Geography: Geomorphic Hazards, Valuing Landscapes, and Landforms (copy)

Geomorphic Hazards

Natural hazards related to the Earth's surface processes, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.

Plate Tectonics

The theory explaining the movement of tectonic plates, which create oceans and continents through interactions such as converging, diverging, and sliding past each other.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and part of the upper mantle, where tectonic processes occur.

Asthenosphere

The layer below the lithosphere in the upper mantle, characterized as a viscoelastic solid that allows tectonic plates to move.

Convection Currents

Movements within the Earth’s mantle that drive tectonic plate motion, caused by the heating and cooling of magma.

Faults

Fractures in the Earth's crust where physical movement occurs, leading to earthquakes when stress is released.

Volcanic Eruption

The release of molten rock, gases, and ash from a natural vent in the Earth's crust, often occurring due to pressure buildup in the mantle.

Hotspot

A location where molten rock from deep within the Earth rises to the surface, creating volcanic islands as tectonic plates move over it.

Effusive Eruption

A type of volcanic eruption characterized by the relatively gentle flow of lava.

Explosive Eruption

A violent volcanic eruption that releases ash and gas under high pressure.

Kīlauea Volcano

One of the world's most active shield volcanoes located in Hawaii, known for its eruptions driven by hotspot activity.

Mitigation

Strategies implemented to eliminate or minimize the severity of hazards.

Risk

The probability of a hazard occurring, combined with the vulnerability of the affected population.

USGS Volcano Alert Levels

A system that categorizes the activity of volcanoes, ranging from Normal to Warning, indicating potential eruption hazards.

Landscape

The visible features of an area, which can be natural or human-made, often shaped by environmental and cultural factors.

Aesthetic Value

The subjective beauty or attractiveness of a landscape, varying from person to person.

Economic Value

The financial worth of land or its resources, which can include activities like mining, farming, and tourism.

Cultural Value

The significance of a landscape shaped by creative expressions like art and literature and the community's identity.

Disaster Risk Equation

A formula that illustrates the likelihood of a disaster occurring based on the interplay of hazards, vulnerabilities, and the capacity to cope.

GDP per capita

A measure of a country's economic output per person, often used to gauge economic health and influence on disaster impacts.

Smong

A traditional warning system used by residents of Simeulue Island, Indonesia, that describes the sequence of events leading to a tsunami.