Y9 Geography End of Year Notes & Flashcards [end of years revision]

Based around Sulawesi earthquake & tsunami

Earthquakes

vibrations caused by the earth’s movements

Where do earthquakes take place

all plate boundaries and major fault lines (cracks in the earth’s surface)

Where are the most severe earthquakes found

conservative and destructive boundaries

Focus

the point below ground where seismic waves start from

Epicentre

the point directly above the focus on the earth’s surface where seismic waves spread out from. worst effects are felt here

How earthquakes are caused

Tectonic plates are always moving. If they get stuck, huge pressure can build up

When plates break free or one plate gives way the energy released causes an earthquake beneath Earth’s surface - at the focus.

Seismic waves spread out from the focus through the rock and reach the surface at the epicentre

Isoline map

map where areas with the same values are connected with lines

Tsunamis

bigger waves caused by energy originating underwater (instead of wind) e.g. earthquakes, underwater volcanoes.

How fast can tsunamis move

up to 500mph

Ways to protect against tsunamis

Sea walls, channels to divert water, early detection & warning systems

What happens to tsunamis when they get into shallow water closer to the shore

they slow down but increase in height, growing up to 100ft tall

What happened with the Sulawesi tsunami

20 mins after the earthquake, a tsunami hit the shores of Sulawesi especially the town of Palu

Impacts of Sulawesi

Houses Damaged: would lead to a rise in homelessness & poverty. Could lead to rise in disease

Airports & ports closed: 3 of 9 airports and ports closed, reducing the amount of international aid that can arrive from other places so less people can be evacuated.

Responses of Sulawesi

Air transport: helps bring international aid, can evacuate people, combats closed ports & airports

Family tents: means people won’t have to sleep/live outside, reduces risk of disease for homeless people

Water purification: reduces risk of water borne diseases, reduces deaths, everyone can have safe water

Medical assistance: will reduce deaths from injury and diseases

Flora

plants

Fauna

animals

Coral reefs

Polyps / corals contain algae which exist with them in a symbiotic relationship - the polyps give the algae a home and the algae give the polyps the food that they generate through photosynthesis.

Constructive plate boundary

two tectonic plates moving apart

causes earthquakes and volcanoes

Conservative plate boundary

two tectonic plates sliding past each other

causes earthquakes

Collision plate boundary

two plates of similar densities moving together

causes earthquakes

Destructive plate boundary

oceanic plate subducting under a continental plate

causes earthquakes and volcanoes