the normal ways of community. They bring on human, economical and environmental losses to the community.

Hurricane

Is the seasonal changes in weather patterns due to reversing wind directions.

Storm Surge

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

Downburst

Is fast and vertically dropping blasts of wind that can occur during thunderstorms.

Tornado

Is a destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud.

Hail

Are pellets of frozen rain that fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds.

Cyclone

Is a system of winds rotating inward to an area of low atmospheric pressure.

Psychological hazards

Are created during work-related stress or in a stressful environment. They affect the mental well-being or mental health of an individual.

Radiation hazards

Can damage living tissues in the human body by stripping away electrons from atoms and breaking some chemical bonds.

Physical hazards

Are conditions or situations that can cause the body physical harm or intense stress.

Chemical hazards

Are substances that may be harmful.

Biological hazards

Are biological agents that can cause harm to the human body. They may be in the form of viruses, bacteria or fungi.

Preparedness

Is the preparation to protect oneself, others and important valuables in the presence of a disaster.

Response

Is the administering of first aid or getting medical attention for victims.

Recovery

Is the cleaning up or repair of the damages dealt.

Mitigation

Is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters.

Earth

Is composed of about 70-71% water, 97% saltwater and 3% freshwater.

Rotation

Is the amount of time the Earth takes to turn around once on its axis.

Revolution

Is the path of the Earth through space and the time it takes for it to turn around once on the sun.

The 4 great oceans

Are Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic.

The Atlantic Ocean

Is found between South America and Africa.

Inner core

Is the hottest part of the Earth.

Outer core

Is liquid iron and nickel in composition.

Mantle

Is the widest section of the Earth.

Crust

Is the outer layer of the Earth.

Atmosphere

Is a 'blanket of air'.

Fossils

Are formed in sedimentary rocks.

Climate

Is not an element of weather.