geography test- volcano (online notes)

what is a volcano?

a vent that connects magma from inside the earth to the surface

cinder cone volcano

small, steep volcano made of ash and cinders- erupts explosively

shield cone volcano

wide volcano with gentle slopes formed by slow cooling lava

composite cone volcano

large volcano made of layers of lava and ash

active volcano

a volcano that is erupting (or eruptes constantly)

dormant volcano

a volcano that erupted before and may erupt again explosive

explosive eruption

a sudden, violent, destructive eruption

slow eruption

lava flows out slowly onto the ground

pyroclastic flow

fast moving hot gas, ash and rock that destroys everything in its path

lahar (mudflow)

melted snow/ice mixed with debris forming fast moving mudflows

pyroclastic fall

falling ash that damages buildings, plants and health

noxious gases

harmful gases released during eruptions

faulting

cracking of earths crust due to pressure

folding

bending of earths crust due to pressure

weather

day to day conditions

climate

long term pattern of weather

latitude affecting climate

farther from the equator = colder temperatures

ocean currents affecting climate

warm currents= warm air / cold currents = cool air

wind affecting climate

moves air masses and weather (Canada = westerlies)

elevation affecting climate

higher elevation = colder (1c drop per 100m)

relief

land elevation differences - mountains block air

near water affecting climate

water moderates temperature (colder summers, warmer winters)

a front

boundary between two air masses

cold front

cold air replaces warm air = storms

warm front

warm air replaces cold air= steady rain

air pressure

force of air pressing down (measured in kilopascal)

low pressure systems

rising air = clouds and precipitation

high pressure systems

sinking air= clear skies

maritime climate

near water- small temperature range - higher precipitation

continental climate

far from water - larger temperature range, low precipitation

forms of precipitation

rain, snow, sleet, hail, freezing rain, mist, frost, dew

air rising

it cools and forms clouds er

relief precipitation

air rises over mountains

convectional precipitation

warm air relies from heated ground

frontal precipitation

warm airs pushed over cold air

eye wall

area with strongest winds

strom surge

low pressure raises sea level- large waves

saffir- simpson scale

rates hurricanes strength (1-5)

coniferous trees

needle leaves, cones, stay green all year round

deciduous trees

lose leaves in the fall

tree line

boundary where trees stop growing (too cold)